Amateur Orchestras, Bands and Ensembles looking for double reed players, listed by requirement, then by county:
Cumbria
Brampton Community Orchestra have one bassoonist, but would like another! They cater for musicians of all ages, all they ask is that you’re grade 3 – 4 and above. Email the BDRS Secretary to be put in touch with their Director by email.
Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire border
Friesland Orchestral Society have neither oboe nor bassoon players. They rehearse on Friday evenings – they don’t perform public concerts and meet between September to May at a church just a few hundred yards from Long Eaton railway station (on the lines from Leicester and Nottingham to Derby). More information can be found at https://frieslandorchestralsociety.webs.com/
Dorset
Bournemouth and District Concert Band meets Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:30 pm at Queens Park Infant Academy in Bournemouth – BH8 9PU. They are an active wind band that plays throughout the area, including the Bandshell in Bournemouth Gardens and busking at local shops around Christmas to raise money in support of our annual charity of the year. They play a variety of music – popular to classical and everything in between! They are looking for bassoon players, they currently have none. Requirement is minimum grade 5 standard, and players must be at least 14 years old. They have players ranging from 14 years to 80 years old. If you are interested in giving them a try, we have permission to put you in touch with their Chair, Sue by email. They are also on Facebook @Bandconcertband or at http://www.bournemouthanddistrictconcertband.co.uk/
Essex
Harlow Symphony Orchestra are a small amateur orchestra are looking for oboists and bassoonists who are happy to dep from time to time in the Harlow, Essex area. If this is you, then contact BDRS Secretary – we have permission to put you in touch via email.
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Southend Wind Orchestra are an amateur woodwind orchestra based in Southend, Essex looking for bassoonists. They welcome new players of Grade 6 and above. Please see their Facebook page Southend Wind Orchestra or more info at https://www.southendwinds.org/join.html
Gwent
Hampshire
Lymington Town Band (est. 1883) has no double reed players and will welcome any wanting to join or try them out, please visit lymingtontownband.org.uk or their facebook page, or we have permission to put you in touch via email.
Huntingdonshire
Lancashire
Burnley Orchestra has vacancies for bassoonists (Gr 7 ish). They are well established, having just celebrated their centenary! They perform about 4 concerts per year (mostly in St. Peter’s Church Burnley BB11 2DL) and rehearse weekly in term time at Padiham Road Methodist Church in Burnley BB12 8AD from 7.30-9.30 pm. Their classical music concerts often feature young soloists from the RNCM in Manchester. For more information please see their website http://burnleyorchestra.org.uk
London
Barnet Symphony Orchestra are looking for an experienced orchestral musician to rehearse with them on Monday evenings in Hendon. They have a vacancy for a 2nd bassoonist, playing at Grade 7 or above standard. Anyone interested please contact them to arrange to join in a rehearsal via http://www.barnetsymphony.org.uk/ or via the BDRS secretary – we can put you in touch via email.
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The Learning Orchestra would welcome 2 bassoonists grade 6+ to join them on Thursday evenings, rehearsing in Euston, central London. They are currently rehearsing Dvorak, Mehul and Wagner. Please contact them through their website https://www.learning-orchestra.org.uk/
Somerset
Weston Youth Orchestra is a youth orchestra for 7 to 21 year olds based in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. They have no oboes or bassoons and would welcome any new players. There is a junior (Grades 1-5) and senior orchestra (Grade 5+), visit http://www.westonyouthorchestra.org.uk/index.htm for more information.
