LSO Pathways
Mentoring musicians aged 18 and over who aspire to play in a professional orchestra.
LSO Pathways is a two-year programme of support and activity designed for emerging orchestral musicians, who face barriers which may have hindered their progress and development. We recruit six people to the scheme each year.
Participants are invited to three residential weekends in London each year. All expenses including travel to and from London will be covered by the LSO. Each participant is matched with a mentor from the LSO, with whom they will have a monthly meeting, either online or in person if feasible. The LSO player will carefully nurture their personal and professional development over the two years.
The residential weekends are designed around LSO activity taking place at that time, with opportunities to attend rehearsals and concerts. Training is provided in areas of orchestral life including education work, creative opportunities and career guidance. Scheme participants also have a lesson with their mentor during the weekend. Alongside group activities, the aim is to offer a bespoke experience to each participant focusing on their own musical development.
Who Is It For?
The scheme welcomes applications from players with a range of musical backgrounds and experiences. You may be self-taught or you may have never played in an orchestra. You may be studying at university or conservatoire, have graduated or may not have studied since school. You may be working as a freelance player or you may have taken a different route. You will be around Grade 8 standard or higher, although you may have never taken any formal music exams.
You are a keen and committed player who believes that challenges, barriers, or other circumstances beyond your control have limited your progress or prevented you from accessing certain opportunities.
We are also keen to receive applications from female-identifying musicians who play instruments which are traditionally male-dominated in orchestras, namely double bass, horn, brass and percussion.
What’s Included?
Pathways participants enjoy many benefits including
- Lessons with an LSO mentor
- Attending LSO concerts and concerts in other London venues
- Access to LSO rehearsals
- Chamber music coaching with LSO musicians
- Workshops on career development
- Sessions on presentation skills
- The opportunity to perform at LSO St Luke’s
- Group meals and social activities
It’s a really amazing scheme to be on, a once in a lifetime opportunity. Pathways Participant
It is such a safe environment that lets you be challenged and it inspires you and it also really lets you develop as a musician while you meet amazing people. Pathways Participant
Every time I go on a Pathways weekend, I grow a bit more in terms of my music making and finding my own musical path. Pathways Participant
Apply to Take Part
Applications for Pathways 2027/28 are now open.
To be considered for the scheme there are two things you need to do:
- Complete the application form below.
- Record a video of approximately five minutes of you performing a piece or pieces of your choice. It can be either a complete piece or an extract of something longer. This should be a piece or pieces that you enjoy playing and feel demonstrate your musical ability. The video can be recorded on a phone, iPad, or other device; professional recordings are not required. Your piece can be accompanied or unaccompanied. It is completely fine to perform a piece without the accompaniment part if you are unable to access a pianist. Once you have recorded your video, please upload it to YouTube or another video-sharing platform and include the link on your application form.
Please fill out the application form and share your audition video before the deadline of Sunday 25 October 2026. Applicants will be advised in December whether they have been successful or not.
Please note that the residential weekends are
Friday 29 – Sunday 31 January 2027
Friday 9 – Sunday 11 April 2027
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 November 2027
If you have any questions about the scheme, please email pathways@lso.co.uk and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be aged 18 or over and no longer attend school. Please note there is no upper age limit.
You must play one of the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba or percussion. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from other instrumentalists, including pianists.
LSO Pathways is generously support by Joanna and Graham Barker.
Header image © Paul Cochrane
