The 2024 edition of the Esker Festival Orchestra will take place between August 12th-18th. This year Esker Festival Orchestra are accepting new applications for all positions in the orchestra.

The deadline for player applications is Monday, 1 April 2024. Applications are open to advanced musicians over the age of 18 to take part in this unique peer-led orchestra made up of Irish and international young professionals and advanced students.

Esker Festival Orchestra is excited to announce its thrilling 2024 programme featuring performances of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, a newly commissioned piece and Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor with the incredible Irish soloist Zoë Nagle. Choir applications will open soon.

Rehearsals will take place in the University of Galway and will see performances in Galway Cathedral and in the National Concert Hall, Dublin under the baton of founder and Director, Peter Joyce.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the orchestra you can apply by filling out the online form.

All rehearsals and concerts will take place within one week and all players must be available for all of the dates. The number of required musicians will not exceed those called for in this seasons principal works.

About Esker Festival Orchestra:

The Esker Festival Orchestra was set up in 2014 to provide a high quality, beneficial and meaningful musical opportunity for young emerging musicians from all across Ireland and for the first time to have an orchestra of this quality and scope based in Galway. The orchestra now welcomes musicians from all over the world to meet each summer to rehearse in Galway before performing several concerts throughout Ireland.

The Esker Festival Orchestral is supported by the IAYO and The Arts Council.