Images from Late Night soundsession 2023 @ Anthony Childers
Are you interested in getting experience in artistic programming and planning?
sound is looking to recruit an early career composer or performer to each curate a late night performance at this year’s soundfestival (23 October – 2 November 2025):
The performance will be on Saturday 1st November and will target early-career composers and performers based in Scotland, with a particular focus on underrepresented composers and performers.
The curator will be supported by the Director and the rest of the festival team.
We welcome applications from students and recent graduates, and are happy to receive joint applications if the applicants want to ‘job share’.
sound is a new music incubator based in North-East Scotland, encouraging new music creation and discovery. We run the annual soundfestival, as well as year-round activity supporting a wide range of composers, engaging with local communities and providing educational opportunities.
We are committed to working with and supporting people from under-represented groups. Female, LGBTQ and/or gender diverse, global majority or Gypsy/Traveller applicants, as well as applicants with a disability and/or from low income background are encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities:
- Curate a late night performance at soundfestival on Saturday 1 st November. This will include working within a given budget envelop to select performers, making sure of their availability, as well as providing information for contracting and technical requirements.
- Collate and help write event marketing materials
Event details:
- Time: 8-9pm (Access 5pm)
- Venue: Dissection Room, The Anatomy Rooms, Aberdeen
- Budget: £1227.5 for fees and expenses (max 5 musicians)
Requirements:
- Be an early career composer or performer (early-career professionals or those still studying will be considered).
- Enthusiasm for new music, and a good working knowledge of emerging artists in the new music scene in Scotland.
- A strong artistic vision, and good organisational skills.
- A good knowledge, and understanding of the ethos, of the soundfestival.
What sound is offering
- The experience of curating an event within a major new music festival.
- An insight into all aspects of event production, including marketing, budgeting and logistics.
- Networking opportunities with professional artists during soundfestival.
- Free tickets for soundfestival concerts.
Practicalities:
- The project will require a part-time commitment to undertake the programme brief. We estimate this as being approximately 31 hours in total. This time commitment may not be consistent through the period. We expect it will be maximised in May-June to curate the event and provide copy, and then nearer/during the festival itself.
- Development of the programme may be undertaken remotely, but the curator will be required to communicate regularly via email and via Zoom sessions.
- The curator will be required to attend the event they have programmed.
- A fee of £400 will be paid to the Curator (above the UK Real Living Wage rate).
- Agreed expenses will be paid including travel to the performance and accommodation if needed.
Accessibility
Access costs will be covered for those who require it. You will be asked about your accessibility needs upon successful application, this will be discussed with you individually, and the programme and schedule (where possible and required) will be tailored towards your needs.
If you need any accessibility assistance in applying for this opportunity (for example using alternative application methods), please contact Kadri on admin@sound-scotland.co.uk
How to Apply and Application process
If interested, please fill in the online form here: https://forms.gle/tB7kw39FgiMw...
The form will ask you for a resume, your motivation and an outline of what you might like the event to look like.
Deadline: Sunday 4th May
We are offering a 2-day “grace period” until the end of day on Tuesday 6th May for applicants who can’t reach the deadline due to health challenges, having to care for family members, or other reasonable and/or unexpected circumstances. Please state your reason in the application form. We will inform you whether you are successful or not by the 9th May.
If we decide to shortlist multiple applicants, an remote interview will take place on the Thursday 8th May.
If you have any questions or need further information please contact info@sound-scotland.co.uk
sound is a Living Wage Employer accredited by Living Wage Foundation.
This opportunity was made possible with funding from the The D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, as well as from Creative Scotland, PRS Foundation Talent Development Network supported by PPL and Aberdeen City Council.
