Cadenza
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Platform Comparison
Both platforms help classical musicians find opportunities. Here is how they compare so you can choose the best fit for your career.
3,868+
Organizations
640
Active Listings
961+
Schools & Conservatories
The Quick Verdict
Musical Chairs pioneered classical music job listings. Cadenza builds on that foundation with broader coverage (8 categories vs. 3), jazz support, modern technology, and free career tools like school comparisons and salary data.
| Feature | Cadenza | Musical Chairs |
|---|---|---|
| Free for musicians | ||
| Orchestra & ensemble jobs | ||
| International competitions | ||
| Summer programs & festivals | ||
| University admissions | ||
| Grants & funding | ||
| Military band positions | ||
| Jazz opportunities | ||
| Gig marketplace | ||
| School comparison tool | ||
| Instrument-specific filtering | ||
| Deadline alerts | ||
| Calendar feeds (iCal/RSS) | ||
| Salary data | ||
| Organization profiles | ||
| Music history database | ||
| Multilingual (EN/DE/FR) | ||
| Open API & data feeds | ||
| Community forum | ||
| Modern responsive design | Partial |
Broader Coverage
Cadenza covers 8 opportunity categories vs. 3 on Musical Chairs. Including admissions, funding, gigs, military, and calls — not just jobs, competitions, and programs.
Jazz & Classical
Musical Chairs focuses exclusively on classical music. Cadenza supports both classical and jazz musicians with dedicated jazz instrument pages and listings.
Modern Technology
Built on a modern stack with fast page loads, real-time search, calendar feeds, and a responsive design that works beautifully on phones and tablets.
Free & Transparent
Musicians browse and apply for free, forever. Organizations get 1 free listing, then transparent pay-as-you-go pricing. No hidden fees or surprise charges.
Musical Chairs has been serving classical musicians since 2001 and has a loyal community. They have strong coverage of European orchestra auditions and a well-established reputation among hiring committees.
If you are exclusively interested in European orchestral auditions with a traditional interface, Musical Chairs remains a solid resource. Many musicians use both platforms to maximize their coverage.
Free for musicians. No credit card required. Start browsing opportunities in seconds.
Start free — claim your organization in 2 minutes. Get 1 free listing, then choose pay-as-you-go or unlimited plans from $900/yr.
Advanced Filtering
Filter by instrument, country, city, deadline, fee waivers, salary range, and more. Find exactly what you need without scrolling through irrelevant results.
Career Tools
Beyond listings: school comparison tools, salary data, military pay calculators, competition results archive, and a music history database with 14,000+ composers.