SLSO Auditions - St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
St. Louis Symphony Chorus
St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus
St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Auditions

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is composed of accomplished musicians whose performances inspire joy, connection, and inspiration. The SLSO and Music Director, Stéphane Denève, announce auditions for the positions below.

For general information regarding auditions, please email auditions@slso.org.

Position effective no later than the beginning of the 2026-27 season, or per mutual agreement of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the winning candidate.

Application Deadline: October 31, 2025

Preliminary Auditions: January 12 & 13, 2026

Semi-Final and Final Auditions: March 23, 2026

Position details and Audition Information

Applications are no longer being accepted for this position.
Position effective no later than the beginning of the 2026-27 season, or per mutual agreement of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the winning candidate.

Application Deadline: October 31. 2025

Preliminary Auditions: January 20 & 21, 2026

Semi-Final and Final Auditions: March 24, 2026

Position details and Audition Information

Applications are no longer being accepted for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is proud to support The National Alliance of Audition Support (NAAS) as an Orchestra Partner. NAAS is an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras. It will do so by offering Black and Latinx musicians a customized combination of mentoring, audition preparation, financial support, and audition reviews. Learn more at www.auditionalliance.org.

St. Louis Symphony Chorus Auditions

Recognized for its artistic excellence and critically acclaimed sound, our St. Louis Symphony Chorus performs with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra several times each season. Learn more about St. Louis Symphony Chorus auditions.

Periodically, there are openings in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus for qualified singers to perform with the orchestra and chorus and work with distinguished, internationally-known conductors.

SLSC mid-season auditions

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, 5:00-6:30 PM, in the Powell Hall Education & Learning Center (ELC)

Schedule and Audition
Applicants for a volunteer chorus position are asked to perform two minutes of a vocal solo of their choosing (please choose any two minutes of a song or aria that shows your voice best); memorization is not required. These applicants will also be sent a brief choral selection shortly before auditions to prepare and sing for the panel. Singers applying for a paid chorus position are asked to perform a solo, ideally by memory (an art song, an opera or oratorio aria, a sacred piece or a classical music theater solo). The piece may be in any language. Applicants for a paid chorus position will also be asked to sight read a brief excerpt from an 18th or 19th century choral work in their audition. All auditioners will vocalize during their audition, to further demonstrate range and flexibility, and will do some tonal memory exercises.

Auditions are heard by the chorus director and chorus manager and an accompanist is provided. The entire audition will last ten minutes.

Auditioners will be sent an Audition Form and Season Calendar via email prior to their audition.
Paid positions are reserved for singers with strong experience as soloists with large ensembles. Anyone selected as a paid singer should be able to perform as cover soloists at this level. The SLSO performs in large halls, without amplification. Paid singers must be strong enough to project over the orchestra. Paid singers also must have excellent musical skills, including sight reading, and must be available for all performances.
The repertoire for the chorus for this season includes:
- Kevin Puts’ House of Tomorrow • Friday-Sunday, September 26-28
  Revel in this sparkling season opener as we celebrate our rejuvenated musical home with Grammy-winning soprano Joyce DiDonato and the triumphant tale of Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben.
- Britten’s War Requiem • Friday & Sunday, November 7 & 9
  A contemporary masterpiece and a meditation on the darkness of war, Britten’s War Requiem is an unforgettable cry for reconciliation and peace.
- Handel’s Messiah • Friday-Sunday, December 12-14
  Among the grandest of oratorios and the most cherished of holiday traditions, Handel’s Messiah returns to Powell Hall as we welcome the winter season.
- Mercy Holiday Celebration • Saturday-Sunday & Tuesday, December 20, 21 & 23
  Experience the magic of the holidays as St. Louis native Kennedy Holmes joins the SLSO to perform seasonal favorites and exciting twists in this beloved annual tradition.
- Amadeus in Concert • Friday- Saturday, February 13-14
  Experience Miloš Forman’s Academy Award-winning phenomenon Amadeus while the SLSO and St. Louis Symphony Chorus perform Mozart’s most celebrated works live to picture.
- Mozart’s The Magic Flute • Friday & Sunday, February 20 & 22
  Don’t miss this extravagant opera-in-concert event, with one of Mozart’s most brilliant orchestral dramas performed in its entirety with a star-studded cast and the St. Louis Symphony Chorus.
- St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra Spring Concert • Sunday, March 29
  Discover the future of orchestral music with the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. YO musicians perform challenging orchestral repertoire while learning directly from the musicians and conductors of the SLSO.
- Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé • Friday-Sunday, May 8-10
  This extraordinary celebration brings together more than 300 musicians for a world premiere and the stunning sounds of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé.
Meet our Chorus

St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus Auditions

The St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus is an auditioned ensemble of volunteer singers that performs a variety of musical styles, with a focus on the interpretation, performance, and preservation of music from the African diaspora. Learn more about IN UNISON chorus auditions.

Interested individuals should prepare one piece in any style (for example, a church solo, a selection from a musical, or a classical work) and should bring sheet music for the accompanist—no a cappella selections are allowed. Singers will be asked to sing their part from the attached choral excerpts. Singers must be familiar with the basics of music notation. Vocalizing will further demonstrate range and flexibility and help determine possible placement in the chorus. Auditions are heard by the chorus director, chorus manager and chorus accompanist. The entire audition will last approximately 8-10 minutes.

Choral Excerpts
The IN UNISON Young Artists Awards provide singers 30 years of age and under the opportunity to sing with the IN UNISON Chorus on the stage at Powell Hall and in other venues in the St. Louis community. These paid positions are reserved for a limited numbers of singers with strong experience as soloists with large ensembles. IN UNISON Young Artist will provide musical leadership in the Chorus. In return, Young Artists will be given opportunities to solo, meet internationally-acclaimed artists, and perform with the world-renowned St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. An IN UNISON Young Artist audition will include sight reading, tonal memory, vocalizing, and two vocal selections performed from memory, with accompanist (unaccompanied selections are not permitted).

Learn more here
The repertoire for the chorus for this season is
- IN UNISON Christmas • Thursday-Friday, December 18-19
  Celebrate the season with this spectacular performance by gospel legends the Clark Sisters, the SLSO, and the IN UNISON Chorus, blending gospel, jazz, and holiday classics.
- Lift Every Voice • Friday, February 27
  The SLSO and IN UNISON Chorus are joined by celebrated singer and choral composer Rosephanye Dunn Powell for this joyful celebration of Black History Month.
- Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé: Love and Transformation • Friday-Sunday, May 8-10
  This extraordinary celebration brings together more than 300 musicians for a world premiere and the stunning sounds of Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloé.
Meet our Chorus

IN UNISON is presented by:

St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra Auditions

Young musicians join the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra for a number of reasons—for the challenge of playing advanced orchestral repertoire, for the opportunity to work with the musicians of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and for the chance to play with a large ensemble of musically accomplished peers.

Many YO musicians go on to pursue careers in music with the confidence and knowledge gained through their experience with the YO, including two current members of the SLSO. Learn more about our Youth Orchestra and its available orchestra auditions.

Applications for the 2026/27 season are now open.

Audition Links

SLSO education programs are presented by:

Youth Orchestra programs are presented by:

The Tynewald Foundation

And supported in part by:

G.A., Jr. and Kathryn M. Buder Charitable Foundation

Gateway Metro Federal Credit Union

ESCO Technologies Foundation

Create Your Experience

From season tickets to family concerts, there are several ways to experience the beauty of music with the SLSO.

Get Involved Get Tickets

St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Auditions

Equal Opportunity Employer

St. Louis Symphony Chorus Auditions

Meet our Chorus

St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus Auditions