Developing musicians
At LMTO we are committed to supporting the next generation of musical theatre players.
Our development scheme is at the heart of who we are. Every time the orchestra performs, at least 15% of the players in the orchestra are young developing professional musicians.
We work with some of the best students and recent graduates from UK conservatoires, giving them unparalleled opportunities to gain professional experience and create a network of industry contacts.
Thanks to LMTO, recent alumni can now be found playing in pits across the West End and local theatres, including The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, The Lion King, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables and many others besides.
Finding the stars of the future
Our development programme starts with Sitz. We meet just over 400 musicians every year at Sitzes, where players have the opportunity to develop their musical theatre skillset and network with likeminded musicians.
The programme is further supported by the Sandy and Zorica Glen Workshops. Around once a month, we offer a professional development workshop, ranging from talks on orchestrating, rehearsing an orchestra and how to tackle your tax return, to practical sessions and masterclasses with LMTO’s top players.
A career kick-starting experience
Finally, once a year we hold auditions for recent graduates interested in becoming a ‘Dev’. The scheme is designed to help bright new talent gain a foothold in the industry through 3 main opportunities:
- Playing in at least 1 LMTO professional concert during the year
- Being paired with a mentor from the industry
- A lesson with a West End chair holder
Sitting next to a world-class player is the fastest way to improve your playing. As well as being an exceptional learning opportunity, the Devs are able to develop their industry network – and as the old saying goes: work leads to work leads to work.
The mentoring opportunity is designed to help young players navigate the wider industry outside the orchestra, providing a lasting and meaningful source of advice, support and guidance.
How to become a Dev
We are a community of musicians who love musical theatre so step 1 is to become a member of our Sitz mailing list; get involved in our monthly opportunity to rehearse a full score in a day and in our workshops, immersing yourself in the genre and its intricacies.
Auditions and eligibility criteria will be announced in the summer through this mailing list so keep an eye on your emails to find out how to apply.
What our devs have to say:
I have gained invaluable experience at the monthly Sitzes and the professional shows, learning from the West End performers and musicians, leading to my dream job at The Phantom of the Opera in the West End. I wouldn’t be the musician I am today if I had not seen the very Facebook post that started it all!
Catrin Meek
Harp
LMTO has given me such a wide range of experience, as well as helping me make invaluable contacts and friends, including West End players and professional composers and orchestrators.
Without having had LMTO to give me such experience and opportunities during my studies and early career, I would not be where I am today, for which I will be forever grateful.
Matt Smith
Trombone, Orchestrator and Copyist
Without the experience LMTO afforded me, I would never have had the confidence, let alone the contacts, to start building a career in the industry which made me want to play music in the first place. From the outside, the West End seems an impenetrable place, but LMTO has helped open the door for me and many other musicians.
Frances Leith
Horn
Trusts & Foundations
We welcome all enquiries from interested Trusts and Foundations who have a passion for supporting the arts, and for the development of talented musicians. At this early stage, the most welcome gifts are unrestricted funds, but as LMTO grows we look forward to being able to offer specific areas of funding needs, such as sponsoring a chair in a concert for an up and coming musician.
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