CAREERS & VOLUNTEERING

AT THE NCEM

Finalists in the 2024 NCEM Young Composers Award

JOB VACANCIES

Artist Development Manager (Part-Time)

We're looking for a highly motivated Artist Development Manager with experience of project management in the arts and working with early career musicians. You will have a passion for widening access to creative careers and will play a crucial role at the NCEM which has the development of emerging musicians at our core.  We’re seeking dynamic and collaborative candidates with excellent communication and inter-personal skills who will be able to build rapport with young people and partner organisations.

In this role you will manage our key artist development projects – the NCEM Young Composers Award (annual), the International Young Artists Competition (run biennially during the York Early Music Festival) and the New Generation Baroque Ensemble.  You will work closely with the Artistic Director to ensure our work with young artists and participants is of the highest quality and links into our overall artistic vision.  As the International Young Artists Competition is biennial, this offers time and opportunity to create and develop relationships with musicians, Conservatoires, Universities and Festivals across the UK and beyond. You will be supported by the NCEM Directors, project delivery teams, and a highly engaged Board of Trustees.

The development of Young Artists is central to the NCEM’s mission, with two major competitions which encourage talented young composers and gifted early music specialists - the NCEM Young Composers Award and the York Early Music International Young Artists Competition.  These attract national and international interest and are supported by BBC Radio 3 and some of the finest musicians in the world.  The NCEM continues to support alumni of the NCEM Young Composers Award by offering composition opportunities with professional ensembles in the York Early Music Festivals.  2021 saw the launch of New Generation Baroque Ensemble, a partnership with BBC Radio 3, the Royal College of Music (RCM) and the NCEM, to showcase and nurture exceptional UK-based ensembles in the early years of their professional careers working in the baroque sphere. Our third ensemble on this scheme, Bellot Ensemble, was appointed in 2025.  Through these current and previous projects, the NCEM has built a strong international reputation amongst festivals, conservatoires and ensembles across Europe as a centre for artist development.  

Key Elements of the Role:
  • Delivering the NCEM Composers Award from design stage to premiere
  • Delivering the International Young Artists Competition from design stage to competition week
  • Liaison for New Generation Baroque Ensemble with the ensemble and our partners at BBC Radio 3 and Royal College of Music
  • Liaison for Collaborative PhD with academic colleagues at the University of York
  • Manage new commission opportunities for alumni of the NCEM Young Composers Award
  • Liaison for The Minster Minstrels, the NCEM’s early music performance ensemble for school-aged children, run in association with York Music Centre
  • Build and develop relationships with musicians, conservatoires, universities and festivals across the UK and beyond, sharing NCEM’s development opportunities, advocating for the NCEM and identifying and exploring new opportunities for emerging young early music ensembles and composers.
  • Continually develop our projects and increase communication with wider communities to ensure that NCEM engages with a wider range of voices, ensuring that our work is inclusive and relevant for the cultural industry and those seeking to engage with it.  
  • Work collaboratively with all members of the NCEM team
Who we're looking for:

We aim to be inclusive and encourage applications from candidates with transferable skills and varied career backgrounds. We are also open to applications from individuals who may not meet every criterion but can demonstrate the potential to grow into aspects of the role. If you have any questions regarding a potential application, please contact Cherry Fricker at cherry.fricker@ncem.co.uk or on 01904 632220.

Essential Skills & Experience
  • Educated to degree-level or equivalent experience
  • Passion for improving access to careers in the creative sector
  • Excellent spoken and written English
  • Organisational skills, with a good eye for detail
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, and a clear and confident communicator
  • Ability to work well in collaboration with the NCEM team, as well as the ability to work independently
  • Curiosity and drive to expand the reach and scope of the NCEM’s current work in collaboration with the NCEM Directors
  • Authorised to live and work in the UK
Desirable Qualities & Experience
  • An understanding of historically informed performance practice/early music
  • Experience working with early career musicians
  • Experience of, and success in, writing funding applications
  • Experience running or participating in projects that aim to develop young people’s skills and practices, and that seek to break down barriers to access
  • A clean UK driving licence

This role involves some work with young people, and therefore the successful candidate will be required to clear an Enhanced DBS check.

