Musician CV Example
A musician CV presents your performance history, technical proficiency, and musical education for orchestra positions, session work, or teaching roles.
Recommended template: ProfessionalPro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- List your primary instrument and any secondary instruments you perform at a professional level.
- Include notable performances, recordings, and collaborations with recognised artists.
- Mention formal music education, grades, and any competition results or awards.
- Provide links to recordings, videos, or streaming profiles where your work can be heard.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Musician CV
A musician CV should present your performance credentials, training, and professional experience in a format that suits the specific musical context you are applying within. Whether targeting orchestral positions, session work, teaching roles, or arts funding applications, your CV should demonstrate your musical competence, reliability, and breadth of experience. Include links to recordings and performances that allow assessors to hear your work alongside reading about it.
CV Structure
Lead with your name, instrument, and contact details. Include a brief profile, then list your performance credits or employment in reverse chronological order. For orchestral musicians, list your current and previous positions clearly. For freelancers, group credits by type such as recordings, live performance, and teaching. Include sections for education, awards, and a link to your recordings. Keep the document to one or two pages.
CV Format
Use a clean, professional template without heavy design elements. The music industry values clarity and substance over visual flair in CVs. Ensure your recording and performance links are clickable in the digital version. Use consistent formatting for dates, venues, and ensemble names throughout.
CV Profile Examples
Orchestral Musician
Professional orchestral violinist with ten years of experience performing with the BBC Philharmonic, Halle Orchestra, and Manchester Camerata. Graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music with a first-class BMus and postgraduate diploma in performance. Experienced in orchestral, chamber, and solo recital contexts with a broad repertoire spanning baroque through contemporary music and a commitment to community engagement through outreach concerts.
Session Musician
Versatile session guitarist with eight years of experience recording and performing across pop, rock, folk, and country genres for artists, producers, and media companies. Skilled in studio recording, live touring, and sight reading with credits on commercially released albums and broadcast soundtracks. Known for quick learning, a reliable professional attitude, and the ability to adapt playing style to suit diverse musical contexts and production requirements.
Freelance Musician and Teacher
Dedicated freelance musician and instrumental teacher with six years of experience combining professional performance with private and school-based music education. Grade 8 ABRSM distinction in clarinet and piano with DBS clearance and experience teaching students from beginner to diploma level. Performs regularly with regional wind ensembles and chamber groups, maintaining an active concert schedule alongside a teaching practice of 35 pupils per week.
State your instrument, years of professional experience, and the types of musical work you undertake in two to three sentences. Mention one or two notable ensembles, recordings, or collaborations to establish your level.
Key Skills for Your Musician CV
Instrumental Proficiency
Advanced technical command of primary instrument with the ability to perform across a wide range of styles, repertoire, and contexts.
Music Theory
Comprehensive understanding of harmony, counterpoint, form, and analysis supporting both performance and teaching practice.
Sight Reading
Reading and performing unfamiliar music accurately at first sight, essential for orchestral, session, and dep work.
Ensemble Playing
Performing as part of orchestras, chamber groups, bands, and ensembles with sensitivity to balance, blend, and collective interpretation.
Recording Studio Experience
Working in professional recording studios with knowledge of microphone technique, headphone monitoring, and multi-take workflows.
Music Production
Using DAW software such as Logic Pro or Ableton to record, edit, and produce music for personal projects and client commissions.
Live Performance
Delivering confident, engaging live performances in concert halls, clubs, festivals, and corporate event settings.
Teaching & Mentoring
Providing instrumental tuition to students of all ages and levels, preparing them for examinations, performances, and musical development.
Work Experience Examples
For employed positions, describe the ensemble, your role within it, and the type of performances and recordings you participated in. For freelance work, list notable sessions, tours, and collaborations with client names. Mention the volume of engagements and any particularly significant performances or recordings. Quantify where possible with concert numbers, recording sales, or student counts.
Section Violinist
BBC Philharmonic
Held a full-time section position in a nationally broadcast symphony orchestra, performing concerts, recordings, and educational events across the UK.
Responsibilities
- Performed a full season of orchestral concerts including symphonic, choral, and contemporary programmes at Bridgewater Hall and touring venues.
- Participated in studio recording sessions for BBC Radio 3 broadcasts and commercially released albums.
- Attended daily rehearsals and sectional preparation sessions under the direction of the leader and section principals.
- Contributed to the orchestra's education programme, performing at school workshops and community concerts.
- Maintained instrument, strings, and bow in performance condition, managing own equipment investment and maintenance.
Achievements
- Performed as part of the orchestra on three commercially released recordings that received five-star reviews in Gramophone magazine.
- Selected for a chamber music residency at the Cheltenham Music Festival, performing a programme of new commissions.
- Maintained a 99% attendance record across three consecutive concert seasons comprising over 200 engagements.
Freelance Session Musician
Various Artists and Productions
Provided guitar and bass session work for recording studios, live tours, and media production companies across the North West and London.
Responsibilities
- Recorded guitar and bass parts for album sessions, singles, and soundtrack projects in professional studio environments.
- Prepared and performed live shows as part of touring bands and dep musician bookings.
- Read charts, lead sheets, and Nashville number system notation to learn material efficiently for sessions with minimal rehearsal.
- Collaborated with producers, artists, and engineers to develop appropriate parts and tonal approaches for each project.
Achievements
- Contributed guitar parts to an album that reached number 14 on the UK Albums Chart, generating over 2 million streams on Spotify.
- Built a sustainable freelance practice averaging 15 paid sessions per month through studio recommendations and artist referrals.
Education & Qualifications
List your music qualifications in order of seniority, starting with postgraduate studies. Include your instrument, institution, and any distinctions or prizes. Mention notable teachers, masterclass leaders, and competition results that are relevant to your career.
BMus (Hons) Performance
Undergraduate music degree specialising in performance, combining individual tuition with academic study.
PGDip / MMus Performance
Postgraduate performance qualification providing advanced training and preparation for a professional music career.
ABRSM Grade 8 / Diploma
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music graded examinations and diplomas demonstrating instrumental or vocal proficiency.
DBS Enhanced Certificate
Disclosure and Barring Service check required for musicians working with children and vulnerable adults in educational settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a musician CV be?
Should I include a link to my recordings?
How do I present freelance music work on a CV?
What qualifications do I need for a music career?
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