The Danish National Symphony Orchestra invites applications to audition for: Associate principal clarinet, with obligation to 2nd clarinet.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra invites applications to audition for the following position:

Associate Principal Clarinet with obligation to 2nd clarinet
Please note: Only Böhm / french system

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is one of the world's oldest broadcasting symphony orchestras and is part of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) - a leading cultural generator, regionally, nationally, and internationally. The corporation includes 5 ensembles – a symphony orchestra, choirs, and a big band and is an important ambassador for Danish music and culture abroad.

The Danish Symphony Orchestra continuously collaborates with the world's leading soloists and conductors. Maestro Fabio Luisi has been the Chief Conductor since September 2016. Other internationally acclaimed conductors such as Herbert Blomstedt, Manfred Honeck and Jukka Pekka Saraste regularly visit and conduct the orchestra.

The DR concert hall is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota and has been rated one of the world’s best concert halls by ‘Gramophone’. Most of the orchestra’s concerts are broadcast on DR’s platforms (radio, TV and digital) and to large regions of the world through the European Broadcasting Union.

The position
The applicant will join our clarinet section with a total of 4 musicians in the section. We are looking for a clarinet player with the highest musical and technical capabilities. A musician who has refined ability to be a part of the section's sound and musicality both within the clarinet section, as well as in the orchestra.

The audition will take place on:

• Monday November 16th 2026 from 10:00 AM (1st and 2nd round)
• Tuesday November 17th 2026 from 10:00 AM (3rd round with orchestra)

On October 9th 2026 we will announce by email who will be invited to the preliminary round, and who is invited directly to the 1st round. The preliminary round can only be attended digitally. If you are signed to the preliminary round you will be asked to submit an audio file to us, which must be sent to us no later than October 23 2026 at 12 AM (CET).

At the audition we would like to hear:
Preliminary round (only to be attended digitally)
W.A. Mozart: 1st movement of clarinet concerto (KV622), bars 49-154
Carl Nielsen: Clarinet concert Op. 57, 1st cadenza

Orchestral excerpt:
Brahms: Symphony no. 3 Op. 90, 2nd movement - from start to letter B

1st round
W.A. Mozart: 1st movement of clarinet concerto (KV622), bars 49-128

Orchestral excerpts

2nd round
C. Debussy: Première Rhapsodie, from start to 6th bar in number 6
Carl Nielsen: Clarinet concert Op. 57, 1st cadenza

Orchestral excerpts

3rd round with orchestra
Orchestral excerpts with the orchestra

All excerpts will be sent by email before the audition. As a part of the audition, selected candidates may be invited to an interview with the Head of development and operations and representatives of the jury.

An accompanist for the audition will be provided.
Travel and accomodation for this audition is at the applicant's own expense.

Working in the Danish National Symphony Orchestra and in Denmark

The working schedule is based on 24 hours a week plus 15 hours individual preparation based on 42 weeks per year. Normally rehearsals are held Monday till Friday with concerts twice a week.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is artistically grounded in the great symphonic repertoire from the classical period to leading contemporary composers, with late romantic and early modern repertoire as areas of special emphasis. The orchestra is regularly involved in concert, recording and broadcasting activities aimed at new audiences as part of the public service mission of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation. Domestic and international touring is also a contractual obligation.

The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is committed to the highest artistic standards and to continuously upholding a good working environment and collaboration build on mutual respect and good communication. The orchestra is located at DR Byen in Copenhagen in a smoke-free indoor environment, with good practice- and work facilities and a subway station close by.

The starting date for the position is to be agreed upon.
The annual salary is calculated based on documented orchestral experience and is between 469.868 DKK and 578.265 DKK.
Further to the salary is a 22,6 % pension and an extensive public health care system as well as instrument insurance.
Employment is subject to confirmation of residence and work permit in Denmark.

Would you like to be a part of the Danish National Symphony Orchestra?

Please apply on this page (to your right) or via this link, no later than Friday October 2 2026,11:59 PM (CET). All applications will be acknowledged and treated in strict confidence.

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact orchestra manager Morten Danvad
at [email protected]

The audition will take place at: DR Byen, Emil Holms Kanal 20, 0999 Copenhagen C, Denmark.

The Danish Broadcasting Corporation wishes to reflect society. Therefore, we encourage any interested and qualified person regardless of gender, age, religion, disability and ethnic background to apply.

Application deadline: Apply no later than 2. October 2026

Location: DR Koncerthuset