The OFJ recruits a concertmaster every year, who stays with the orchestra for two years and takes on one of the two annual programmes. There are therefore two concertmasters in rotation each year. The concertmaster in year 2 takes charge of the programme at the Dijon Opéra and the Philharmonie de Paris in December.
The position of concertmaster is the subject of a separate audition between the end of March and the beginning of April, during which the positions of concertmaster (violin co-solo, concertmaster second violin) are also allocated.
To apply for the solo violin auditions, whether or not you have previously applied to the OFJ, the procedure is as follows:
- Send a CV to
- Send a video including a concerto movement of your choice with piano accompaniment
Send the video and CV to inscriptions@ofj.fr before 28 February 2025
Following this mailing, a selection will be made internally, and auditions organised between mid-March and mid-April, in conjunction with the second round of auditions for the violin sections.
You can therefore audition for the symphonic orchestra and audition for the concertmaster position at the same time, or just audition for the concertmaster position.
The second round will consist of the following tests
- a chamber music test (in a string quartet) to be conducted by violin 1,
- orchestral excerpts
- an interview with the jury
Candidates selected for the second round will be informed of the orchestral excerpts and the quartet at a later stage.
Auditions for the 2025 competition will be held according to the following schedule:
29 January 2025: Registration opens
28 February 2025: Closing date for submitting videos
8 March 2025: Announcement of successful candidates and submission of features
29 March 2025: Auditions for successful candidates in Paris
String conductors (violas, cellos, double basses)
Additional lines will be offered in the second round to those who wish to apply as solo viola, solo cello, solo double bass, and who must notify us after the results of the first round.
Choice of soloists for Mozart’s Symphonie concertante for violin and viola
In 2025, Amandine Beyer will conduct Mozart’s Symphonie concertante for violin and viola. The solo parts of the work will be performed by two musicians who have passed the auditions for the year 2024-2025.
A working day will be organised in Paris on 27 May 2025 with Amandine Beyer to determine who will perform the solo parts.
Interested students must have prepared and sent a text presenting their motivation for performing this work.
© Matthieu Joffres
.