New World Symphony

The New World Symphony (NWS) Fellowship is a prestigious, full-time program offering early-career musicians advanced training in performance, community engagement, leadership, and wellness. Fellows receive intensive coaching from world-class faculty while performing regularly in a professional orchestral setting. The New World Symphony divides its curriculum into three distinct areas: Performance and Musicianship, Community and Audience Engagement and Leadership and Entrepreneurship. Elements of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB), technology and wellness are implemented throughout these core areas. Throughout each season, NWS offers a series of visiting faculty, coaches, and workshops in each of the above areas.

With the exception of the conducting fellowship, invitations to join the NWS program as a Fellow are extended on a season-by-season basis for up to three seasons, at the sole discretion of NWS and with the understanding that a Fellow’s participation in the program is subject to ongoing review by designated members of the Musician Advancement department.  Advance preparation of individual parts is critical to the efficiency of the rehearsal process and to the overall morale of the orchestra.  Good preparation will ensure that the highest artistic level can be reached in public performances.

The New World Symphony provides a comprehensive array of Community Engagement (CE) programs, which include group instruction to students in Miami-Dade public schools, interactive chamber music presentations to audiences of all ages, online mentorship and coaching, and participation in numerous collaborative student ensembles.  These programs help Fellows improve their public speaking and teaching skills, while also providing profound services to the greater South Florida community and beyond. NWS is dedicated to helping Fellows expand their horizons and participate without reservation.

BLUE, which stands for Build, Learn, Understand and Experiment, is a combination of leadership training and hands-on experimentation that is intended to give Fellows a comprehensive entrepreneurial skill set alongside the artistic training and experience at New World Symphony.  NWS has created a series of seminars and workshops designed to provide the basics of the music business taught by experts from the field. Funding is available to support Fellows-driven NWS BLUE concerts and projects allowing for the application of the skills learned.

Additional benefits for NWS fellows include the following:

• Wellness Support: Resources for physical and mental well-being, including performance psychology and injury prevention.
• Financial Support: Fellowship stipend, housing, one-time relocation travel grant ($350) and instrument insurance and loan options.

Because Fellows sometimes depart before completing three years, openings vary each season. Therefore, NWS auditions for all instruments annually (with possible exceptions for timpani/percussion). Fellowship invitations are extended on a rolling basis following live/live-virtual auditions and confirmation of vacancies. Openings can occur at any time. NWS also offers musicians the opportunity to apply for placement on the substitute list only (without being actively considered for a fellowship) using a rolling deadline.

Each season, the New World Symphony offers performance and study opportunities to two Piano Fellows which include orchestral and chamber music performances and collaborative and solo playing opportunities. In addition, pianists receive lessons from visiting soloists and accompany master classes given by distinguished instrumentalists who work with NWS throughout the season. The application procedure for piano fellowships is the same as all orchestral instruments.

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for a percussion or timpani Fellow, but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time this fellowship becomes available.

In conjunction with its musician training program, the New World Symphony offers programs for an audio/video Fellow and an orchestra librarian Fellow. These programs offer extensive hands-on experience in each of their chosen professions. Fellows work with Stéphane Denève, NWS staff and noted professionals in these fields to develop their skills and are invited to participate on a season-by-season basis.

Currently, New World Symphony has no opening for a audio/video or library Fellow, but you may add your name to our contact list by emailing admissions@nws.edu and you will be notified the next time this fellowship becomes available.

The New World Symphony offers a one year conducting fellowship to a highly qualified conductor who has finished at least a bachelor’s degree and is not currently enrolled in a degree program. The Conducting Fellow works with Stéphane Denève and many visiting guest conductors and leads the New World Symphony in several of the season’s concerts and reading sessions.