Pathways Placements
Trainee workshop leader opportunities for early career musicians
About Wigmore Hall Learning
Since 1994, Wigmore Hall's renowned Learning programme has been giving people of all ages and backgrounds opportunities to take part in creative music making, engaging a broad and diverse audience through innovative creative projects, concerts, workshops and digital content.
We are passionate about the impact music can have on our lives and on our society, and three core values lie at the heart of our programme: creativity, collaboration and equality. These values reflect the spirit of chamber music, and we embody them through quality, co-created music making, through which every voice is heard and equally valued. We collaborate with a range of community, education, arts, health and social care organisations, working in partnership to engage people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to take part.
About the scheme
Pathways is our programme of training and development opportunities, and this placement scheme is a chance for a cohort of musicians to take part in a bespoke range of opportunities, which are co-created with each participant in order to be responsive and relevant in relation to their aims and existing experience. Opportunities include:
- Workshop observations (NB workshops are currently taking place online; socially distanced, in person activity will resume when it is safe to do so)
- Training sessions
- Supporting workshop leader opportunities
- Guest performances on projects
- Peer learning across the cohort
- Support from the Wigmore Hall Learning team and workshop leaders
Opportunities will be offered across the Learning programme, with an emphasis on our work with children, young people and families.
Participating musicians will be paid a training fee of £50/half day (up to 4 hours) and £80/full day (4-8 hours) for workshops.
The scheme runs from January – July 2021, and dates will be mutually agreed according to availability and existing project dates.
Time commitment is flexible depending on the mutually agreed programme for each participant, but it could include, for example:
- An initial welcome meeting, three observations of workshops across different projects and a follow-up meeting to reflect on your experience and discuss possible next steps
- A welcome meeting, a supporting leader role at 6 weekly project sessions, and a follow-up meeting
Who can apply?
Applications are open to students and early career musicians aged 18+, working in any genre and with any voice type, instrument or other musical specialism (including composition and music technology), who are keen to gain experience in supporting the leadership of creative music making workshops.
As placements are co-designed with successful applicants, the scheme is open to musicians with a range of experience, from people who have never taken part in a music workshop, to people with considerably more experience.
Wigmore Hall recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals from a broad range of musical genres and backgrounds. We are committed to inclusive recruitment practices, and take steps to ensure unconscious bias is minimised as far as is possible.
We believe that no individual should experience abuse of any kind. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk, and the wellbeing and safety of every child and adult at risk is of paramount importance in our work. We expect all our staff and musicians to respect the rights and dignity of every individual with whom we work, and to work in a way that promotes the safety and wellbeing of children and adults at risk. In accordance with Wigmore Hall’s Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment Policy, successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS check and take part in safeguarding training as appropriate, and successful applicants will be confirmed following successful reference checks.
How can I apply?
To apply, please complete this form and submit your application form by 5pm on Wednesday 9 December. Please note you cannot save your progress whilst completing the form, so you may wish to work on your questions using this document. We are also very happy to receive applications in an alternative format (e.g. video/audio recording) if a written application presents barriers to you applying. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an audition on Thursday 17 December in which we’ll ask you to sing or play a short piece of any genre (you can also play us a recording of a short piece if you are a composer / music technology specialist) followed by a short, informal interview. This will take place either online or in person, pending government guidelines and applicants’ preferences. More details will be sent to shortlisted applicants.
For any questions regarding the scheme, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..