Audition Requirements

Concert Strings

Concert Strings is designed to cater to young musicians who possess one year of experience or more on their instrument (consult conductor if less than one year). Enrollment in this ensemble will help to reinforce your child’s basic skills as well as build upon their prior training.

Audition Requirements: During the audition, students will be asked to perform the following:

Violin, Viola, Cello & Bass:

C, G, D, A major scales
One prepared solo work (suggestions listed below)
- Suzuki Book 1: Gossec Gavotte
- Suzuki Book 2: Chorus from Judas Maccabaeus, Bouree, Gavotte from Mignon
- Suzuki Book 3: Martini Gavotte

- A sight-reading selection that the conductor will supply

Wind Ensemble

Wind Ensemble is designed to cater to young musicians who possess one year of experience or more on their instrument (consult conductor if less than one year). Enrollment in this ensemble will help to reinforce your child’s basic skills as well as build upon their prior training.

Audition Requirements:

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trombone and Tuba:

- 1 Octave Chromatic Scale

- Bb, Eb, F, G and C Major Scale 1 Octave

- Audition Piece:

Saxophone: Wind Ensemble Audition Music

- 1 Octave Chromatic Scale

- G, D, A, and E Major Scale 1 Octave

- Audition Piece: Wind Ensemble Audition Music

Trumpet:

- 1 Octave Chromatic Scale

- C, F, G and D Major Scale 1 Octave

- Audition Piece: Wind Ensemble Audition Music

Percussion Instruments:

- Long roll

- Scale on Mallet instrument

- A short sight-reading piece to be provided by the conductor

- Audition Piece: Wind Ensemble Audition Music

FRYO Jazz

FRYO Jazz is comprised of saxes (who may be asked to play a little flute or clarinet as well), trumpets, trombones, electric guitar and bass, piano and drum set.

Audition Requirements:

Winds, brass, guitar, bass & piano:

One of the following scales played from memory: C, G, D, F, Bb, Eb and Bb blues scale. FRYO Jazz Audition Pieces and Blues Scale and Drum Patterns The scales shall be played ascending and descending without repeating the top note, once as quarters and once as “swung” eighth notes at 98 bpm
Trumpets who wish to be considered for 1st parts must play a C scale from 3rd space C to C two ledger lines above the staff.
All saxes will be asked to play a chromatic scale from the lowest note on the instrument to the highest note on the instrument.
The prepared excerpts provided. Winds, Brass, Guitar pieces #1 & #2, Piano and Bass pieces #1 and #3. FRYO Jazz Audition Pieces and Blues Scale and Drum Patterns
A brief sight-reading excerpt.
If you wish to play lead parts in your section, you should be prepared to play an improvised solo over a 12 bar B-flat blues pattern.

Drums:

A swing time pattern, a funk time pattern, a rock time pattern, and a Latin jazz time pattern.
The prepared passage provided. Audition piece #3 & Drum patterns FRYO Jazz Audition Pieces and Blues Scale and Drum Patterns
A brief sight-reading excerpt.

Symphonia

Symphonia has full orchestral instrumentation. The program is designed to enhance performers’ understanding of ensemble playing and build on their basic playing skills. Generally, students will have played their instruments for a minimum of two years to join Symphonia. Please download the appropriate scale chart.

Audition Requirements:

Strings:

Two Major Scales in eighth notes at 80 BPM (beats per minute). Consult the Scale Chart: Audition Scales

Prepared Solo: Each musician should prepare one solo piece 3-5 minutes in length of their choosing. The solo should be out of Suzuki Book 3 or 4, or solo piece of equivalent difficulty. It should accurately demonstrate the student’s current level of musical and technical development. Please select your solo carefully. The successful student will choose a solo that they can play well and that showcases their abilities, rather than one that is too difficult or particularly easy.
Sight-reading: one short sight-reading piece provided by the conductor

Wind, Brass, and Percussion:

Two Major Scales in eighth notes at 80 BPM (beats per minute). Consult the Scale Chart: Audition Scales
Prepared Solo: Each musician should prepare one solo piece 3-5 minutes in length of their choosing. It should accurately demonstrate the student’s current level of musical and technical development. Please select your solo carefully. The successful student will choose a solo that they can play well and that showcases their abilities, rather than one that is too difficult or particularly easy.
Sight-reading: one short sight-reading piece provided by the conductor

Philharmonic

The Philharmonic has full instrumentation and is intended to give the student an advanced experience in ensemble playing. The Philharmonic performs complex music in a variety of genres.

Audition Requirements:

Winds & Brass:

See Audition Scales Chart for scale requirements unique to your instrument
Each musician should prepare at least six minutes of solo music of their choosing. This may be a single work with two contrasting sections, or two contrasting works. The student may be asked to not play each piece in its entirety. Please select solos carefully with guidance from your private teacher. Solo music should demonstrate your current level of musical and technical development. There is no advantage to choosing a work that is too difficult or elementary.
A rhythmic exercise and a sight- reading piece
Students will be asked to clap out a short rhythmic exercise. This should demonstrate the student’s ability to subdivide into eighth-notes and to move steadily through each of these.
One sight-reading piece provided by the conductor.

Strings:

See Audition Scales Chart for scale requirements unique to your instrument. The musician should be able to perform each scale: eighth notes at quarter note = 100 bpm or faster, slurring four notes per bow, half notes at quarter note = 60 bpm, one bow per note, with vibrato
Each musician should prepare at least six minutes of solo music of their choosing. This may be a single work with two contrasting sections, or two contrasting works. The student may be asked to not play each piece in its entirety. Please select solos carefully with guidance from your private teacher. Solo music should demonstrate your current level of musical and technical development. There is no advantage to choosing a work that is too difficult or elementary.
A rhythmic exercise and a sight- reading piece:
Students will be asked to clap out a short rhythmic exercise. This should demonstrate the student’s ability to subdivide into eighth-notes and to move steadily through each of these.
One sight-reading piece provided by the conductor.

Percussion Instruments:

Snare solo required, as well as timpani and mallets
Demonstrate familiarity with timpani tuning and ability with bass drum and cymbals