About the role#
The School of Philadelphia Ballet offers a piano internship for students to gain experience accompanying professional ballet classes. This program provides training, observation, and guided practice under the mentorship of the Lead Accompanist and School Director. Interns learn to support dancers through musical phrasing and develop a repertoire suitable for ballet training.
What you'll do#
- Play for evening ballet classes, levels 4 to 7, for 4 to 6 hours each week.
- Participate in a training phase that includes private mentorship, class observation, and progressive practice.
- Audition for the School Director by playing for a Level 8 or Trainee class.
- Receive ongoing feedback and mentorship while playing select classes.
- Receive a weekly stipend based on the scheduled classes played.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a university music program or recent graduation, preferably as a piano major.
- Collaborative musical experience, such as accompanying voice lessons, choirs, or other instrumentalists.
- Ability to demonstrate technical level and musical maturity by preparing three pieces from different musical periods, such as Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Contemporary.
- Ability to provide satisfactory background checks and child abuse clearances.
Location & details#
- This internship takes place on-site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- The term is for Fall 2026.
About Philadelphia Ballet
Philadelphia Ballet is a nonprofit performing arts organization based in Philadelphia. Founded in 1963, the company maintains a repertoire that includes both classic works and new productions. It employs 127 people and manages an annual season consisting of six distinct programs. The company is known for its yearly presentation of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker.
How to get in at Philadelphia Ballet
Securing an internship at Philadelphia Ballet requires staying ahead of the applicant pool. Because early applicants are often reviewed before the volume of submissions becomes unmanageable, Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published. This allows you to apply among the first, which is a significant advantage in a competitive field. You can also improve your response rates by reaching out to the people managing these positions directly. Intern Insider surfaces the recruiters behind the roles at Philadelphia Ballet so you can contact them to ask about the position or a referral. This direct approach often proves more effective than submitting an application into a general queue.


