You Belong in Baroque
The Handel and Haydn Society is thrilled to continue the H+H Stone Fellowship, a prestigious fellowship for musicians pursuing careers in period instrument performance of Baroque and Classical music. A first of its kind among period-instrument orchestras, the Fellowship fosters the development of early-career musicians whose socio-cultural identities have been historically underrepresented in the field.
The Fellowship provides an unparalleled two-year learning experience, including performances, mentorship, and training with H+H musicians and partners at the New England Conservatory. Resident Fellows will participate in H+H’s vibrant orchestra and Boston’s thriving music community, and are a part of H+H’s efforts to foster a more diverse and equitable field on a national scale.
H+H is recruiting nationally for the next cohort for 2025-2027, which will include two string instrumentalists (violin, viola, cello, or bass) selected through a competitive audition process. While the Fellowship is open to all professional-track early-career period instrument string musicians, H+H especially encourages applications from those whose socio-cultural identities have historically been underrepresented in period instrument performance of Baroque and Classical music, including musicians of Black or African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent.
The program is possible through a transformative $1 million gift from the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation.

The goal is to foster your artistic growth with an exceptional two-year learning experience.
The Fellowship includes:
- Up to four weeks of subscription rehearsals and performances per season, September through May. Up to two additional weeks per season of other activities including private house concerts with Artistic Director, Jonathan Cohen, etc.
- Focused mentorship and training opportunities with H+H musicians.
- Career counseling with Mary Loiselle, and other additional opportunities for mentorship, career counseling, training, and performance through our partners at the New England Conservatory.
- Compensation of $264.42 per service for all rehearsals and performances with H+H. For the 2025-26 Season, the compensation estimate is approximately $1,500 total for each additional non-subscription week.
- For those who are traveling, there is an additional per diem of $92 per day plus accommodations and travel.
H+H has partnered in the development of the Stone Fellowship with the New England Conservatory (NEC), the oldest independent music conservatory in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world. Our partners at NEC support the artistic growth of the Fellows through additional performance, mentorship, and training opportunities.
Applications for the 2025-2027 Stone Fellowship cohort are now open.
Requirements
- Instrument: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
- While the Fellowship is open to all professional-track early-career period instrument string musicians, H+H especially encourages applications from those whose socio-cultural identities have historically been underrepresented in period instrument performance of Baroque and Classical music, including musicians of Black or African American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent.
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Eligible for employment in the United States (H+H will not sponsor visas for Stone Fellows)
Important Dates
- Final Application Materials, including Pre-screen Audition Due: on or before April 3, 2025. Incomplete applications cannot be evaluated.
- In-person Audition Invitations and Declinations: on or before April 7, 2025.
- If invited: In-person finalist auditions will be conducted in Boston on April 28, 2025.
- Final Invitation to Join the 2025-2027 Cohort/Selection: on or before May 12, 2025.
- Fellowship Begins: Fall 2025
Questions? Email us at fellowship@handelandhaydn.org
Handel and Haydn Society is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), marital status, protected veterans' status, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Handel and Haydn Society is committed to diversity and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community, including groups that are traditionally underrepresented. Statistics show that underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. H+H appreciates different personal and professional experiences and encourages you to apply, even if you do not meet all the listed qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your application.
Applicants must send the required pre-screening video or audio recording to fellowship@handelandhaydn.
See repertoire requirements below, by instrument (violin, viola, cello, or bass). Video or audio recording will be accepted, maximum 10 minutes in length, with no accompaniment. The recording file name should clearly state your first and last name. Videos need not be professional quality; videos shot on smartphone are acceptable, for instance. Whether you are submitting video or audio, please be sure that your playing can be heard clearly on the recording. Applicants should use an appropriate bow for the era (Baroque or Classical). Gut strings and no chin rests are preferred but not required.
Pitch: A=415 unless you prefer to perform Bach at A=415 and Classical repertoire at A=430.
