Principal Double Bass (50%)

The North Netherlands Orchestra (NNO) is the leading symphony orchestra of the three northern provinces. With over 150 years of history and a wide-ranging, innovative programme, we reach a large and diverse audience. From our home base in Groningen, we stage more than a hundred concerts a year in the provinces of Drenthe, Friesland and Groningen, and beyond.   

 Our mission: to open up new horizons for everyone in the north by bringing live music that moves and inspires. The NNO is a crucial catalyst for the cultural ecosystem in the region, an orchestra that effortlessly combines tradition and innovation. With a rich programme – ranging from ‘classical’ to groundbreaking crossover concerts, music education projects and research in the field of Arts & Technology – we reach audiences of all generations, in collaboration with many regional and national partners.   

Principal conductor of the NNO is Eivind Gullberg Jensen, and Hartmut Haenchen and Kerem Hasan are principal guest conductors. In addition, Antony Hermus is affiliated with the NNO as honorary conductor. The NNO employs around 70 musicians.    

The NNO introduces a wide audience to symphonic music and values a diverse orchestral organisation. For the latest information, visit www.nno.nu.  

The NNO has a vacancy for the position of: 

Principal Double Bass (85%)  

Audition date : June 23rd 2026  

Closing date for applications: : May 5th 2026  

Starting Date :  Per October 1st 2026  

The Position 

As Principal Double Bass in the NNO, you will lead the double bass section and contribute to the orchestra’s performance ambitions.   

In addition, you will support the NNO in areas such as music education and outreach activities, marketing initiatives, or as a member of an audition panel. You will actively contribute to section leaders’ meetings, promote good collegial cooperation, represent the section/orchestra to the artistic director and the conductor, and act as a point of contact for management regarding artistic or personnel issues within your own section or the orchestra.   

 What do we expect from you? 

• You are an experienced, versatile and passionate musician with excellent solo skills  

• Experience as a section leader is an advantage  

• You have a professional and enthusiastic attitude both on and off stage and set an example for your colleagues   

• You connect with, inspire and motivate the musicians in your group  

• You are a natural team player  

• You enjoy and value being versatile, and have a positive, eager-to-learn and flexible attitude.     

Terms of Employment 

• A fixed-term contract, to be converted into a permanent contract after one year, subject to mutual satisfaction.  

• Gross salary: in accordance with scale 3 of the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Orchestras, available at www.vvno.nl.    

• Mandatory membership of the ABP pension fund.  

• Plenty of opportunities for further development as a musician or in other activities.  

• You will be part of an orchestra with a highly diverse, innovative programme.  

• You will be based in the vibrant student city of Groningen, surrounded by nature, tranquillity and open spaces.  

Compulsary Works 

During the audition, candidates will be asked to prepare the following:   

1. First round  

Von Dittersdorf concerto for Double Bass, first movement with Gruber cadenza  

1. Second round  

Koussewitzky concerto for Double Bass, first movement with cadenza 

OR  

Bottesini concerto for Double Bass, first movement with cadenza 

1. Orchestra Excerpts  

Those candidates invited to audition will be notified of the required orchestral works. 

 

Application and Procedure 

• The procedure consists of an audition and an interview. The audition will take place in De Oosterpoort in Groningen.  

• The auditions are open only to EU citizens and citizens from Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, or other musicians already holding a non-temporary residence permit for the Netherlands with full work authorization. An audition selection can be made based on written applications. 

• Please apply on May 5th, 2026 at the latest, with a Curriculum Vitae, and, if you have a nationality from outside the EU, a copy of your non-temporary work and residence permit for the Netherlands. 

• Application is only possible via https://www.muvac.com/vacancy/noord-nederlands-orkest-nyqkdwdy  

Further Information
For further information regarding terms of the contract please contact the HR department via hr@nno.nu . For more information regarding the audition procedure please contact Janneke Olthuis via the contact details below: 

Contact details: 

email : auditions@nno.nu 

telephone : +31 (0)50 3695800