Part of our mission is to provide education and outreach to our community.
The COBSJ’s Community Outreach Program features trios, quartets, and other small groups of COBSJ musicians who travel to cities and towns in the East Bay and surrounding areas to reach listeners in more intimate settings.
Funded by donations and grants, this program is offered at no cost to our hosts.
To learn more, please email us at [email protected]
The COBSJ’s Community Outreach Program features trios, quartets, and other small groups of COBSJ musicians who travel to cities and towns in the East Bay and surrounding areas to reach listeners in more intimate settings.
Funded by donations and grants, this program is offered at no cost to our hosts.
To learn more, please email us at [email protected]
Chamber Orchestra of Barrington at St. John’s
cover & Assistant Conductor Apprenticeship Program
The Chamber Orchestra of Barrington at St. John’s (COBSJ) under the direction of Maestro Luis Viquez is offering emerging conductors a unique opportunity to work closely with the orchestra’s musicians and artistic leadership in a supportive, collaborative setting.
Recognizing the challenges young conductors face in accessing meaningful early-career experience, this program—offered by one of Rhode Island’s leading ensembles - aims to aspiring conductors seeking to develop or expand their skills in cover conducting and assisting. Apprentices receive hands-on training, personalized mentorship, and deep insight into the rehearsal and performance process, gaining salient experience both as ready cover conductors and as active artistic collaborators throughout each concert cycle.
Recognizing the challenges young conductors face in accessing meaningful early-career experience, this program—offered by one of Rhode Island’s leading ensembles - aims to aspiring conductors seeking to develop or expand their skills in cover conducting and assisting. Apprentices receive hands-on training, personalized mentorship, and deep insight into the rehearsal and performance process, gaining salient experience both as ready cover conductors and as active artistic collaborators throughout each concert cycle.
Program Opportunities
Apprentices will be invited to:
This opportunity is open to advanced undergraduate and graduate conducting students, recent graduates, and early-career conductors. Applicants should demonstrate strong musicianship, solid score-preparation skills, and a genuine commitment to collaborative music-making. Prior cover or assistant conducting experience is not required—this apprenticeship experience is designed to support those eager to learn, grow, and gain practical experience to support them along their musical journey. Interested conductors, please submit the following materials to [email protected]:
In alignment with COBSJ’s mission as a community-centered, artist-driven ensemble, conducting apprentices—like the musicians—serve in a completely volunteer capacity. The Cover/Assistant Conductor(s) participate under the same terms and conditions as all the orchestra musicians, as outlined in the orchestra bylaws. This model reflects the organization’s belief that every participant contributes to a shared spirit of musical excellence, mentorship, and cultural enrichment.
There is no cost for this opportunity to ensure accessibility. Participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, purchase of scores, and meal expenses. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is required. Those traveling from greater distances may be allowed to join beginning with the second rehearsal of each concert cycle to accommodate travel needs. Each participant agrees and acknowledges that they are neither employed nor consultants of COBSJ and grants permission for the organization to use any photos, video, or audio recordings taken during activities for legitimate purposes.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For rehearsal schedules of upcoming concert cycles, or to request any additional information, please email [email protected].
Rehearsal Schedule - Concert Dates and Repertoire: CLICK HERE
- Network with guest artists, orchestra players, audience members, and the COBSJ artistic leadership team.
- Interact with the Music Director to prepare all repertoire and serve as the cover/assistant conductor for all rehearsals and performances as assigned.
- Receive individualized mentorship advice from Music Director Luis A. Víquez.
- Assist with rehearsal logistics, balance and blend monitoring, artistic preparation, and communication between the podium and musicians.
- Participate in post-rehearsal debriefs and score study discussions.
- Support COBSJ’s social media presence through interviews, pre-concert talks, and short, informative videos about the repertoire.
- Be featured in concert programs and on COBSJ social media outlets.
