Symphony orchestra seating chart
A full symphony layout with the strings in concentric arcs around the podium, woodwinds in the centre rows, brass behind them and timpani and percussion upstage. Every chair and stand is drawn to scale in feet, so what you print is what the crew sets.
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What's in this template
- Seated players
- 117
- Music stands
- 84
- Stage deck drawn at
- 52 × 30 ft (15.8 × 9.1 m)
Also placed: piano, harp, timpani, bass drum, vibraphone, plus podium and conductor.
The counts are a starting point, not a standard instrumentation. Edit them to match your roster.
Chairs by section
| Section | Chairs |
|---|---|
| Violin I | 16 |
| Violin II | 14 |
| Viola | 12 |
| Cello | 10 |
| Double bass | 8 |
| Flute | 10 |
| Oboe | 8 |
| Clarinet | 10 |
| Bassoon | 6 |
| Horn | 8 |
| Trumpet | 6 |
| Trombone | 6 |
| Tuba | 1 |
| Percussion | 2 |
Setup tips
- This template uses American seating (first and second violins on the conductor's left, cellos and basses on the right). For European or antiphonal seating, select the second violins and use Mirror to move them to the right, then swap the cellos inward.
- String players usually share a stand per desk. Keep the pairs together when you drag a section so the stand count stays right.
- Horns project backwards. Give them a hard surface or shell behind, and keep them clear of the timpani so the principal can hear the woodwinds.
- Use the clearance warnings to find chairs that are too close together before you print. Cellists and bassists need more depth than violinists.
- Before the crew call, check the counts against your roster. The template's counts are a starting point, not a standard instrumentation.
How to make it
- Open the Symphony Orchestra template in the free maker. No account is needed.
- Drag, add or delete chairs, stands and risers. Click a chair to label it with a player's name.
- Check the clearance warnings for chairs that are too close together.
- Export a Letter, Tabloid or A3 PDF, or an SVG, with title block, scale bar and section legend.
Not sure the ensemble fits your stage? Try the orchestra stage size calculator.
FAQ
- What is the standard seating arrangement for a symphony orchestra?
- Most North American orchestras use American seating: first and second violins on the left, violas inside right, cellos outside right and basses behind the cellos. The winds sit centre in two rows, the brass behind them, and the percussion and timpani at the back. Many European orchestras split the violins antiphonally (firsts left, seconds right).
- How big a stage does a full symphony orchestra need?
- A rough guide for a 90–110 player orchestra is 1,700–2,300 sq ft (about 160–215 m²) of usable deck, depending on percussion, keyboards and risers. Run your own instrumentation through our stage size calculator to get an estimate.
- Can I print this seating chart?
- Yes. Open it in the free maker and export to Letter, Tabloid or A3 PDF, or SVG. Free exports carry a light watermark. Pro exports are clean.
