The Charleston Symphony Orchestral Fellowship places up to five string musicians in the orchestra for as many as two full seasons. Fellows perform in Masterworks and Pops concerts, education and community programs, and activities with the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra.
The host is the Charleston Symphony in Charleston, South Carolina. The latest published application round was for the 2025–26 season and is closed; no opening date for a later round is currently published.
Benefits & funding
- Fellows are paid at the standard Charleston Symphony per-service scale and also receive travel compensation and per diem.
- Housing is provided during service and concert weeks for fellows who live outside Charleston.
- The experience includes orchestra services, enrichment workshops, mock auditions, and other professional-development opportunities for up to two seasons.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be graduates of, or currently enrolled in, a graduate-level music program, including a master’s degree, DMA or PhD, or an artist or performance diploma or certificate.
- Current students must be in good academic standing.
- Applicants must already hold documentation permitting legal work in the United States; Charleston-area residence is not required.
- The 2025–26 round recruited two violinists, one violist, one cellist, and one bassist. Its application page required availability for six of eight Masterworks series, while the current Sphinx listing states seven of eight; applicants should verify the next round’s service requirement.
Can you apply?
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Education required
Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled · PhD
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Application process
- 1Prepare a résumé or CV, a 250–500-word essay addressing both published prompts, two recommendation letters, and an official transcript if currently enrolled.
- 2Record an introductory video of no more than three minutes and the required concerto and orchestral excerpts for the relevant instrument.
- 3Submit through the official application route when the next round opens; the 2025–26 form is closed.
- 4Shortlisted applicants complete a 25-minute Zoom interview with the search panel.
Program timeline
Most recent application deadline, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Mar 6, 2025
Applicants were to be notified by this date about interview scheduling.
Mar 18, 2025
Finalist Zoom interviews for the 2025–26 round.
Mar 31, 2025 to Apr 11, 2025
Winners were to be notified by this date.
Apr 18, 2025
Next cycle
No official opening or deadline has been published.