CAREERS & VOLUNTEERING
AT THE NCEM
Finalists in the 2024 NCEM Young Composers Award
JOB VACANCIES
Festival Assistants (Temporary, fixed term)
The York Early Music Festival was established in 1977 and celebrates historically informed music making of the highest international standard, presented across York’s medieval churches, guildhalls and historic houses. The festival is the highlight of the NCEM’s annual programme and is enjoyed by visitors and musicians from across the world. Festival Assistants play a crucial role in the delivery and success of the festival.
The 2025 festival intertwines three very different themes: the music of Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons, the genius of the Baroque with Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’, and a reflection on the story of man’s fall from grace – from Heaven to Hell – with mezzo-soprano Helen Charlston and lutenist Toby Carr.
Role Description:
The Festival Assistant role is demanding but extremely rewarding. You will gain first-hand experience helping behind the scenes, providing a great visitor/artist experience, supporting the logistics of running a complex festival and having the opportunity to attend lots of performances. As you will be meeting audiences and musicians on the festivals’ behalf, we are looking for individuals who are able to be welcoming to all and confident interacting with the general public. The role is fixed term from Friday 4 - Friday 11 July 2025 and is based at the NCEM and other venues across the city. You will report to Dr Christopher Roberts, Operations Manager.
Key Responsibilities:
You will work as a team to set up for rehearsals/performances at the NCEM and in external venues, liaise with performers and artists, undertake back-stage performance management and lots more, including but not limited to:
Concert Management
- Set up for rehearsals at the NCEM and in external venues: unlocking/locking venue if necessary, putting out music stands etc as required
- Meet and greet performers; settling them in and being on hand during their rehearsal; ensuring that they are looked after between rehearsal and concert
- Provide/organise refreshments as necessary
- Assisting with concert/duty management as appropriate, including giving calls, starting concerts on time, keeping intervals to the prescribed length, tidying up after audiences have left
- Assisting stewards: checking tickets, welcoming and seating audience members
- Organising and supervising sales of CDs/merchandise, including cashing up
- Always being mindful of health and safety requirements and the well-being of performers, stewards, audience members and fellow members of the festival team
Administration/Marketing
- Assist in delivery of marketing tasks such as using social media to capture behind the scenes moments, distribution of print, managing signage to venues
- Compiling and distributing welcome packs for international artists
- Producing/printing/laminating Front of House/Box Office signage or other print as required
- Assist in the organisation of items/equipment to be sent to each concert venue
- Answering the NCEM office phone when required
- Undertaking general tasks to support the festival team in the smooth running of all events
The nature of the festival means that slightly irregular and evening hours are necessary, but we always make sure to look after you and ensure appropriate breaks.
What we expect of you:
- To be friendly, outgoing and a good team member
- To have patience and good time management skills
- To be polite and professional, and have the confidence to communicate with people at all levels
- To have some experience of organising/working in events, especially concerts
- To be sympathetic to the needs of musicians and audiences
- To have the ability to work under pressure and manage shifting priorities
- To have the ability to deal calmly and efficiently with any problems, and know when to refer issues to a member of the festival staff
- To have some cash-handling experience
- To be fluent in English
What we offer you:
- A stipend of £150 for expenses
- Practical experience as part of a thriving arts organisation and internationally recognised festival
- Career advice and future job references
- Free entry to performances during the festival (where possible)
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.
Deadline: 12 noon on Friday 28 February 2025
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
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.