Creating Joy Through Live Music
"The staff were very pleased that one of the patients had a very striking response to our concert and opened his eyes as well as tapping his foot! They said that this was very special"
Music in Hospitals
Frequently Asked Questions
When/where are auditions held?
Musicians wishing to work for Music in Hospitals are asked to attend an audition. This is to enable us to meet and assess every musician that we engage so that we can discuss repertoire and match each musician to suitable venues. We aim to hold a minimum of two auditions per year and venues change according to availability although one of the venues will usually be in London. We regret we cannot guarantee to offer an audition to every enquirer in view of the number of applications that we receive.
What happens in an audition?
Each audition will last 15 minutes and you will be asked to present a varied showcase of your music to a panel of between 4 - 7 people consisting of MIH staff, musicians and committee members. In the audition you will be encouraged to treat the panel as a Music in Hospital’s audience, placing emphasis on communication as well as musicianship skills.
Why can’t I use backing tapes?
Music in Hospitals is all about promoting the benefits of live music, therefore backing tapes are not permitted.
What do I wear to a Music in Hospitals concert?
Audiences appreciate a visual performance so please dress up as much as possible. Evening dress is greatly appreciated – regardless of the time of day that the concert is taking place – and our most popular artists change several times during a concert. For younger audiences, brightly coloured clothes are very popular.
How much work will I get and where will I work?
Each concert lasts for approximately 1¼ hours and can take place at any time of day. If your availability is severely restricted this may reduce the number of engagements we can offer. We cannot guarantee a particular number of concerts. We will aim to place you locally, however, if you are happy to travel then tours of certain regions may be offered.
How much will I earn?
As a registered charity, Music in Hospitals can offer only a modest fee plus basic expenses. The fee, with effect from 1 April 2009, is £41.00 each for groups of 2, 3 or 4 musicians and £48.00 for solo performers. We will also pay travel expenses to and from the concert and provide a food allowance if two concerts take place in one day.
When will I hear from you after auditioning?
We aim to write to candidates within one week of the audition process.
