Youth Orchestra

Auditions

Register for Prelude Strings and submit auditions for our Sinfonia, Philharmonia, and Youth Orchestra ensembles here. More information on each ensemble and their requirements are below.

Auditions may be submitted on a rolling basis.

For more information, please email the Youth Orchestra Manager. (connor.gibbs@sdsymphony.org)
Register & Submit

Auditions will be submitted this year as a video recording. Videos may be recorded in any format, including cell phone videos. All audition submissions must be uploaded as one video per audition.  Please upload your audition video to an online file hosting service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft One Drive, etc. A link to this file will be needed for the audition form.

Students will be informed of their orchestra placement after all auditions have taken place and the conductors have deliberated.  Conductors will place students into the ensemble they feel will prove most beneficial to the student.

Each student’s season placement audition will be used to determine their section chair placement for the first concert cycle of the regular season, so it is important that students play their very best when auditioning.  Students will be informed of their section chair placement at the first regular rehearsal in September.

Students will have the opportunity to re-audition for chair placements at the beginning of each concert cycle during the SDSYO season.

 

*All auditions are recorded for conductor’s use.
*All decisions concerning placement and participation in the SDSYO are at the sole discretion of SDSYO staff.
*All placement decisions are final.

REGISTER & SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION

Youth Orchestra

Conducted by Thomas Fortner

STRING EXCERPTS

String students interested in participating in Youth Orchestra will be asked to play the following:

  • 2 octave chromatic scale, starting on A
  • D Major scale – 3 octaves for violin, viola, and cello, 2 octaves for bass
  • G Melodic Minor scale – 3 octaves for everyone
  • The selected Bach etude for their instrument
  • All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 (1st movement)

Violin Viola Cello Double Bass Bach Etudes (All Strings)

WIND EXCERPTS

Wind and brass students interested in participating in Youth Orchestra will be asked to play the following:

  •  2 or 3 octave scale of their choice (depending on instrument logistics)
  • A chromatic scale showing your range
  •  A portion of a solo (approximately 1 minute; may be from an etude, an excerpt from standard orchestral repertoire, or from personal repertoire) | (Bass clarinet exempt)
  • All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from a selection of:
    • George Gershwin's An American in Paris Suite (arr. John Whitney)
    • Sergei Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2 (1st movement)
    • Gustav Holst’s The Planets (Mars and Jupiter)
    • Johannes Brahms's Symphony No. 4 (1st movement)

**The trombone parts have two different clefs; using either version is acceptable.**

Flute Clarinet Bass Clarinet Oboe Bassoon Horn Trumpet Trombone Tenor Clef Trombone (Bass Clef) Bass Trombone Tuba

PERCUSSION EXCERPTS

Percussion students interested in participating in Youth Orchestra will be asked to play the following:

  • All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from George Gershwin’s An American in Paris Suite (arr. John Whitney)

 

Percussion

Philharmonia

Conducted by Jeffrey Paul

STRING EXCERPTS

String students interested in participating in Philharmonia will be asked to play the following:

  • 3 Octave Scale of your choice
  • A portion of a solo (three minutes or less; a solo comparable to the end of Suzuki Book IV)
  • All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from Sleepers, Wake by J.S. Bach, arranged by Jerry Brubaker.

Violin Viola Cello Bass

WIND EXCERPTS

Wind and brass students interested in participating in Philharmonia will be asked to play the following:

  • 2 octave major or minor scale of choice
  • A chromatic scale demonstrating fluidity and range
  • A portion of a solo (three minutes or less)
  • All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from Sleepers, Wake by J.S. Bach, arranged by Jerry Brubaker.

Trumpet Oboe Clarinet Flute Bassoon & Saxophone Tuba Horn

PERCUSSION EXCERPTS

Percussion students interested in participating in Philharmonia will be asked to play the following:

  • All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from Sleepers, Wake by J.S. Bach, arranged by Jerry Brubaker.

Percussion

 

Sinfonia

Conducted by Thomas Fortner

Students interested in participating in Sinfonia will be asked to play the following:

  • A two octave scale of your choice
  • A portion of a solo (no more than three minutes)

Camerata

SDSYO Chamber Ensembles
Coaches: Drew Carlson, Dr. Beverly Gibson, Sue Sidoti

Students interested in participating in Camerata will be asked to play the following:

  • TWO pieces of contrasting style