Emerging talent opportunities

As part of Edinburgh International Festival 2026, we are continuing Rising Stars; our Emerging Talent initiative, which provides early career musicians with professional development opportunities. Building on our work in 2023, 2024 & 2025, we are seeking diverse emerging talent to receive tailored mentorship, make industry connections, and enjoy an International Festival performance platform. 

More details announced on 11 March with the 2026 Programme Launch.

We have three new opportunities:

1. Rising Stars of Strings

We are looking for up to four talented, pre-professional string players (violin, viola, cello, double bass) of conservatoire level standard to work with and play alongside acclaimed mentors Kleio Quartet, as well as our impressive first and second cohorts of Rising Stars (2024 & 2025) who will share their learning from across three years of participation in the programme.

There will be a public performance as part of our series of evening concerts in the Festival’s home at The Hub. This won’t be like any other performance – with a setlist of canon classical chamber music that is determined in advance by participants, this interactive concert, inspired by the spirit of jazz, will combine a programme of repertoire both agreed and developed with your mentors in advance, as well as including pieces selected at random by audience members for a spontaneous performance. 

This concert will be recorded as part of the Edinburgh International Festival collaboration with Linn Records. Participants will be able to use the recording for their own learning (eg. Educational submissions) as well as for their own promotion.

Further to the main programme, we offer the participants the opportunity to take part in performances in an NHS setting. This work will be devised by the group and they will be mentored by a suitable practitioner, familiar with working in this setting.

You must be available for the following dates:

Rehearsals: Friday 14 – Sunday 16 August 206 
Performance: Monday 17 August 2026
Discovery & Participation: Tuesday 18 - Wednesday 19 August 2026
 

2. Rising Stars of Voice 

We are looking for eight exceptional, pre-professional singers (x2 soprano, x2 mezzo-soprano, x2 tenor, and x2 bass), and one exceptional song and chamber music pianist, to take part in a series of rehearsals with acclaimed mentors with mentors James Baillieu and Louise Alder.

This will culminate in a public performance as part of our world-class chamber music series of morning concerts at The Queen’s Hall.  An additional performance opportunity will be offered for the singers as part of a performance in the Usher Hall series.

The performance at The Queen’s Hall will be recorded as part of the Edinburgh International Festival collaboration with Linn Records. Participants will be able to use the recording for their own learning (eg. Educational submissions) as well as for their own promotion.

You must be available for the following dates:

Rehearsals: Tuesday 11 – Monday 17 August 2026 
Performances: Thursday 13 (singers only) & Tuesday 18 August 2026

3. Rising Stars of Jazz

We are looking for up to five talented, Scottish pre-professional jazz players on any instrument, who currently partake in a jazz study programme of conservatoire level standard to work with renowned drummer Domo Branch, and pianist Joe Webb. 

The mentorship will culminate in a public performance as part of our series of evening concerts at the Festival’s home at The Hub. The programme will be devised by the group in collaboration with the mentors and will include the participation of the group as well as solo/ small ensemble work for each player. 

This concert will be recorded as part of the Edinburgh International Festival collaboration with Linn Records. Participants will be able to use the recording for their own learning (eg. Educational submissions) as well as for their own promotion.

There are also additional performances in a community setting as part of our Discovery & Participation work. From May-August, the Rising Stars will be invited to collaborate with Lead Artist, Lucy Drever, offering a unique opportunity to build community engagement skills and connect artistry with audiences.

You must be available for the following dates:  

Discovery & Participation: Tuesday 12– Friday 15 May 2026
Discovery & Participation: 10 - 12 June OR 1 – 3 July [please indicate your availability on your application]
Rehearsals: Friday 7 – Monday 10 August 2026 
Performances: Tuesday 11 August
Discovery & Participation: Saturday 29 - Sunday 30 August 2026 

Audition Requirements:

To be considered, candidates will need to submit:

• Application form.
• A video audition in the format of a private link to the video on YouTube, Vimeo, etc. Please check your video is set to ‘unlisted’ (the semi-private setting that means your video is visible to anyone who has the link).
• A current C.V.
• Details of current teacher (if applicable).

Applicants for the Rising Stars opportunities must not be part of an existing, recognised chamber group, playing or singing professionally. 

Video audition requirements:

1.Rising Stars of Strings 

A video audition consisting of the first movement of a Classical or early Romantic concerto or sonata. Candidates playing without accompaniment will not be penalised.

2.Rising Stars of Voice

Vocal: A video audition consisting of an aria and lieder / art song accompanied by piano or orchestra (can be separate tracks).

Piano: A video audition consisting of an aria and lieder / art song in your role as an accompanist (can be separate tracks).

3. Rising Stars of Jazz
A video audition consisting of selections of between three and four minutes across three categories of Up-temp Swing/Blues/Ballad/Medium Swing, which best shows your strengths gives a good representation of your playing to allow the panel to access your overall abilities as a musician. 

Guidance for auditions: The video audition pieces are what we suggest but they are a guide only. If you are unable to meet the specific requirements, we will be happy to accept other repertoire that you feel best demonstrates your skills, and the application will still be considered.  

All applicants must be aged 18 or over and have the right to work in the UK.  

What we offer:

These are paid, professional opportunities. We can offer a fee of £700 per performance, and accommodation and contributions to travel costs are also provided.

Equality and Diversity commitment:  

The Edinburgh International Festival believes that culture and the arts should represent the wide variety of experiences and cultures found in our society. We also understand that people from certain backgrounds can experience increased barriers in the early stage of their career. 

We strongly encourage and welcome applications from the Global Majority* and Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent people. We will support any additional costs someone may face due having an access requirement. If this is the case for you, please get in touch with you as soon as you are able before the application deadline and we will be very happy to discuss what support you may need and those additional costs.

*The term Global Majority refers to people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, Indigenous and mixed heritage, and acknowledges that they make up roughly 85% of the world’s population.

Learn how we define ‘Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent’.

If you have any questions about access please contact our Access Manager, Callum Madge at [email protected]  

Application Process:

Applications should be emailed to [email protected] by Sunday 29 March 2026, 23:59. You will receive an automatic acknowledgement of your application.

Please include the title of the opportunity you are applying for in the subject line of your email.

Successful applicants will be contacted by the end of April. 

Application timeline:

Mon 09 Feb 26 – Applications open/ programme advertised 
Sun 29 Mar – Deadline for applications 
Wed 29 Apr – Selected Rising Stars are notified 
Wc 4 May – Unsuccessful applicants notified

Hear testimonies from our Rising Stars 2024