Join the NPO

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra, Nashville’s premiere community orchestra! Explore the several ways to get involved below, and sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when new openings and fellowships are available.

The NPO rehearses Tuesday evenings, typically southwest of downtown Nashville (37205). Our concert pairs are usually Sunday afternoons & Tuesdays at 7:00pm.

Auditions

Current Openings:

No current openings

If there are any instruments listed above, you may submit an audition for that instrument now!

If your instrument is not listed above, please check back regularly, or send an email with the subject “NPO Audition Wait List” to auditions@nashvillephilharmonic.org and we will contact you if we have any openings on your instrument during the season.

Otherwise, our annual Open Call for all instruments occurs each year June 1 - July 15. While we may not have an opening (or substitute spot) available on all instruments during the Open Call, we accept auditions for all instruments during that time. Decisions will be made the following August.

If you have any questions that are not answered on this page, please Contact Us and we will get back to you soon.

To audition, please send your audition recording, attached as a file or a link to a file, as described below, to auditions@nashvillephilharmonic.org.

In the subject line, please include the heading NPO Audition along with your instrument. For example: NPO Audition: Cello.

In the body of your email, please include the following:

  • Your name, address, email address, phone number

  • Your instrument

  • A brief summary of your musical training

  • A video audition as described below. The video may be sent as an mp4 attachment (Gmail or WeTransfer) or as a link (YouTube, Vimeo, or Dropbox)

Your audition video should contain**:

  • Helpful videography angle and distance such that your technique is clearly visible (for example, embouchures, hand positions, etc. unobstructed by music stands)

  • Your current playing. Namely, please make the video specifically for this audition. While you can feel free to do multiple takes for each selection, please ensure the takes themselves are unedited.

  • Two scales of your choice covering a reasonable range of your instrument: one scale played slowly, the other scale played at fastest accurate speed

  • Two to four minutes total of a solo, etude, concerto, or excerpts–or portions thereof–that showcase your musical ability (please contact us ahead of time if you are uncertain)

**NOTE: For percussionists who do not have easy access to timpani & mallet instruments, please contact us if you are interested but have questions about what should be included in the audition video.

Please Note: The NPO is a volunteer community orchestra. We do not typically accept college students pursuing a music degree or high school students. However students may participate in our competitions.

Fellowships

Vaughn Richardson

2024-2025 Conducting Fellow

Vaughn Richardson is a conductor and music educator from Glen Allen, Virginia. As a conductor, Vaughn is well versed on stage, in the opera pit, and in the classroom serving as a music educator in Roanoke City, Virginia.  During his time as an educator, he assisted as a conductor with Opera Roanoke in Roanoke, Virginia under the direction of Steven White. Vaughn recently received an honorable mention at the Respighi conducting competition with the Chamber Orchestra of New York in 2024. He is excited to serve as the fellowship conductor with the NPO for the 2024-2025 season.

Vaughn Richardson is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where he studied under Mark Gibson and earned an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting. Before pursuing his conducting studies, Vaughn studied horn at Virginia Tech under Wallace Easter. He also holds an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction and a B.A. in Music Education from Virginia Tech.

Past Conducting Fellows

Tal Benatar

Nathan Bieber

Esther “Esi” Tupper

Shreyas Patel

Elias Salazar

Jessica Reeves

Fellowship Opportunities

The NPO Conducting Fellow is an opportunity for an emerging conductor to gain experience with the artistic and administrative operations of an orchestra. The position is for one season, but the artistic staff has the option to offer a full year renewal to the Fellow when appropriate.

The position has been filled for the 2024-2025 Season! Stay tuned here for info on future openings.