The Yorkshire Military Band has vacancy for a bassoonist. They are an active 35 piece wind band and have several ex forces musicians among their ranks and are based in Barnsley South Yorks. They are seeking a player of at least Grade 6 standard who is keen to get involved in wind band playing in many genres of music ranging from classical, light concert pieces and military style. Rehearsals are in Barnsley on Monday evenings and they will warmly welcome anyone who can fill this key seat within the band! If this is you, then contact BDRS Secretary – we have permission to put you in touch with their bandmaster via email. http://www.theyorkshiremilitaryband.com/home/4553247135
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The Yorkshire Wind Orchestra rehearse in Wakefield on Monday evenings and perform throughout the Yorkshire region. They aim to play challenging repertoire to a high standard and welcome enquiries from bassoonists. There is a minimum standard of around grade 8; although a developing player approaching this standard would also be considered. There is no formal audition but players are asked to undertake a short trial period to see how they fit into the orchestra. Contact via website http://www.yorkshirewinds.co.uk/contact.php or Facebook @yorkshirewinds for more information.
Derbyshire / Nottinghamshire border
Friesland Orchestral Society have neither oboe nor bassoon players. They rehearse on Friday evenings – they don’t perform public concerts and meet between September to May at a church just a few hundred yards from Long Eaton railway station (on the lines from Leicester and Nottingham to Derby). More information can be found at https://frieslandorchestralsociety.webs.com/
Essex
Harlow Symphony Orchestra are a small amateur orchestra are looking for oboists and bassoonists who are happy to dep from time to time in the Harlow, Essex area. If this is you, then contact BDRS Secretary – we have permission to put you in touch via email.
Hampshire
Lymington Town Band (est. 1883) has no double reed players and will welcome any wanting to join or try them out, so Hampshire double reeders please visit lymingtontownband.org.uk or their facebook page, or we have permission to put you in touch via email.
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London
Barnet Symphony Orchestra are looking for an experienced orchestral musician to rehearse with them on Monday evenings in Hendon. They have a vacancy for a 1st oboe, playing at Grade 8 or above standard. Anyone interested please contact them to arrange to join in a rehearsal via http://www.barnetsymphony.org.uk/ or via the BDRS secretary – we can put you in touch via email.
Somerset
Weston Youth Orchestra is a youth orchestra for 7 to 21 year olds based in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. They have no oboes or bassoons and would welcome any new players. There is a junior (Grades 1-5) and senior orchestra (Grade 5+), visit http://www.westonyouthorchestra.org.uk/index.htm for more information.
Suffolk
The Sudbury Symphony Orchestra is looking to recruit an oboe player, they are a very friendly orchestra of 45+ members which rehearses weekly on Thursday evenings in Sudbury Suffolk and perform 3 times a year. The orchestra has a professional conductor and leader and is currently looking for an oboe player to share the oboe desk and so feels equally at home playing as 1st oboe or as 2nd oboe. The ideal player is grade 8 standard or above with a decent amount of orchestral playing experience. Players who do not quite fit this player profile but feel they can grow with the orchestra as a player should still get in contact. See http://www.sudburysymphonyorchestra.com/news/view/11 for more details or get in contact on events@sudburysymphonyorcestra.com.
Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Wind Orchestra rehearse in Wakefield on Monday evenings and perform throughout the Yorkshire region. They aim to play challenging repertoire to a high standard and have an oboe vacancy. This could either be co-principal or second oboe depending on the player. Doubling Cor Anglais would be a bonus. There is a minimum standard of around grade 8; although a developing player approaching this standard would also be considered. Bassoon enquiries are also always welcome. There is no formal audition but players are asked to undertake a short trial period to see how they fit into the orchestra. Contact via website http://www.yorkshirewinds.co.uk/contact.php or Facebook @yorkshirewinds for more information.
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The White Rose Orchestra is a friendly orchestra of 40+ members. They rehearse weekly on Thursday evenings in Leeds and perform four times per year. The orchestra currently has a vacancy for a principal oboe (minimum standard grade 6). The position closes at midnight on Sunday 14th April. Applicants should send a short biography along with a video recording of their playing to whiteroseorchestra@yahoo.co.uk The recording should be a minimum length of 1 minute. For further information please visit http://whiteroseorchestra.org.uk/currentvacancies/
Double reed players excel at networking; if you have managed to fill one of these seats please let us know so we can remove the listing.
Updated 30th September 2019