No live recordings or previously recorded/edited videos will be accepted. Standard file formats are acceptable for video (MP4, MOV, WAV) or audio (MP3, WAV, ACC). If using a different file format, please email fellowship@handelandhaydn.org
You can access pre-screening excerpts using the link here.
Pre-screening Audition Repertoire requirements by instrument:
VIOLIN
- One movement from a solo JS Bach suite
- The exposition of any concerto from Classical era
- Excerpt: Mozart Overture to Marriage of Figaro, mm. 1-95
VIOLA
- One movement from a solo JS Bach suite
- The exposition only of any concerto from Classical era
- Excerpt: Mozart Overture to Marriage of Figaro, mm. 1-95
CELLO
- One movement from a solo JS Bach suite
- The exposition only of any concerto from Classical era
- Excerpt: Mozart Symphony No. 35, movement 4, mm. 134-181
BASS
- One movement from a JS Bach suite or equivalent Baroque transcription
- The exposition only of any concerto from Classical era
- Excerpt: Mozart Symphony No. 40, movement 1, mm. 105-138
All in-person auditions will be by invitation and will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025 in Boston. A travel and housing stipend will be provided for non-Boston area residents, thanks to grant funding.
Audition preparation assistance is available to all candidates. Please email fellowship@handelandhaydn.org.
Applicants selected for the live auditions in spring 2025 will be asked to use an appropriate bow for the era (Baroque or Classical) and will need an instrument with gut strings. No chin rests are used for violins and violas, and cellos should not have an endpin. The audition will be at a pitch of A415. Please email us at fellowship@handelandhaydn.org if any of these requirements presents a barrier; we are happy to do our best to assist you in this process.
VIOLIN
Solo repertoire:
- Two contrasting movements of any J.S. Bach Sonata or Partita for Solo VIolin (BWV 1001-1006)
- First movement of any Mozart or Haydn violin concerto with cadenza of your choosing
Excerpts:
- Both First AND second violin parts of Mozart Symphony No. 41, K. 551, Jupiter, 4th movement (Presto) mm. 1-157
Chamber music:
- J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 - Menuets I & II
- Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 - Bourée I and Sarabande
VIOLA
Solo repertoire:
- One movement from any J.S. Bach Suite for Solo Cello (BWV 1007-1012)
- One movement of a classical concerto or sonata of your choice
Excerpts:
- J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 - Forlane (AABB)
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Eroica - 2nd movement ("Marcia funebre"), mm. 80-104
- Mozart: Overture to Marriage of Figaro - mm. 1-95
Chamber music:
- J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 - Menuets I & II
- Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2 - Bourée I and Sarabande
CELLO
Solo repertoire:
- Two contrasting movements of any J.S. Bach Suite for Solo Cello (BWV 1007-1012)
- Exposition of a concerto by Haydn (C Major or D Major), Boccherini (G. 479 or G. 480) or CPE Bach Concerto in A Major
Excerpts:
- J.S. Bach: Magnificat in D Major, BWV 243 -: IV. Omnes Generationes
- Handel: Messiah - "The People That Walketh"
- Mozart: Symphony No. 35 - 4th movement, mm. 134-181
Chamber music:
- J.S. Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 1 - Menuets I & II
- Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 2- Bourée I, Sarabande, and Double
BASS
Solo repertoire:
- One movement from a J.S. Bach suite or equivalent Baroque transcription
- One movement from a solo concerto of the candidate’s choice
Excerpts:
- J.S. Bach: Suite (Overture) No. 2 in B Minor, BWV 1067 - Overture - opening to 18; pickup to 33 to 55
- Handel: Messiah - “The people that walked in darkness” - mm. 1-19
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 - second movement, mm. 114-123
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67 - third movement, mm. 1-100 and mm. 140-160
- Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 - first movement, pickup to bar 105 through 138 (n.b. this is slightly different and starts a bit earlier than 1st round excerpt from same piece)