Japan Philharmonic seeks first and third horn players｜Applications due 13 November 2026

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Japan Philharmonic Orchestra is recruiting a small number of first and third horn players. Applicants must have the ability required of an orchestral musician and sufficient Japanese to work without difficulty. There are no restrictions on age, gender or nationality.

Deadline and applications

Application deadline: 2026-11-13. Applications must arrive by that date and are accepted by post only. Send the orchestra's application form to its auditions office. Students must include a recommendation letter. Applicants living or studying abroad must provide a contact address in Japan.

Audition and appointment

After document screening, the first audition takes place on 7 December 2026 in the Main Hall of Suginami Public Hall, Tokyo. The final audition date has not been announced. Candidates who pass the final audition attend an interview. Formal appointment follows a four-month trial period and requires the prescribed level of support in a vote of all orchestra members.

Prepare all movements of Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 4, K.495, with cadenzas, and Richard Strauss's Horn Concerto No. 1, Op.11. The works to be played in the first audition will be specified on the day. Orchestral excerpts are also required and will be mailed to candidates who pass screening no later than one week before the first audition. Candidates must bring their own pianist; the audition pitch is A=442 Hz.

Employment terms and expenses

Pay and benefits follow the orchestra's regulations, which provide for commuting, housing, family and education allowances, social insurance and a retirement allowance scheme. Candidates bear all expenses of attending the audition.