This opportunity is open to advanced undergraduate and graduate conducting students, recent graduates, and early-career conductors. Applicants should demonstrate strong musicianship, solid score-preparation skills, and a genuine commitment to collaborative music-making. Prior cover or assistant conducting experience is not required—this apprenticeship experience is designed to support those eager to learn, grow, and gain practical experience to support them along their musical journey. Interested conductors, please submit the following materials to [email protected]:
- A one-page cover letter
- A link to a conducting video (any length and ensemble type accepted)
- A CV/Resume no longer than two pages
In alignment with COBSJ’s mission as a community-centered, artist-driven ensemble, conducting apprentices—like the musicians—serve in a completely volunteer capacity. The Cover/Assistant Conductor(s) participate under the same terms and conditions as all the orchestra musicians, as outlined in the orchestra bylaws. This model reflects the organization’s belief that every participant contributes to a shared spirit of musical excellence, mentorship, and cultural enrichment.
There is no cost for this opportunity to ensure accessibility. Participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, purchase of scores, and meal expenses. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is required. Those traveling from greater distances may be allowed to join beginning with the second rehearsal of each concert cycle to accommodate travel needs. Each participant agrees and acknowledges that they are neither employed nor consultants of COBSJ and grants permission for the organization to use any photos, video, or audio recordings taken during activities for legitimate purposes.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For rehearsal schedules of upcoming concert cycles, or to request any additional information, please email [email protected].
Rehearsal Schedule - Concert Dates and Repertoire: CLICK HERE
Eligibility and Application
This opportunity is open to advanced undergraduate and graduate conducting students, recent graduates, and early-career conductors. Applicants should demonstrate strong musicianship, solid score-preparation skills, and a genuine commitment to collaborative music-making. Prior cover or assistant conducting experience is not required—this apprenticeship experience is designed to support those eager to learn, grow, and gain practical experience to support them along their musical journey. Interested conductors, please submit the following materials to [email protected]:
In alignment with COBSJ’s mission as a community-centered, artist-driven ensemble, conducting apprentices—like the musicians—serve in a completely volunteer capacity. The Cover/Assistant Conductor(s) participate under the same terms and conditions as all the orchestra musicians, as outlined in the orchestra bylaws. This model reflects the organization’s belief that every participant contributes to a shared spirit of musical excellence, mentorship, and cultural enrichment.
There is no cost for this opportunity to ensure accessibility. Participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, purchase of scores, and meal expenses. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is required. Those traveling from greater distances may be allowed to join beginning with the second rehearsal of each concert cycle to accommodate travel needs. Each participant agrees and acknowledges that they are neither employed nor consultants of COBSJ and grants permission for the organization to use any photos, video, or audio recordings taken during activities for legitimate purposes.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For rehearsal schedules of upcoming concert cycles, or to request any additional information, please email [email protected].
Rehearsal Schedule - Concert Dates and Repertoire: CLICK HERE
- A one-page cover letter
- A link to a conducting video (any length and ensemble type accepted)
- A CV/Resume no longer than two pages
In alignment with COBSJ’s mission as a community-centered, artist-driven ensemble, conducting apprentices—like the musicians—serve in a completely volunteer capacity. The Cover/Assistant Conductor(s) participate under the same terms and conditions as all the orchestra musicians, as outlined in the orchestra bylaws. This model reflects the organization’s belief that every participant contributes to a shared spirit of musical excellence, mentorship, and cultural enrichment.
There is no cost for this opportunity to ensure accessibility. Participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, purchase of scores, and meal expenses. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is required. Those traveling from greater distances may be allowed to join beginning with the second rehearsal of each concert cycle to accommodate travel needs. Each participant agrees and acknowledges that they are neither employed nor consultants of COBSJ and grants permission for the organization to use any photos, video, or audio recordings taken during activities for legitimate purposes.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. For rehearsal schedules of upcoming concert cycles, or to request any additional information, please email [email protected].
Rehearsal Schedule - Concert Dates and Repertoire: CLICK HERE