2010-11 Orchestra Audition Performance Requirements 
Requirements in PDF (click to view/download).

 

All students will be assessed based on their performance of:

  1. selected scales
  2. prepared solo
  3. sight reading
  4. orchestral excerpt (if required)

·         Be sure to carefully look over memorized scale and arpeggio and melodic minor requirements for each orchestra.

·         Please note arpeggios are for strings only and arpeggios are required for BOTH the major and minor scales.

·         All scales are to be played ascending and descending.

·         Even and smooth scales in sixteenth note pattern at quarter = 72 for Winds, Brass and Percussions.

·         Conductors will determine orchestra placement and seating for the mutual benefit of the musicians and the orchestras.

·        Musicians should provide an extra copy of their solo for review during the audition.

 

Revised

Chamber Strings (Strings only)

Young Artists

Symphony

Chamber Orchestra

Philharmonic/Chamber Orchestra Winds

Grade in school 

 (2010 Auditions)

4th-6th grade

6th-8th grade

8th - 10th grade

10th - 11th grade

(and select 9th grade)

10th - 12th grade

(10th grade strings will be highly selective)

MINIMUM SOLO LEVEL *

* Please read below

Difficulty grade level 3 - 4 

Difficulty grade level 3 - 4 

Difficulty grade level 4 - 5 

Difficulty grade level 6 

Difficulty grade level 6+

ORCHESTRA EXCERPTS

Download Excerpts Here

SIGHT-READING

Sight-read parts which are comparable in difficulty to the orchestra repertoire

Sight-read parts which are comparable in difficulty to the orchestra repertoire

Sight-read parts which are comparable in difficulty to the orchestra repertoire

Sight-read parts which are comparable in difficulty to the orchestra repertoire

Sight-read parts which are comparable in difficulty to the orchestra repertoire

SCALES

 & TONIC ARPEGGIOS FOR STRINGS

 ** Arpeggios are for strings only. All 1 & 2 octave scales/arpeggios are to be memorized and played in even 8th notes slurred two notes per bow at a metronome speed of at least quarter note = 72    All 3 octave scales and arpeggios are to be memorized and played in even triplets at a metronome speed of at least quarter note = 72. (NOTE: Spiccato/off-the-string has been REMOVED, please prepare the selected scales in the usual slurred manner as listed above) 

VIOLIN

2 octaves / C G D A Bb;  1 octave / F  

2 octaves / C D melodic minor

3 octaves / G A;   2 octaves / C D F Bb;

2 octaves / C D melodic minor

3 octaves / C G D A Ab Bb;  2 octaves F Eb;

3 octaves / A D melodic minor 

3 / C G D A E B F Bb Eb Ab Gb;

3 / C D melodic minor

3 / C G D A E B F Bb Eb Ab Gb ;

3 / F F# Eb melodic minor

VIOLA

2 octaves / C G D A;  1 octave / F Bb  

2 octaves / A G melodic minor

2 octaves / C F G;   1 octave / Bb A ; 

1 octave / A G melodic minor

2 octaves / C G D F A;  1 octave / Bb Eb Ab;

2 octaves / A D melodic minor 

3 / C D Eb; 2 / G A E B F Bb Ab;

3 / C D melodic minor

3 / C D Eb; 2 / G A E B F Bb Ab;

3 / C D melodic minor

CELLO

2 octaves / C G  D A;  1 octave / F Bb  

2 octaves / A G melodic minor

3 octaves / C;   2 octaves / F G A D; 

1 octave / Bb  

2 octaves / A G melodic minor

3 octaves / C D 2 / F G A Bb Eb; 

2 octaves / A D melodic minor

3 / C D E; 2 / G A B F Bb Eb Ab;

3 / C D E melodic minor

3 / C D E; 2 / G A B F Bb Eb Ab;

3 / C D E melodic minor

BASS

1 octave / C G A D F Bb  

1 octave / E G melodic minor

2 octaves / F;   1 octave / C G A D Bb;  

1 octave / E G melodic minor

2 octaves /E F G;  1 octave / C D A Bb Eb;

1 or 2 octaves / E G melodic minor

2 / C G D A E B F Bb Eb Ab;

2 / E F melodic minor

2 / C G D A E B F Bb Eb Ab;

2 / E F melodic minor

FLUTE

 

chrm 1 or more oct;  2 / G D F;  1 / C A Bb 

chrm 1 or more oct;

2 / C G D A E F Bb Eb Ab   

 

Chrm in range; 2 or 3 all major scales

OBOE

 

1/chromatic;  1 / C G D A F Bb

chrm 1 or more oct;

2 / D Eb; 1 / C G A E  F Bb Ab 

 

Chrm in range; 2 / all major scales

CLARINET

 

chrm 1 or more oct;  2 / C G D A  F Bb

chrm 1 or more oct; 2 / C G D A E F Bb Eb Ab

 

Chrm in range; 3 / G E F; 2/all other major scales 

BASSOON

 

1/chromatic;  1 / C G D A F Bb

chrm 1 or more oct; 2 / C D;

1 / G A E F Bb Eb  

 

Chrm in range; 2 / all major scales

FRENCH HORN

 

1/chromatic;  1 / C G D A F Bb 

chrm 1 or more oct; 2 / G F ;

1 / C D A E Bb Eb Ab 

 

Chrm in range; 2 / all major scales 

TRUMPET

 

1/chromatic;  1 / C G D A F Bb

chrm 1 or more oct; 2 / C G A Bb Ab ;

1/ D E F Eb  

 

Chrm in range; 2 / C G A B Bb Ab;

1 / D E F# C# F Eb Db Cb

TROMBONE

 

1/chromatic;  1 / C G D F Bb Eb

chrm 1 or more oct; 2 / F G ;

1/ C D A E Bb Eb Ab

 

Chrm in range; 2 / all major scales 

TUBA

 

1/chromatic;  1 / C G D  F Bb Eb

chrm 1 or more oct; 2 / F G ; 1 / C D Bb Eb Ab

 

Chrm in range; 1 or 2 octaves all major scales 

PERCUSSION

 

Snare solo or etude required.  Timpani OR mallet solo, or etude required. Demonstrate ability on bass drum and cymbals. 

Snare solo required & timpani or mallet solo required; demonstrate familiarity with timpani tuning, and demonstrate ability on bass drum and cymbals. 

 

Snare drum and timpani and mallet solos required; demonstrate ability on bass drum, cymbals, & timpani tuning.   

HARP (Pedals)

Solo and Excerpt Requirement

MCYO will supply requirements and harp excerpts upon request.  Please call David Levin at 301-977-1333 

*  Students may audition with material exceeding the minimum requirements, although it is recommended that students only perform music that highlights their best technical and musical ability.  No accompanist required.   “Difficulty level” refers to the difficulty ranging from Grades 1 (easy) through 6 (most advanced).  Please consult a school or private teacher for more info.  You can also find grade level listings on the Maryland Music Educators Association and American String Teachers Association web sites. &