Bridging The Gap

What is Bridging the Gap?

Bridging the Gap is our year-long programme for early-career singers in Scotland aged up to 28 or are still in formal education, as they begin their journey on the path from young performer to fully fledged professional.

Selected by open audition each year, up to four young singers will be invited to take part in Bridging the Gap. This includes:

Introduction Weekend – two days of sessions with Lucy Goddard including ensemble and repertoire coaching
Participation as paid professionals in our upcoming performance of Handel’s Dixit Dominus with director John Butt
Professional development coaching e.g., administration, fundraising for individuals, taxes
Vocal health and massage sessions with Kate Valentine
Recitative coaching with John Butt & musicians from Dunedin Consort
CV, biography, and audition advice
Professional headshots
Mentoring and coaching
Accommodation and travel costs covered for all events

How to apply?

Applications for the 2026-27 Bridging the Gap programme now open!

For information on our application process, please see below:

Applicants are invited to submit a CV and a recording for our team to assess. You may submit either audio or video, however, our team will only hear the audio as the first round is blind to keep the process as fair as possible. Deadline for applications is Tuesday 15 September 2026.

Applicants will then be emailed with the results of their application and successful applicants will be invited to an in-person audition on 23 October 2026. On the panel will be John Butt, Andrew Trinick, Amelia Shakespeare and Mhairi Lawson, with Tom Wilkinson accompanying.

All candidates will be emailed soon after with results of their audition. Successful candidates will be required to attend our Training Weekend: 21-22 November 2026 and be available to take part in our performance of Dixit Dominus: 17-20 May 2026. You may request feedback from your audition if you would like.

AM I ELIGIBLE?

The programme is open to Scottish or Scottish-based singers who are aged up to 28 or are still in formal education and hoping to build a professional career.

This includes singers who are:

Born in Scotland
Permanently resident in Scotland
Studying in Scotland at the time of the scheme

APPLICATIONS

Applications for the 2025-26 Bridging the Gap programme close on 15 September 2026. To apply for Bridging the Gap, you will need to provide:

A single page C.V. detailing your relevant experience.
An audio or video link of you singing a solo work from the 17th or 18th century, of no longer than around 5 minutes long. Please note that if you send a video, a member of the Dunedin Consort office team will separate the audio from the video as our panel will only be given audio to assess – so there’s no need to dress up!
A completed Equality Diversity and Inclusion Survey.

These can be uploaded online, by following the Apply Now and Diversity Questionnaire links at the top of this page.

If you have any further questions, or if you have a disability that prevents you from following the application process as described above, please do not hesitate to contact us at learning@dunedin-consort.org.uk. You can also contact the office on 0131 516 3718.

AUDITIONS

Shortlisting for applications will take place by Wednesday 23 September, and auditions will take place on FRIDAY 23 OCTOBER 2026. You will be asked to prepare:

Two contrasting pieces, at least one of which should be an aria by Bach in German
A short set piece, for which we will send you the music in advance

Upon arrival, a warm up room (with piano) will be available, and you will be given a short ensemble piece to prepare, to be performed with piano. A piano accompanist will be provided on the day and repertoire should be performed at A=440.

IMPORTANT DATES

19 August 2026 | Applications open

15 September 2026 | Applications close

23 September 2026 | Application results are shared

23 October 2026 | Auditions in Glasgow

21-22 November 2026 | Residential weekend in Edinburgh

17-20 May 2027 | Dixit Dominus, Handel – season closing tour

N.B. Availability on all of these dates is required for participation in Bridging the Gap

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: I am not free for the auditions; can I still apply?
A: If you are unable to attend the in-person audition, then unfortunately you cannot participate in the scheme

Q: I am a student living outside of Scotland; can I still apply?
A: Bridging the Gap is open to Scottish-born or Scottish-based singers only. If you are still unsure if you are eligible, please contact our Learning & Participation Managers.

Q: I am not available for the key dates; can I still apply?
A: Participation in Bridging the Gap is conditional upon availability for the key dates, as we hope our artists will wish to make the most of the opportunities on the scheme.

Q: What are Bridging the Gap alumni doing now?
A: We are incredibly proud of all the Bridging the Gap alumni, many of whom continue to work with us on projects. There is no set path for participants, but some have gone on to further study at conservatoires, while others are building careers in performing and teaching.

Meet our 2021-22 participants

Claire Lumsden soprano

Sophie Horrocks mezzo-soprano

CONTACT DETAILS

If you have further questions about Bridging the Gap, please contact Dunedin Consort’s Learning & Participation Team, at learning@dunedin-consort.org.uk.

We want to ensure that Bridging the Gap is as open, inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any additional support or accessibility needs, please contact Dunedin Consort’s Learning & Participation Manager, Amy Strachan, on amy@dunedin-consort.org.uk to discuss how we can accommodate your specific requirements.

Apply Now

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Survey