Auditions

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Be part of an exciting chapter with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra as we enter our second season under the leadership of Music Director Dane Lam.

As a pillar for the arts, our vision is to broaden community access to meaningful musical experiences for everyone in our culturally rich state. The HSO remains committed to reaching our community through in-person performances and digital broadcasts that feature our gifted musicians and stellar guest artists from around the Pacific and beyond.

2025 Openings

  • Viola (1 Section Core)

  • Viola (2 Section Per-Service)

    • Viola auditions to be run as one audition

    • Accepted applicants will be auditioning for all positions

    • Same repertoire list for all Viola positions

  • 3rd/Bass Trombone

  • Principal Tuba

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Additional FAQ

  • Viola
    Monday, April 7

    3rd/Bass Trombone
    Tuesday, April 8

    Principal Tuba
    Wednesday, April 9

  • Studio 909

    949 Kapiolani Blvd

    Honolulu, HI 96814

    Located at the Musicians Association of Hawaii (Local 677)

    The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra does not accept recorded auditions

  • Monday, March 3, 2025

  • Viola Audition Excerpts

    3rd/Bass Trombone Excerpts

    Principal Tuba Audition Excerpts

  • Should a current member of the HSO win a position, another candidate may be offered the resulting vacancy.

  • The Hawaii Symphony is a full-time orchestra with a 21-week 25/26 season that includes 64 core musicians and 20 per-service. Base pay for core musicians is $1,120.00/week with an additional 3% Electronic Media Guarantee ($33.60/week). Principal musicians receive an additional 25% positional guarantee ($280/week) while associate principals receive an additional 10% ($112/week). Per-service musicians are guaranteed a minimum of 66 services at $140.00/service base pay plus an additional 3% Electronic Media Guarantee ($4.20/service). There is also the possibility of extra/non-guaranteed services that are not part of our 21-week season.

  • The HSO provides core musicians with a benefits package that includes fully paid medical group insurance, paid instrument insurance, and contributes to the AFM-EPF.

    Core musicians receive paid and unpaid personal leave, paid sick leave, paid emergency leave, unpaid professional leave, and unpaid summer leave.

    Per-service musicians receive paid sick leave, unpaid professional leave, and paid emergency leave

  • Our current Collective Bargaining Agreement is set to last through August 31, 2026

  • Employment of the successful candidate is expected to begin at the start of the 2025-2026 Season. View our concert schedule here.

  • The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra tunes to A=440.

  • Please direct all questions to HSO Personnel Manager, Megan Wade at auditions@hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org.

    No phone calls, please.

How to Apply

  • Email a 1-page PDF resume indicating your instrument to Megan Wade at auditions@hawaiisymphonyorchestra.org. Please make sure that your resume includes your current address, cell phone number, and email address.

  • Mail a $50.00 refundable deposit check. Checks should be postmarked no later than Monday, March 3, 2025, and made out to "Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra" with “Audition” in the memo line at:

    Hawai'i Symphony Orchestra
    Attn: Megan Wade
    3610 Waialae Ave
    Honolulu, HI 96816

  • Candidates will receive their deposit back if they withdraw from the audition before 5:00 pm (HST) on Monday, March 24, 2025. Checks will be deposited if candidates cancel after deadline or fail to show up for the audition.

  • Resume and deposit check must be received no later than Monday, March 3, 2025, to be considered. Only those highly qualified applicants will be invited to attend.

  • More information about audition location, specific audition times, etc. will be given upon receipt of the candidate’s resume and audition deposit.

  • Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. 

The Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra does not accept recorded auditions.