LSO Pathways 2027/28

LSO Pathways is a two-year development programme run by the London Symphony Orchestra for six emerging orchestral musicians a year whose progress has been slowed by circumstances or barriers — the LSO specifically mentions female-identifying players of instruments where women are still under-represented, such as brass, double bass, horn and percussion, though the scheme isn't limited to that group. It's open to string, wind, brass and percussion players (violin through tuba, plus harp) who are 18 or older and no longer in school; there's no upper age limit, and you're expected to play at roughly Grade 8 standard or above, though you don't need the certificate itself. Over two years, fellows get monthly one-to-one mentoring from an LSO musician, either online or in person, three residential weekends a year in London with all costs — including travel — covered, chamber coaching, career-development and presentation-skills workshops, performances at LSO St Luke's, and access to LSO rehearsals and concerts. There's no cash award; the value is the mentoring, the access and the paid-for time in London. To apply, you fill in an application form and submit a roughly five-minute video of yourself playing — a phone or iPad recording is fine, so production quality isn't the point. Applications close Sunday 25 October 2026, with results notified in December ahead of residentials starting 29–31 January 2027.