University Philharmonia

Each term, the Philharmonia performs a public concert in venues on the University Park Campus or in Nottingham city. The orchestra plays exciting and challenging repertoire and is professionally led by Harry Lai. Student soloists and world-renowned guest artists including Xuefei Yang, Natalie Clein and the Amatis Trio have performed with the orchestra.

Due to the unique partnership between the university and the BBC Concert Orchestra, Philharmonia will perform a side-by-side concert with this world-renowned group this year too.

University Chamber Choir

The Chamber Choir tackles a wide variety of exciting and challenging repertoire and is professionally led by director Rachel Parkes. They perform alongside University Choir, and University Philharmonia as well as performing concerts of its own.

University Choir

The University of Nottingham Choir is the largest choir at the university. Performing a wide range of choral music, the Choir is a great opportunity to experience singing in a large-scale choir, professionally led by director Rachel Parkes.

Due to the unique partnership between the university and the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Choir will perform a concert with this world-renowned group this year too.

Auditions for our Philharmonia and Chamber Choir take place Friday 3 October – Sunday 5 October 2025. You need to sign up for an audition by Thursday 2 October.

Auditions for our University Choir aren’t required.

Head over to our Department of Music webpage as well as our Lakeside Arts webpage to find out about rehearsals, membership fees and more.

Arts Management Trainee – paid opportunity

We are also recruiting a number of Arts Management Trainee positions. 

As an Arts Management Trainee, you will will work alongside the Director of Performance (Department of Music) and Head of Music Programmes (Lakeside Arts) to deliver an exciting programme of university music making, including managing the University Philharmonia or Choir and Chamber Choir.

You will develop skills in concert managements, artistic planning, ensemble management, marketing and music librarianship. Please note, the deadline to apply closes at 11:59pm on Monday 29 September 2025.

View the job description

Apply now