Musician Audition
Each year we offer opportunities to talented young musicians (aged 11-21), who play ANY instrument to a grade 7 standard and above, to play in a pit-band, on-stage band or as an actor-musician! You'll work with a professional team to create a brand new show on one of our summer residential productions.
Audition for BYMT Musician Pool
The BYMT Musician Pool is a collection of musicians who have successfully auditioned having performed at the required standard. BYMT then invite musicians from the pool to work on our projects across the country.
Joining BYMT Company
Once you have successfully joined the BYMT Musician Pool, as requirements develop for each of the summer productions, you will be invited to join a specific BYMT company. You’ll be placed on a residential project, between 1 and 2 weeks long, to create a brand new piece of music theatre. BYMT projects take place in July/August across the UK and the selection process is not based on geography, so you may not be placed on the course closest to where you live - you may be working in London, Aberdeen, Plymouth, Belfast or somewhere else! As we gather the requirements for each show, musicians will be chosen from the pool.
Previous year's shows included the following instrumentalists:
A Winter’s Tale: piano, keys, 2 x violin, 2 x cello, double bass, cornet, guitar, accordion, harp, vibraphone, steel pans and percussion.
Help! Get me out of this Musical: keyboard, bass guitar, lead guitar and drums.
Barrack Room Ballads: an ensemble of percussion, brass, woodwind and strings
Paperboy looked for a replica band to play the music of the Bay City Rollers
How to audition? In person across the country
As we travel the country auditioning performers, we are offering 15min slots to audition musicians.
Auditions last around 15 minutes and are run by a musical director. We ask you to prepare two contrasting pieces of music around two minutes in length that best demonstrate your abilities. The MD will then talk about your musical interests to see which project might best suit you. Musicians will receive a results letter by the end of March.
Book your audition, click here.
How to audition? Video Audition
Submit a video of yourself playing two contrasting pieces by using this application form.
How to audition? Pit Stop Workshop
BYMT run various Pit Stop workshops around the country giving an exciting experience of what it is to work in a professional pit band. You will work with a professional Music Director and his/her staff including singers. During the day you will learn new pieces, work on Musical Theatre techniques, have a chance to ask questions to the professionals themselves and partake in an audition masterclass. Those who reach the desired standard will be invited to join the BYMT Musician Pool. Please note, there is a cost to attend most of our Pit Stop Workshops.
Pit Stop workshops dates:
Ealing Pit Stop 2020: TBC
How to Audition? School Group Audition
If your school has lots of students interested in joining the BYMT Musician Pool, ask your teacher to get in touch and we may be able to organise a workshop similar to the Pit Stop Workshops at minimal cost to the school. Hannah Kipling is happy to hear from teachers at hannahkipling@bymt.org
Is there a course fee if I'm successful?
If successful, there is a course fee. BYMT is a not-for-profit educational charity and, while we do receive Arts Council England funding to keep fees as low as possible, our primary source of income comes from course fees. The course fee varies depending on the length of the course and in 2019 our fully-residential courses for musicians start at £500 and go up to at £750 depending on the length of the course. This may sound expensive but we never ask for the payment in one lump sum and instead set up a payment plan. Furthermore, the fee covers full-board accommodation for the whole duration of the project, tuition from leading industry professionals, 24-hour full pastoral care, theatre hire, sound design and technical staff (and the actual cost is much more). We also have a comprehensive bursary scheme if required, plus we are always happy to offer help on raising money.
We look forward to welcoming many musicians onto our courses in 2020!
“It's hard to over-estimate the life-changing effect of BYMT on its participants.”
Howard Goodall (award-winning composer)