CSO Fellowship Program Audition
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) will be accepting applications for the CSO Fellowship Program for the 2026/27 Season. Auditions will be held for violin and cello.
Video audition application deadline: 11:59 p.m. Central Time on March 23, 2026.
There is no application fee for this program.
Final audition date for selected applicants is tentatively scheduled for April 27, 2026, at Symphony Center, Chicago. Finalists will receive round-trip domestic transportation and up to two nights’ accommodation.
Applications will open on January 1, 2026
Program Overview
CSO Fellows will rehearse and perform in a major symphony orchestra setting, work with top conductors and receive training and mentorship from CSO musicians. The program’s objective is to help early career musicians become better equipped to win auditions with top U.S. orchestras, including the CSO.
The CSO Fellowship Program launched in the 2022/23 Season and is the latest initiative that assists early-career musicians from all backgrounds that have overcome adversity (e.g. financial hardship, professional setback, cultural barriers and discrimination) as they seek a career in classical-music performance. These programs include the Percussion Scholarship Program, Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative and Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions.
Program Eligibility
The CSO Fellowship Program is open to outstanding early-career string players (violin and cello) who are attending or have graduated from college, university or conservatory and have overcome adversity (e.g. financial hardship, professional setback, cultural barriers, and discrimination) in their path to the performing arts.
Additionally, applicants must have U.S. citizenship, permanent U.S. residency or an 0-1 or OPT visa at the time of application and must be a member in good standing of the American Federation of Musicians or willing to join the AFM if accepted to the fellowship.
Rehearsal, Performance and Learning Opportunities
- CSO Fellows will rehearse and perform with the CSO for 20 weeks per season between September and August; additional CSO weeks, as well as additional extra work, are possible.
- CSO Fellows will have the same contractual working conditions as extra or substitute musicians with the CSO.
- CSO Fellows will receive up to 10 private one-hour lessons per season with a CSO member or members who agree to offer private lessons.
- CSO Fellows may be invited to extend their fellowship for up to two additional years. Invitations for subsequent years, if made, will be extended by January 15; a fellow must accept or decline the invitation no later than February 15.
Compensation
- CSO Fellows will be compensated from $66,000-$76,200 per season, less statutory deductions, depending on the number of services played and based on the compensation for substitute and extra musicians as dictated by the CSO’s collective bargaining agreement.
- Each CSO Fellow will receive air transportation or mileage reimbursement for ground transportation for the initial move to Chicago, as well as a one-time relocation payment of $2,500 for those moving to Chicago from outside the Chicagoland area.
- CSO Fellows will also be offered transportation assistance to attend up to two auditions per year for full-time employment with other U.S. orchestras.
Promotional Toolkit
Check back soon for downloadable materials to promote this program at your organization.
General Video Guidelines
Musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will review all submitted video auditions. Please supply high-quality video recordings that are the best possible representation of your technical ability, tone quality and musicianship. Below are a few guidelines:
- The video frame should include your entire face, your instrument and full range of motion while you are playing. Videos submitted without full visibility will not be considered.
- Good sound quality will help the judges get the most accurate sense of your music-making, tone and timbre. However, professional equipment and a studio space are not necessary. With attention to details, a successful audition video can be made with readily available consumer-level electronics.
- Please consider the room/environment in which the video will be recorded. Make certain you are well-lit; having more light in front than behind you will make you more visible. Please remove miscellaneous items in the background that might be distracting to the viewer.
- Avoid recording near windows or in rooms with excessive external noises that might distract the judges from listening to your performance.
- Before submitting your audition, please watch and listen to your video, checking for audio levels and visual presentation.
FAQs and further suggestions on making a high-quality video »
Violin Preliminary Video Submission Repertoire
Solo:
The first movement of any violin concerto by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Sibelius, or Tchaikovsky.
For the recorded preliminary audition, please only record the exposition of the first movement.
Orchestral Excerpts:
VIOLIN I
Brahms Symphony No. 4
mvt. 2, meas. 30-49 and meas. 74-101
VIOLIN II
Mozart Symphony No. 41
mvt. 4, meas. 272-313
Violin Final Audition Repertoire
Those selected as finalists will be required to prepare the following works for the final round in Chicago.
Solo:
The entire first movement of any violin concerto by Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Sibelius, or Tchaikovsky.
Orchestral Excerpts:
VIOLIN I
Brahms Symphony No. 4
mvt. 2, meas. 30-49 and meas. 74-101
Beethoven Symphony No. 9
mvt. 3, meas. 99-114
Mozart Symphony No. 39
mvt. 1, meas. 26-97
Strauss Don Juan
beginning to 13 after Reh C
VIOLIN II
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1
mvt. 3, meas. 238-274
Mozart Symphony No. 41
mvt. 4, meas. 272-313
Possible Sight-Reading:
Excerpts from the standard repertoire to be determined at the audition.
Cello Preliminary Video Submission Repertoire
Solo:
The first movement of a cello concerto by one of the following composers: Dvořák, Haydn, Saint-Saëns, or Schumann.
For the recorded preliminary audition, please only record the exposition of the first movement.
Orchestral Excerpts:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd movement
m. 1-10, m. 49-59, m. 98- 106 (theme and variations 1 and 2)
Strauss Don Juan
Opening through m. 9
Seven before Letter G to H
Letter R to third measure of T
Cello Final Audition Repertoire
Solo:
The entire first movement of a cello concerto by one of the following composers: Dvořák, Haydn, Saint-Saëns, or Schumann.
Orchestral Excerpts:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd movement
m. 1-10, m. 49-59, m. 98- 106 (theme and variations 1 and 2)
Brahms Symphony No. 3, 3rd movement
Opening through m. 16
Mozart Overture to the Magic Flute
m. 27 through m. 53
Strauss Don Juan
Opening through m. 9
Seven before Letter G to H
Letter R to third measure of T
Possible Sight-Reading:
Excerpts from the standard repertoire to be determined at the audition.
Note: All audition candidates are responsible for obtaining audition repertoire from standard excerpt books or purchasable music.