AUDITION DETAILS FOR CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

AUDITION PREPARATION

  • Read the audition requirements carefully.

  • Consult with your teacher which level of the orchestral program would be best suited to your current abilities.

  • Ask your teacher to sign the application.

PRACTICE TIPS

  • Practice with a metronome for accurate rhythms.

  • Scales: Listen for pitch, solid tone and steady tempo.

  • Solo: Choose a piece which best represent your level.

  • Sight reading: Work with your teacher on sight reading skills.

DAY OF THE AUDITION

  • Make sure your instrument is in best working condition.

  • Dress nicely!

  • Arrive 20 minutes before the audition so you have time to park, check in at the front desk and warm up.

DURING THE AUDITION

  • Relax and take a deep breath.

  • Scale: Maintain a beautiful tone and an even tempo throughout.

  • Solo: Exaggerate the dynamics and play from your heart.

  • Sight Reading: Take time to look at the sight reading excerpts before you begin to play. Be aware of the time and key signature, sing the notes and the tempo in your head before playing. If you make a mistake, keep going!

  • Know that it’s normal to be stopped before you complete the piece.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Scales: see details below for each instrument.

Solo: two contrasting movements (see details below).

Sight-reading excerpt: provided at the audition.

STRINGS

First Violin

  • Four-octave: major and melodic minor scale of your choice with arpeggios, slurred.

  • Two-octave double stops: thirds and octaves (same key as scale).

  • A movement from a Bach Solo Partitas and Sonatas.

  • A movement from a Mozart Concerto (first or third movement).

  • A movement from a Romantic or Contemporary Concerto.

Second Violin

  • Three-octave: major and harmonic minor scale of your choice with arpeggios, slurred.

  • Two octaves double stops: thirds and octaves (same key as scale).

  • Two contrasting movements of concertos (one selection from the Classical period and the other from Romantic or Contemporary).

Viola

  • Three-octave: major and harmonic minor scale of your choice with arpeggios, slurred.

  • One-octaves double stops: thirds and octaves (same key as scale).

  • Two contrasting selections from two different periods.

  • Comfortable with reading Treble clef.

Cello:

  • Three-octave: major and harmonic minor scale of your choice with arpeggios, slurred.

  • Two contrasting selections from two different periods.

  • Comfortable with reading Tenor and Treble clef; Thumb Position.

Bass

  • Two-octave: major and harmonic minor scale of your choice with arpeggios, slurred.

  • Two contrasting selections from two different periods.

  • Comfortable with reading Tenor clef.

WOODWINDS

Two-octave scale, major/harmonic minor of your choice, arpeggios. quarter note=120, slurred; Chromatic scale.

  • Flute – Experience with piccolo desirable.

  • Oboe – Experience with English Horn desirable.

  • Clarinet – A, C and G transpositions.

  • Bassoon – Tenor clef fluency.

BRASS

Two-octave, major/harmonic minor scales to upper range limit of required instrument.

  • French Horn – Range to high C. Transposition C, E flat, D and G. Bass clef fluency.

  • Trumpet – Range to high D. Transposition fluency in F, C, G and D. Fluency in all keys.

  • Trombone – Range to high C. Alto and Tenor clef fluency.

PERCUSSION

  • Timpani and Percussion – Timpani and melodic percussion selection. Advanced snare rudiments. Timpani tuning demonstration.

HARP

  • Harp – a solo selection and pedaling etude.