Youth Orchestra
Auditions
Register for Prelude Strings and submit auditions for our Sinfonia, Philharmonia, and Youth Orchestra ensembles, as well as our Camerata chamber music program here. More information on each ensemble and their requirements are below.
Youth Orchestra Audition Information
Audition Deadline
Auditions may be submitted on a rolling basis.
For joining in January, our recommended submission deadline is December 15.
Requirements for each ensemble are listed below.
Prelude Strings Registration
There is no audition requirement for participating in Prelude Strings.
The registration form is separate and may be accessed at the end of this page.
For any questions or to ask for more information, please email the Youth Orchestra Manager. (connor.gibbs@sdsymphony.org)
Register & Submit
Audition Format: Auditions will be submitted this year as a video recording. Videos may be recorded in any format, including cell phone videos. Please upload your audition video to an online file hosting service such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Microsoft OneDrive, etc. A link to this file will be needed for the audition form.
Ensemble Placement: 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.
Seating and Results: 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.
Ensemble Requirements
Use the following buttons to jump to the requirements for the ensemble for which you are interested in auditioning:
Youth Orchestra Philharmonia Sinfonia Camerata Prelude Strings
Youth Orchestra
Conducted by Nicholas Sharma
STRING REQUIREMENTS
*string excerpts updated 11/23/2024
String students interested in participating in Youth Orchestra will be asked to play the following:
Scales
* Note: all scales should be played in quarter notes (quarter = 120). Use separate bows, do not repeat top note, and do not use vibrato.
- D Harmonic Minor scale – 3 octaves for violin, viola, and cello only
- Eb Major scale – 3 octaves for violin, viola, and cello only
- D Major scale – 2 octaves for double bass only
Excerpts
- A portion of a solo (1-2 minutes maximum)
- All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from a selection of:
- Felix Mendelssohn's Hebrides
- Aaron Copland's Hoe-Down (from Rodeo)
- (Bass Only) Camille Saint-Saën's Danse Bacchanale (from Samson and Deliliah)*
- (Bass Only) Giueseppe Verdi's La forza del destino (overture)*
* Note: previous audition excerpts for violin, viola, and cello were from Danse Bacchanale and La forza del destino. These may still be used for new auditions until the beginning of the winter concert cycle (starting January 5). There is preference to submit with the newer excerpts.
Violin Viola Cello Double Bass Violin (Old Excerpts) Viola (Old Excerpts) Cello (Old Excerpts)
WIND REQUIREMENTS
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
- All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from a selection of:
- Camille Saint-Saën's Danse Bacchanale (from Samson and Deliliah)
- Giueseppe Verdi's La forza del destino (overture)
- Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 (Horn excerpt only)
Flute Oboe Clarinet Clarinet (B-Flat) Bass Clarinet Bassoon Horn Trumpet Trombone Bass Trombone Tuba
PERCUSSION REQUIREMENTS
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 a selection of:
- Camille Saint-Saën's Danse Bacchanale (from Samson and Deliliah)
Note: students interested in auditioning for percussion should fill out the form above before the registration deadline. SDSYO staff will follow up about an in-person audition.
HARP REQUIREMENTS
Harp students interested in participating in Youth Orchestra will be asked to play the following:
- All selected excerpts for their instrument, marked in brackets, from a selection of:
- Camille Saint-Saën's Danse Bacchanale (from Samson and Deliliah)
- Giueseppe Verdi's La forza del destino (overture)
Philharmonia
Conducted by Jeffrey Paul
STRING REQUIREMENTS
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.
WIND REQUIREMENTS
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.
Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon & Saxophone Horn Trumpet Trombone Tuba
PERCUSSION REQUIREMENTS
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.
Note: students interested in auditioning for percussion should fill out the form above before the registration deadline. SDSYO staff will follow up about an in-person audition.
HARP REQUIREMENTS
Harp students interested in participating in Philharmonia will be asked to play a portion of a solo (three minutes or less). There is not a specific excerpt requirement for this audition.
Sinfonia
Conducted by Nicholas Sharma
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
Prelude Strings
Conducted by Nicholas Sharma
Register & Submit
No auditions are required for Prelude Strings. Please fill out the registration form linked below. A confirmation email in receipt of your registration will be sent once your form is received by our office.
Registration will close shortly after the first rehearsal on January 6, 2025.
Note: some recommended background / experience / traits for Prelude Strings are included within the registration form, also listed on our Ensembles page.