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.
Updated 7/10/24: a few bars were missing from the violin Bach etude; this has been corrected and reuploaded.
Auditions may be submitted on a rolling basis.
For placement for Fall 2024, auditions are due August 1, 2024.
For more information, please email the Youth Orchestra Manager. (connor.gibbs@sdsymphony.org)
Register & Submit
DEADLINE: AUGUST 1, 2024
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.
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 auditioning for percussion without access to instruments should still apply and be in contact with SDSYO staff about scheduling an audition.
* 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.
Youth Orchestra
Conducted by Nicholas Sharma
STRING EXCERPTS
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
- The selected Bach etude for their instrument
- 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)
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
- 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 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 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 EXCERPTS
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 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.
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.
Flute Oboe Clarinet Bassoon & Saxophone Horn Trumpet Trombone Tuba
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.
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.
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