INFORMATION

​​

All students auditioning should plan on playing a short solo that showcases your best playing on your instrument. Be prepared to play around 1-2 minutes of your solo piece. The auditioning judge will cut you off after they have heard enough. Each musician will also be asked to sight read a short musical selection. Lastly, you will be asked to play some excerpts chosen by the auditioning team. Please find the details about the string excerpts below. If you are a "non-strings" student, excerpts will be emailed directly to you after you sign up for an audition. 

​

Violin players:
We have provided you with three excerpts to consider playing. You must choose two to prepare for the audition. Please pick two consecutive excerpts- for instance: excerpt 1 and 2, or 2 and 3. Please do not prepare 1 and 3. If you would like to be considered for placement in the violin 1 section of our top Symphonic orchestra, you must play excerpts 2 and 3.

Viola/Cello players:
We ask that you prepare both of the excerpts for your upcoming audition.

Bass players:
There is only one bass excerpt for this year’s audition.

Audition Do's and Don'ts:
Don't:
1. Unpack in the audition room. (Get your instrument out and start warming up before your audition. Leave your case and any personal items aside from your instrument and music outside the audition room.)
2. Make excuses or apologies for imperfections. (And for heaven's sake, do not tell the judge that you didn't practice!)
3. Engage in lengthy conversation or storytelling. (Let your playing speak for itself.)
4. Take a tempo that is too fast for you to play well.
5. Jump into the playing before you're ready. (Take a second, take a deep breath!)

Do:
1. Arrive EARLY to give yourself peace of mind and time to warm up.
2. Wear professional/concert attire, and conduct yourself in a polite and professional manner. Greet the judge with a polite "hello" when you arrive and "thank you" before you leave. A little bit of professionalism goes a long way!
3. In your audition you are welcome to ask questions if anything is unclear.
4. Take tempos that are as close to the recommended metronome marking as you can, but prioritize your best playing overall. If you will sound better and play more accurately at a slightly slower tempo, do that!
5. COUNT! Count rests, count long notes, do not be in a hurry to get to the end, show the judge how accurate your rhythm and counting are.
6. Watch the key signature in the sight reading. Missing a key signature can mean the difference between 20 mistakes and zero mistakes.

​​

MUSIC

​

Violin

​​

​

​

​

​

​

Viola

​

​​​

​​

​​

​​

​​

Cello

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​​​

​

​

​

Bass

​​​

​

​​​​​​

​

​

​

​​