Audition rules and regulations Jong Metropole (JM)
1. Jong Metropole organises various projects for young, talented musicians from 18 to 26 years of age (at the starting date of each project) studying an instrument at a music academy. Participants are selected by auditions. An audition can be applied for by submitting an application form before the closing date of the audition. Candidates who apply must be 100% available for the upcoming project concerned.
THE AUDITIONS
2. Auditions are held once a year. In the spring, live auditions are held in the Netherlands. These auditions are open to:
• musicians from 18 to 26 years of age (at the starting date of the next project) studying an instrument at a music academy in the Netherlands, and Dutch citizens studying an instrument at a music academy elsewhere. After a successful live audition and participation in a JM project these musicians will become members of the JM (see 11). JM members can take part in several projects without the need to audition again.
3.1 At the audition, candidates will be asked to play the orchestral excerpts which are available on the NJO website. For big band players (trombone, saxophone, trumpet, rhythm section) we also require a standard / improvisation piece of your own choosing.
3.2 JM requires certain players to play an auxiliary instrument. Saxophone players are also required to play the clarinet, trumpet players are also required to play the bugle. For flute and oboe, piccolo and cor anglais are not required but recommended, since the instrumentation might ask for is. Applicants who also wish to apply for positions that include auxiliary instruments should tick the right box/boxes on the application form and prepare the required orchestral excerpts for the auxiliary instrument(s) as well.
3.3 At the live auditions JM provides a pianist to accompany standard / improvisation piece. Candidates are also allowed to bring their own pianist. The pianist provided by JM will practise with the candidate just before the audition. Candidates are obliged to bring a score for the pianist.
3.4 JM members (see 11) do not need to audition for new JM projects and have preference in these. However, JM members who wish to become (co- )principal (again) are required to audition for each new project. This includes the positions for principle and co-principle strings, first wind, first harp, timpani, bass trombone, tuba and piano. If the repertoire of a project requires special skills or solos for other instruments the JM can decide to hold auditions to select musicians for these instruments as well.
4.1 The jury of the auditions in the Netherlands consists of:
• a member of the artistic team of JM (director of the NJO, director of the NJJO, artistic director of Metropole Orkest) • a professional musician for the specific instrument and/or orchestra section for which the auditions are organised.
4.2 In special circumstances JM may change the composition of the jury.
5. The artistic team of JM is responsible for the selection of the best participants possible for the NJO, for the choice of (co-)principal players and for deciding the positions of all other players. They do this based upon the auditions and their knowledge about the performance of musicians in preceding projects.
6. The results of the auditions will be sent as soon as possible after the last audition has finished. It is not possible to obtain information about the audition results until after the final results have been sent to all applicants.
7. JM audition days are tightly scheduled and candidates who fail to turn up can cause considerable delay. Therefore, if a candidate fails to turn up at the allotted time without prior notice or without a valid medical reason on the day, then JM will make a note of this in the candidate’s JM file. That may have a negative influence on the candidate's future involvement with the JM.
8. For coaching purposes, representatives of the Dutch music academies are welcome to attend the auditions of their own students in the Netherlands. They will not vote and neither will they attend the deliberation of the jury.
9. All decisions of the jury and the JM team are final and not subject to discussion. Applicants will have the opportunity to receive feedback on their audition after they have received the audition results.
APPLICATION AND PARTICIPATION IN PROJECTS
10.1 JM members (see 11) do not need to audition for new JM projects and will be given preference for these. However, JM members who wish to become (co-)principal (again) are required to audition for each new project. This includes the positions for principle and co-principle strings, first wind, first harp, timpani, bass trombone, tuba and piano. If the repertoire of a project requires special skills or solos for other instruments then JM can decide to select musicians for these instruments by audition as well.
10.2 JM members (see 11) who have taken part in a JM project will be given preference for the next project (orchestration permitted). All JM members will be given the opportunity to apply for the next project (orchestration permitted) without the need of to audition (except for the (co- )principal and first positions). Members who wish to participate in a next project need to apply again.
