LSO Pathways
Mentoring musicians aged 18 and over who aspire to play in a professional orchestra.
LSO Pathways is a two-year programme of support and activity designed for emerging orchestral musicians, who face barriers which may have hindered their progress and development. We recruit six people to the scheme each year.
Participants are invited to three residential weekends in London each year. All expenses including travel to and from London will be covered by the LSO. Each participant is matched with a mentor from the LSO, with whom they will have a monthly meeting, either online or in person if feasible. The LSO player will carefully nurture their personal and professional development over the two years.
The residential weekends are designed around LSO activity taking place at that time, with opportunities to attend rehearsals and concerts. Training is provided in areas of orchestral life including education work, creative opportunities, audition workshops and career guidance. Scheme participants also have a lesson with their mentor during the weekend. Alongside group activities, the aim is to offer a bespoke experience to each participant focusing on their own musical development.
Who Is It For?
The scheme welcomes applications from players with a range of musical backgrounds and experiences. You may be self-taught or you may have never played in an orchestra. You may be studying at university or conservatoire, or you may have graduated. You may be working as a freelance player or you may have taken a different route. You will be around Grade 8 standard or higher, although you may have never taken any formal music exams.
You will be a keen and committed player but believe that factors outside of your control have hindered your progress or that there may have been opportunities you were unable to take.
We are also keen to receive applications from female-identifying musicians who play instruments which are traditionally male-dominated in orchestras, namely double bass, horn, brass and percussion.
Apply to Take Part
Entries for 2026/27 are now closed. Applications for 2027/28 will open in September 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be aged 18 or over and no longer attend school. Please note there is no upper age limit.
You must play one of the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba or percussion. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from other instrumentalists, including pianists.
All applicants must be available to attend the three residential weekends in 2026, which take place on the following dates:
- Friday 23 January – Sunday 25 January
- Friday 5 June – Sunday 7 June
- Friday 16 October – Sunday 18 October
Applicants must be based in the UK and remain so until at least December 2027. Travel costs will be from your usual address to and from London. If you have any questions about the scheme, please email pathways@lso.co.uk and we will get back to you as quickly as we can.
LSO Pathways is generously supported by The Barbara Whatmore Charitable Trust and The Thistle Trust.
Header image © Paul Cochrane