Key Details:
  • Permanent contract (with 6-month probation period)
  • This is a Part Time role, eg 3-4 days per week (or 24-32 hours per week). We will consider a range of flexible models and invite applicants to propose their preferred working pattern.  The project nature of the role requires some flexibility in working hours. 
  • Between £26,500 and £30,000 pa FTE, dependent upon experience.
  • 5% employer pension contribution, 28 days holiday (including bank holidays)  on a pro-rata basis, and free concert tickets for NCEM promoted concerts.
  • Based at the NCEM in York, but we welcome conversations around work schedule and place of work, noting that the role requires being at the NCEM regularly for meetings, plus various key dates within each project (eg Composers Award – each May, International Young Artists Competition – July 2026 etc, appropriate residencies and performances etc). There will be occasional travel within the UK.
How to apply:
  • Download the full job description below
  • Send a copy of your CV and a covering letter (including details of two referees) to NCEM Executive Director cherry.fricker@ncem.co.uk
  • Or submit a video/audio recording explaining how you meet the personal specification, including relevant experience and details of two referees
Timeline:
  • Deadline for applications is Thursday 28th August
  • First interviews will be held on Thursday 4th and Friday 5th September
  • Second interviews will be held on Friday 12th September (provisional date)

Equal Opportunity Monitoring

Full Job Description

Events Assistants (Casual) 

We are looking for dynamic and professional individuals to join our team of casual events staff working at weddings, conferences, concerts and other events that we run at the NCEM in York. The role is ideal for students and those seeking fun and flexible work.

Key Responsibilities:

Bar work for weddings, parties and concerts includes:

  • Serving customers at the bar (including cash/card handling)
  • Pouring and serving reception drinks amongst guests
  • Collecting and cleaning glasses during events
  • Restocking shelves and fridges
  • Setting up and clearing away before and after events

Conference/meeting work includes:

  • Serving tea/coffee refreshments
  • Greeting delegates
  • Assisting in the setup of technical facilities as required

Setting up for events includes:

  • Setting out seating/tables
  • Assembling/disassembling staging
  • General housekeeping, tidying and preparing the venue for events

Personal Specification:

  • Punctual, reliable, hard-working
  • Able to work well alongside others
  • Positive work ethic and genuine enthusiasm for providing excellent customer service
  • Smart appearance and presentation
  • Hands-on and pro-active attitude
  • Confident communicator
  • Previous experience working in a customer facing and/or hospitality role
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Over the age of 18 with the right to live and work in the UK
  • Availability during university holidays

The Role:

  • Paid at the national minimum wage
  •  This is a zero hours contract. Shifts are a combination of midweek shifts for conferences (daytime) and concerts (usually evenings) and weekends for wedding receptions and parties. Shifts are allocated based on your availability.
  •  The NCEM will provide appropriate training, which is paid at the national minimum wage.

How to apply:

For more information or to ask questions about the role, please contact Dr Christopher Roberts, Operations Manager on 01904 632220 or email events@ncem.co.uk.

Please submit a CV and covering letter or a video/audio recording explaining how you meet the personal specification, including relevant experience and details of two referees.  Please complete the equal opportunities monitoring form on application (voluntary).  Applications can be sent by email to events@ncem.co.uk or by post to National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL.

We welcome applications from those who are under-represented in the sector, including but not limited to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, deaf and disabled people, and candidates from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities. For full details of the NCEM’s accessibility please read www.ncem.co.uk/accessibility/

If your application is shortlisted we would invite you to an interview at the NCEM to meet you and discuss your skills. 

Equal Opportunity Monitoring

Volunteering Opportunities

The NCEM is always recruiting new volunteers to help deliver our world-class music programme and early music festivals. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community, use and develop new skills, increase your employability, all whilst meeting new people, having fun and enjoying some fantastic music! The NCEM is a charitable organisation and is managed by a small team of staff. We therefore rely on enthusiastic and hardworking volunteers of all ages, interests and backgrounds to generously give their time to help us make our events and festivals possible. 

Volunteer Stewards

Stewards provide the front-of-house operation for all our performances at the NCEM and external venues during our annual early music festivals. As the public face of the NCEM, stewards are entrusted with the responsibility to deliver exceptional customer services. We are looking for friendly and helpful individuals to welcome guests and check tickets, as well as being responsible for evacuating venues in an emergency under the direction of the Front of House/Duty Manager. Experience of customer service/stewarding and knowledge of Health & Safety and First Aid procedures is desirable, but training will be given.

How to apply: 

For more information or to ask questions about the roles, please contact Dr Christopher Roberts, Operations Manager on 01904 632220 or email events@ncem.co.uk.

Please submit a CV and covering letter or a video/audio recording explaining how you meet the personal specification, including relevant experience and details of two referees.  Please complete the equal opportunities monitoring form on application (voluntary).  Applications can be sent by email to events@ncem.co.uk or by post to National Centre for Early Music, St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TL. 

We welcome applications from those who are under-represented in the sector, including but not limited to those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, deaf and disabled people, and candidates from Black, Asian and ethnically diverse communities. For full details of the NCEM’s accessibility please read www.ncem.co.uk/accessibility/.

If your application is shortlisted we would invite you to an interview at the NCEM to meet you and discuss your skills.

Equal Opportunity Monitoring

The NCEM is available to hire for anniversaries, birthday parties, wedding receptions, conferences, dinners and musical events. 

 

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