10.3 When applying for the audition or applying as a member for a project, the applicant/member is obliged to be and remain 100% available for the upcoming project. Cancellation without good reason (to be judged by the JM staff) may lead to cancellation of the preference position and/or the JM membership.
10.4 Participation in a project is only possible for the complete project. Participants are not allowed to miss any rehearsal or concert either wholly or partially for any other reason than illness or urgent (first or second degree) family-related problems. In the event of cancellation due to illness of the musician or his/her family members, a medical certificate is required. Participants will not be granted dispensation for other performances.
10.5 By applying for and participating in JM projects, the applicant/participant agrees to participate without reimbursement in all rehearsals (also public), concerts, publicity and other JM events such as those for sponsors, performances at unusual concert locations, CD, radio- and television recordings, press and photo reports. The participant transfers all rights of her/his performance without any limitation in time and place to the JM.
10.6 Participants in JM projects are expected to have sufficiently prepared their parts/the music before the start of a project.
MEMBERSHIP
11.1 JM Membership: After a successful audition and participation in the upcoming JM project, applicants studying in the Netherlands and Dutch citizens studying at a
music academy elsewhere will become a member of the JM. Membership lasts for one year starting from 1 August 2020 until 1 May 2021.
11.2 JM members will participate in the Summer and Winter project of JM.
11.3 Members who take part in a project will be preferred for the next project (orchestration permitted). Members are obliged to participate in the 2 projects in the year that they are member (Summer and Winter).
11.4 JM membership is valid up to and including the age of 26 years (at the starting date of each project) and lasts for a maximum of one year (see 11.1) as long as the member is studying an instrument at a music academy in the Netherlands or as a Dutch citizen studying an instrument at a music academy elsewhere. JM members can take part in JM projects (orchestration permitted) without the need to audition again. If the repertoire of a project requires special skills or solos for other instruments then JM can decide to select musicians for these instruments by audition as well. JM members who wish to apply or re-apply for one of these positions are required to audition for these positions.
For JM members who graduate and/or finish their studies at a music academy in the Netherlands or for Dutch JM members who graduate or finish their studies at a music academy in general, the membership will last until the end of the first JM project (JM Winter Tour or JM Summer Tour) following their graduation/completion of studies.
11.5 After their membership has expired (see 11.1 and 11.4) former members can still be invited for JM projects, however new and current members will be given preference. A new membership may be applied for by doing a new audition in accordance with the prevailing JM audition rules and regulations (including age limit).
COSTS
12. Audition candidates must pay for the travelling expenses and any other costs they incur for the auditions. These expenses cannot be claimed from the JM.
13. JM keeps participation fees in JM projects as low as possible and these projects are often free of charge. For special projects (such as the international Summer Tour) JM can require a contribution fee from each participant. This will be announced on JM website. Travelling with the whole orchestra during the international Summer Tour will be organised and paid for by JM and partly covered by this obligatory contribution fee from the participants.
14. Participants must pay for the travelling expenses to and from the place(s) where a project is held.
GENERAL
15. JM expects everyone involved in JM projects to treat other people as they would like to be treated themselves: behave with respect and consideration towards others and other people's possessions. Misbehaviour of any kind can lead to immediate exclusion from the project and of access to the places where a project is held, immediate termination of JM membership and/or exclusion from any other project of JM. Any such decision will be taken by the JM staff. The costs of any damage will be recovered from the person(s) causing it. All travelling expenses and other costs that arise from such an (immediate) exclusion will be paid for by the person excluded.
16. Each participant in a JM project is obliged to have full insurance for his/her instruments, full health insurance, travel insurance and third-party insurance (liability insurance) during the entire project. JM does not cover any costs for instruments, medical care, or damage or injury caused by or to third parties.
17. JM reserves the right - subject to clear arguments - to deviate from the above rules.