Trainee Sound Engineering 2025
Trainee Sound Engineering 2025
Applications are now open for The Night With…’s pioneering one year scheme to train and nurture the next generation of sound engineers specialising in classical and contemporary classical music in Scotland.
This one-year training programme will focus on developing the skills necessary for participating in The Night With… concerts and recordings, including:
Live amplification setup and use for contemporary classical music
Using and cueing live electronics in a performance context
Setting up for and recording with classical musicians
Recording post production
Participants will shadow and assist at The Night With… concerts and recording sessions, gaining real-world experience and professional credits on commercially released recordings while also being paid for their time (each participant will receive an honorarium of £2500 for involvement). In addition, they will receive subscriptions for software they will need, such as Pro Tools, for the duration of the programme.
The project will be led by Dr. Timothy Cooper, a distinguished composer, lecturer, and sound engineer based in Glasgow. Dr. Cooper has extensive experience in recording and live sound engineering for contemporary music, particularly involving electronics. He has managed live sound and mixing for all The Night With…’s concerts and albums, overseeing system setup for the 2023 festival and the Scottish Nordic Music Days festival in 2024. He holds a PhD from the University of St Andrews and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He was awarded the 2023 Tippet Medal for composition from the Royal Musical Association. He currently works as a recording lecturer at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and as Specialist Technician, Music and Sound Technology at Edinburgh College of Art, along with other freelance work in teaching, sound engineering and composition.
The programme is open to up to three early-career sound engineers based in Scotland. Candidates may be music technology graduates or self-taught individuals looking to develop high-level skills in live sound and recording for contemporary classical and electronic music.
Key criteria for the successful candidates will include enthusiasm and interest in exploring sound engineering for contemporary music, the ability to read complex contemporary scores (solo and small chamber) and some technical skills to build on (perhaps some basic recording or live sound skills).
The Night With… anticipates graduates from the programme will continue their work in this field by being professionally engaged by The Night With… but also by other ensembles and organisations, ensuring a flourishing ecosystem of electronic performance and sound engineering in Scotland.
The programme consists of three intensive periods of 3-4 days of hands on learning, with at home assignments and reading in between along with the chance to shadow at least three concerts or recording sessions throughout the year. Throughout the year the participants may also be given increased professional responsibility as part of The Night With…’s ongoing work and this would be compensated in addition to the honorarium.
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply please fill out the application form and equal opportunities form by 5pm on Firday 29 August 2025. If you’ve any questions or wish to have an informal chat about the scheme please email Miranda at press@thenightwith.com.
This scheme is kindly supported by the McGlashan Trust and Idlewild Trust.
https://thenightwith.com/2025/07/29/trainee-sound-engineering-2025/