Open vacancies
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra is a dynamic, innovative orchestra maintained by the Finnish city of Lahti. In addition to offering audiences a wide range of concerts, the orchestra does touring and is active in recording and education. Its home is the Sibelius Hall, famous for its magnificent acoustics. In the autumn 2025 Hannu Lintu started as the artistic partner of the orchestra. The orchestra seeks to recruit first-class players with good teamworking skills.
Alternating principal 2nd violin
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra invites applications for the position of Alternating principal 2nd violin starting August 2026 (or to be agreed).
Alternating principal 2nd violin plays in orchestra and chamber groups, maintains the capability required by orchestral literature. He/She together with the principal leads the 2nd violin section by rehearsing and developing it and provides instructions for acquiring group assistants and substitutes. We appreciate the experience of similar tasks and good cooperation and interaction skills.
The salary, including the individual pay component and recording supplement, is 3389–3660 € per month.
Audition on 9th of May 2026
• The orchestra will choose the participants to the audition based on the information in the applications
• Invitations to the audition will be sent during the week 14/2026
• The audition will be held at the Kalevi Aho Hall of Lahti Music Institute (Hämeenkatu 4, Lahti) on Saturday, May 9th from 11 am. onwards.
• An interview may be included in the audition.
Audition repertoire
- Choose one of the following: 1st mvt. with cadenza
• W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 3 in G KV216
• W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D KV218
• W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A KV219 - One (1) free of choice, dance-like movement from J.S. Bach’s Partitas for solo violin, EXCLUDING the Double and Ciaccona movements
• Partita No. 1, BWV 1002, B minor
• Partita No. 2, BWV 1004, D major
• Partita No. 3, BWV 1006, E major - Choose one of the following concertos: 1st mvt. with cadenza
• J. Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
• P. Tsaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35
• J. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in d, Op. 47
• F. Mendelssohn: Violin Concwerto in e, Op. 64
• L. van Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61 - Orchestral and chamber music excerpts.
Applications
Closing date for applications is on Monday 30th of March 2026. Please fill in your application at www.kuntarekry.fi (ID LAHTI-06-39-25).
Should a present member of the 2nd violin (tutti) of the orchestra be appointed to the post, his/her successor may be selected at the same audition.
The position is subjected to the collective agreement for monthly paid musicians in the municipal sector.
A trial period (6 months) is assigned to the selected candidate.
Concertmaster
The Lahti Symphony Orchestra invites applications for the position of Concertmaster (first position). The Concertmaster, together with the alternating Concertmaster, is responsible for rehearsing and developing the string sections, maintaining his/her soloistic skills as required by the orchestral repertoire. The leader performs the solo violin parts in orchestral works and assists the conductors in artistic matters when necessary. When selecting a player for this post, we will attach importance to his/her experience in similar positions, and to good collaborative and interactive skills.
The concertmaster of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra will have the opportunity to use high level instrument of Santo Serafin from ca. 1740.
Work starts on 17th of August 2026 or when agreed. The salary, including the individual pay component and recording supplement, is 4711-5087 € per month.
Pre-selection
Video pre-selection. Repertoire of the pre-selection video: Music of your choice
Audition on May 27th, 2026
• The orchestra will choose the participants to the audition based on the video and information in the applications
• Invitations to the audition will be sent in week 18/2026.
• The Auditions will be held in the Sibelius Hall’s main hall (Ankkurikatu 7, Lahti) on May 28th, 2026, from 10 a.m. onwards.
Audition repertoire
- Choose one of the following: 1st mvt. with cadenza
• W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No.3 in G KV216
• W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4 in D KV218
• W.A. Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A KV219 - Choose one of the following concertos: 1st mvt. with cadenza
• J. Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op.77
• P. Tsaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op.35
• J. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in d, Op.47
• F. Mendelssohn: Violin Concwerto in e, Op.64
• L. van Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D, Op.61 - Orchestral excerpts
The orchestral excerpts can be downloaded from week 11 onwards from this page.
Audition process
First round:
Mozart: Concerto No. 3, 4, or 5; 1st mvt. with cadenza
Brahms: Symphony no. 4 op. 98; 1st mvt
Second round: Orchestral excerpts
Third round: One of the following concertos: 1st mvt. with cadenza
J. Brahms: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 77
P. Tsaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 35
J. Sibelius: Violin Concerto in d, Op. 47
F. Mendelssohn: Violin Concwerto in e, Op. 64
L. van Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D, Op. 61
Fourth round: Orchestral excerpts to be played with the orchestra
Applications
The closing date for applications is Monday, April 27th, 2026. Please fill in your application at www.kuntarekry.fi (ID LAHTI-05-31-26)
Feedback on the videos is not provided.
The audition may include an interview and a personal evaluation. Should a present member of the orchestra be appointed to the position, his/her successor may be selected at the same audition. A trial period (6 months) is assigned to the selected person.
Upcoming auditions:
- french horn
- trumpet
- I violin (tutti)
Audition inquiries: Deputy Genaral Manager, Heli Leppälä-Hakala, audition@lahti.fi