Musicians will be required to learn a page of excerpts to play for the audition.  Current members wishing to move up to a more advanced orchestra must prepare the excerpts appropriate for that orchestra.  Please note that the solos you choose should match the level of difficulty of the orchestra for which you are auditioning.

 

Students wishing to audition for the String Orchestra should play only excerpt #1.

• All students:  One prepared piece demonstrating current technical level, producing a full clear tone, two-octave major scales through three sharps and flats by memory; vibrato; sight reading. Bass may play one or two-octave scales.
• Violin, Viola:  Proficiency in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions
• Cello:  Knowledge of 1st, 3rd and 4th positions
• Bass:  Half, 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions

Sinfonia:

Students auditioning for Sinfonia should be prepared to play excerpts #1 and #2.

• All students:  In addition to the String Orchestra requirements, two prepared pieces, one slow and one fast, preferably an etude, sonata, or concerto movement (an All-State etude may be used as one selection); fluent reading of 16th-note rhythms in cut time (alla breve), 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, 6/8, 3/8 meters; major and natural minor scales in two octaves up to three sharps and flats by memory; sight reading
• Violin, Viola:  Fluency through 3rd position, proficiency in 4th and 5th position
• Cello:  Fluency through 4th position, proficiency in 5th and thumb position
• Bass:  Proficiency through 5th position

Philharmonia:

Students auditioning for Philharmonia should be prepared to play excerpts #2 and #3.

• All students:  In addition to the Sinfonia requirements, mature string tone and vibrato skills; two prepared pieces, one slow and one fast preferably an etude, sonata, or concerto movement (an All-State etude may be used as one selection); three-octave major and minor scales through four sharps and four flats by memory; sight reading
• Violin, Viola:  Fluency through 5th position
• Cello:  Treble and tenor clef; thumb position
• Bass:  Vibrato

Symphony:

Students wishing to audition for Symphony should be prepared to play excerpts #3 and #4.

• All students: In addition to the Philharmonia requirements, two prepared pieces, one slow and one fast, preferably from major concertos or sonatas by different composers (do not play multiple movements from the same piece or use All-State etudes); all major and minor scales in three octaves; advanced sight reading
• Violin, viola: Fluency in all position
• Cello: Fluency in advanced tenor and treble clef passages
• Bass: Fluency in tenor clef and thumb position.