Principal Clarinet: 1 position
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Tokyo, Japan
General information
- Instrument or role
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Clarinet
- Job category
-
Performance
- Number of positions
-
1 open position
Vacancy requirements
- Age limitations
-
Applicants will be considered regardless of age or nationality.
Employment details
- Type
-
Full-time (100%)
- Tenure
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Permanent
- Employment beginning
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November 1, 2026. (The starting date is negotiable.)
Application process
- Apply by
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June 22, 2026, 18:00 (time zone: Tokyo)
- Application instructions
-
Applications must be received without fail by 6 p.m., on Monday, June 22, 2026.
Please submit all required application materials listed below by email to [email protected] .
Applications will be accepted by email only.
The subject line of the email should read: “Clarinet Audition.”
Required Information
Please include the following information in your email:
(1) Full name;
(2) Date of birth;
(3) Contact information (contact address, phone number, and e-mail address);
(4) Educational background and musical training;
(5) Professional experience (including orchestral engagements as a guest player, awards received, etc.); and
(6) URLs of the YouTube video recordings submitted for the video audition. - Application link
- tpo.or.jp
Audition dates
- 1) Screening & Video Audition
-
June 29, 2026
1) Screening & Video Audition
・Applicants must submit the URLs of their performance videos together with the application.
・The performance videos must be uploaded to YouTube with “Unlisted” visibility.
・The screening results will be notified by Monday, June 29, 2026.
・If you do not receive the results within a few days after this date, please contact us at the email address listed below.
Assigned Repertoire for the Video Audition
(1) Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
- First movement, bars 53 to the first beat of bar 154
*Piano accompaniment is required. Applicants who are also applying for the Second Clarinet position are not required to submit a separate recording.
(2) Orchestra excerpts
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
- Prokofiev: Cinderella (choice of instrument is at the applicant’s discretion)
- Rossini: Semiramide
- Verdi: La forza del Destino
* If you wish to receive the assigned excerpts for the video audition, please contact us by email at < [email protected] >, with the subject line: “Request for Excerpts – Tokyo Philharmonic Principal Clarinet Audition.”
Instructions for the Performance Video
・The recording should contain performance only. Verbal announcements of the performer’s name or the titles of the pieces are not required.
・Piano accompaniment is required.
・Each of the assigned pieces ((1) and (2)) must be recorded as separate videos and uploaded individually. Please include both URLs clearly in your application email.
・The video must be filmed from the front, clearly showing the entire instrument, the performer’s face, and hands.
・Videos must be uploaded to YouTube as “Unlisted.”
・The YouTube account used for uploading the videos does not need to belong to the applicant. - 2) First Live Audition
-
August 29, 2026
2) First Live Audition
Candidates who successfully pass the video audition will be invited to the first live audition.
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Location: Tokyo
Repertoire:
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 (all movements, with piano accompaniment)
- Debussy: Première Rhapsodie pour clarinette (from beginning to the second bar of [6])
- Orchestral excerpts (selected on the day of the audition from the excerpts provided in advance to successful candidates) - 3) Second Live Audition
-
September 13, 2026
3) Second Live Audition
Candidates who successfully pass the first live audition will be invited to the second live audition.
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026 (evening)
Location: Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuya
Repertoire:
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 First movement, bars 53 to the first beat of bar 154 (with piano accompaniment)
- Orchestral excerpts (selected on the day of the audition from the excerpts provided in advance to successful candidates)
Audition information
- Audition repertoire
-
1) Screening & Video Audition
・Applicants must submit the URLs of their performance videos together with the application.
・The performance videos must be uploaded to YouTube with “Unlisted” visibility.
・The screening results will be notified by Monday, June 29, 2026.
・If you do not receive the results within a few days after this date, please contact us at the email address listed below.
Assigned Repertoire for the Video Audition
(1) Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
- First movement, bars 53 to the first beat of bar 154
*Piano accompaniment is required. Applicants who are also applying for the Second Clarinet position are not required to submit a separate recording.
(2) Orchestra excerpts
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 8
- Prokofiev: Cinderella (choice of instrument is at the applicant’s discretion)
- Rossini: Semiramide
- Verdi: La forza del Destino
* If you wish to receive the assigned excerpts for the video audition, please contact us by email at [email protected] , with the subject line: “Request for Excerpts – Tokyo Philharmonic Principal Clarinet Audition.”
Instructions for the Performance Video
・The recording should contain performance only. Verbal announcements of the performer’s name or the titles of the pieces are not required.
・Piano accompaniment is required.
・Each of the assigned pieces ((1) and (2)) must be recorded as separate videos and uploaded individually. Please include both URLs clearly in your application email.
・The video must be filmed from the front, clearly showing the entire instrument, the performer’s face, and hands.
・Videos must be uploaded to YouTube as “Unlisted.”
・The YouTube account used for uploading the videos does not need to belong to the applicant.2) First Live Audition
Candidates who successfully pass the video audition will be invited to the first live audition.
Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Location: Tokyo
Repertoire:
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 (all movements, with piano accompaniment)
- Debussy: Première Rhapsodie pour clarinette (from beginning to the second bar of [6])
- Orchestral excerpts (selected on the day of the audition from the excerpts provided in advance to successful candidates)
3) Second Live Audition
Candidates who successfully pass the first live audition will be invited to the second live audition.
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026 (evening)
Location: Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Shibuya
Repertoire:
- Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622
First movement, bars 53 to the first beat of bar 154 (with piano accompaniment)
- Orchestral excerpts (selected on the day of the audition from the excerpts provided in advance to successful candidates)
INQUIRIES:
For any inquiries, please contact:
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Clarinet Audition Office
Email: [email protected]
We will not accept any inquiries by phone. - Accompanist
-
Candidates must bring their own piano accompanist.
- Additional audition information
-
NOTES:
・The successful candidate will be appointed subject to a trial period of up to 11 months, after which a final decision regarding permanent employment will be made.
・Salary and other terms and conditions of employment will be determined in accordance with the Tokyo Philharmonic’s regulations.
・Applicants are required to bring their own piano accompanist to the live auditions.
・The Orchestra will not respond to inquiries regarding the content or results of the screening or auditions.
・All expenses related to the audition process (including travel expenses) must be borne by the applicant.
・All correspondence regarding the audition will be sent from < [email protected] >. Please ensure that emails from this address can be received without issue.
・For instructions on uploading videos to YouTube, please refer to YouTube’s official help page.