Orchestra

Preparation for the professional life of an orchestral musician, by developing attention to a conductor, listening skills and a collective spirit.

Development of knowledge of the repertoire.

Student instrumentalists are assigned to ensemble activities in a variety of forms: orchestral sessions encompassing all departments of the same musical programme (section or desk work, tutti rehearsals, public concerts, etc.).

Method of assignment to orchestras

Pupils concerned during their studies will receive a set of documents relating to the following school year's programme by post from the Stage Apprenticeship Department, no later than the third term of the current school year.

These documents include

• the list of orchestra sessions ;
• a letter from the Director presenting the programme and outlining the main principles of the orchestra at the Conservatoire;
• a reply coupon enabling students to express their wishes for an assignment to the orchestral sessions on the list.

The Conservatoire's administration makes these assignments with a concern for fairness, respect for the school's educational project and the wishes expressed by the students. At the end of the current school year, students receive notification of their placements by post.

This notification includes the qualifications of "permanent" or "substitute". Substitutes must remain available throughout the session to which they are assigned by the administration. If the reserve of substitutes for a session is exhausted, students who do not appear on the enrolment lists for that session may still be assigned to it.

Pupils admitted to the Conservatoire after this consultation and allocation period receive notification of their assignments without first being consulted.

Timetables

The detailed timetable for each session, the list of students assigned and the allocation by string section are posted on the orchestra control room notice board at least two weeks before the first rehearsal.

This notice serves as a reference. It is systematically updated. Students are deemed to be aware of it: they are required to consult it regularly before and during all the sessions to which they are assigned. This obligation applies to full and substitute teachers.

Request for exemption from group activities

Pupils may, in accordance with the procedures set out below, ask the Director of the Conservatoire or his/her representative not to be assigned to all or part of the collective activities if they meet one of the following conditions:

• are under 16 years of age
• are in their final year of secondary school;
• performing their national service
• have a professional activity that is recognised as useful to their training and that can be taken into account as part of their schooling.

Requests for exemption must be sent to the department, together with supporting documents, no later than the deadline specified in the letter from the Director of the Conservatoire setting out the programme; approval or refusal of the exemption is notified in writing and is valid for no more than the duration of the current school year.

Participation in orchestral academies (open to competitive applications from partner institutions) does not exempt students from taking part in the school's orchestral sessions.

Attendance

Group classes are compulsory and take precedence over any other internal or external activity at the Conservatoire. Pupils must be present ten minutes before the start of each rehearsal, fifteen minutes before a dress rehearsal or non-public performance and thirty minutes before the start of each public event. On arrival, they must sign an attendance sheet or, in the event of lateness, a late slip. In the event of a dispute, the check carried out by the stage manager will be deemed authentic. Students must be seated and tuned on the stage at the start of the rehearsal, unless otherwise indicated by the stage manager. As some performances require transport organised by the Conservatoire, students must comply with the instructions on the itinerary.

Leave of absence

Permission to be absent for a full orchestral session may be granted in exceptional circumstances by the director or head of department concerned, depending on the reasons given by the student and on condition that he or she proposes, in agreement with the student, an instrumentalist from the Conservatoire to replace him or her (excluding substitutes).

An application form for leave of absence is available from the Classical and Contemporary Instrumental Department office. It must be completed and stamped by the registrar in charge of assignments or the general registrar for orchestras at least three weeks before the first rehearsal.

In exceptional circumstances, a student may be granted permission to be absent for a specific period of time, provided that he or she submits a request to the general manager or the manager in charge of assignments.

Absence for medical reasons

In the event of absence for health reasons, the student must inform or arrange for the orchestra management and the departmental education officer to be informed by telephone as soon as possible and at least before the start of the service for which he/she has been scheduled.

They must also send a medical certificate to the departmental registrar no later than three working days after the start of the period of absence. The rules governing sick leave are those set out in article 36 of the internal regulations.

Validation based on attendance

Throughout the course