Applications are now closed for 2025-26

Early Career Artists 2025-26

Instruments of Time and Truth are looking to appoint up to two Early Career Artists (ECAs) for the 2025-26 season. We are accepting applications from baroque violinists, violists and cellists. 

Applications are now closed.

The ECA Scheme is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation and the Harrison Frank Family Foundation.

What‘s included in the IT&T Early Career Artist Scheme?

The Early Career Artist Scheme offers: 

  • the opportunity to perform in up to six IT&T concerts in 2025-26, paid at the usual IT&T orchestral musician rate

  • Two hours of coaching from an IT&T player during the ECA year

  • A professional headshot photoshoot 

  • Opportunities to support and learn about IT&T‘s Education programme

Early Career Artists perform alongside IT&T players as part of the ensemble and receive mentoring and coaching throughout the year. The scheme aims to support young professional baroque artists as they launch their careers, allowing opportunities to put into practice skills and knowledge learned while studying through working regularly with a professional ensemble. 

IT&T endeavour to offer dates for performance opportunities within the availability of the ECA.

What‘s expected of the Early Career Artist? 

  • IT&T ECAs are treated as professional artists, with the associated standard professional expectations, for example in terms of attendance, communication and preparation. 

  • To support ECAs, at the start of the season, ECAs will be asked to set goals for the year. They will also be asked to fill in short feedback forms after every event in which they play to allow opportunities for reflection on the goals set. 

  • ECAs will be asked to fill in an evaluation form at the end of their ECA year. The feedback will help IT&T to improve the scheme for future years and will be referenced when providing feedback to our funders and sponsors. 

  • ECAs may be invited to attend events such as post-concert receptions to meet IT&T sponsors. 

Who can apply?  

  • The ECA Scheme is open to players aged between 18 and 30 years of age on 1st June 2025. 

  • The minimum standard expected is that of an undergraduate conservatoire student. Applicants without conservatoire/university degrees will be considered for audition providing they can demonstrate that they have undergone similar levels of training with a highly-regarded teacher. 

  • Potential IT&T Early Career Artists need not necessarily have specialised in period performance during their studies, however they are likely to have had some experience of historical performance and will be interested in working professionally as period players. 

As we are not able to provide instruments, the Early Career Artists must be able to source their own suitable instrument and bow(s).

TIMELINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Wednesday 9 July 2025 - Applications close at midday - applications must be made through the online form using the link below. No late applications will be accepted

By 15 July at the latest - Applicants notified about whether they will be invited for an audition

18 July - Deadline for audition candidates to submit PDFs of scores and accompaniments of audition pieces

24 July 2025 - Audition date in Oxford   

HOW TO APPLY

PART 1 - Applications must be submitted using the form below.

You will be asked to provide: 

  • a recent CV

  • a short paragraph outlining why you are applying

  • a link to a short recording of the repertoire specified for your instrument (see guidance on recordings below) 

    The repertoire specified is available for download at the following links:

Guidance on recordings: 

  • You do NOT need to use specialist equipment for your recording -  you can use a smartphone. 

  • Please make your recording in landscape mode. Listen back to your recording before submitting to check that the sound quality is clear (e.g. not too muffled/echoey). Make sure that you are clearly visible on camera. 

  • Please provide an unedited recording of you performing the excerpts listed for your instrument. 

  • You do not need to introduce your video, although you may introduce yourself briefly if you wish to.

  • Please upload your recording as an unlisted YouTube video, entitled ‘ITT ECA FIRSTNAME LASTNAME INSTRUMENT’. 

Your video will be listened to by a panel of IT&T members, and the link will not be shared outside of the IT&T Team. 

PART II - An in-person audition in Oxford on 24 July 2025.

Applicants will be informed by 15 July at the latest whether they have been shortlisted for an audition. 

Please prepare the repertoire specified for your instrument in the repertoire pack. The pitch of the audition will be A=415Hz. No sight-reading is required at the audition.

The audition will include a short conversation about your career development and goals, and there will be opportunity for you to ask any questions.