Audition Information

 

**STUDENTS WILL REMAIN IN THE ORCHESTRA THEY AUDITIONED FOR AND WERE ACCEPTED INTO FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON, UNLESS MOVED BY CONDUCTOR REQUEST**

All students wishing to join the NJSYO must audition. Please refer to the audition requirements below for the appropriate orchestra.

Preparatory String Orchestra

Basic Skills

• Students must be in the second grade or higher in September.
• Completion of a method book such as Essential Elements for Strings 2000, Strictly Strings, All for Strings, etc.
• Ability to read music without writing in note names or basic fingerings.
• Must be familiar with rhythms including quarter, eighth, half, whole and dotted notes.
• Ability to count in 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time.

Scales

Violin: 2 octaves: G, A; 1 octave: Bb, C, D, F
Viola: 1 octave: Bb, C, D, F, G
Cello: 1 octave: Bb, C, D, F, G
Bass: 1 octave: G

Violinists will be expected to play one 2 octave scale and one 1 octave scale listed above. All others will be expected to play two 1 octave scales.

Solo Piece

Solo piece must be an actual solo for your instrument, not an orchestra part. Solo should demonstrate the student’s ability and be a minimum of 32 measures long including repeats. Suggested examples include Bach Minuets, 1, 2, and 3, solos found at the end of Suzuki Book 1 and the solos in the beginning of Suzuki Book 2.

Other similar solos are accepted.

Sight Reading

Sight reading will be provided and will be part of an orchestra piece similar to those that will will be played at this level. Students will be given a stated amount of time to visually review the piece with playing their instruments. Students will then play the part to the best of their ability.

Concert Youth Orchestra

All Strings:

I. Applicants will perform 2 scales, one each from list A and list B. Applicants must

perform one major and one minor scale (natural, harmonic, or melodic). All scales

should be played 2 octaves; students may play three octaves if they are able. All scales

must be performed from memory.

List A: C/G/D/A/E/F majors; A/E/B/F#/C#/D minors

List B: Bb/Eb/Ab majors; G/C/F minors

II. Applicants should prepare 2 contrasting solo pieces or excerpts (one faster and one

slower selection) that best demonstrate their skill level. Selections should be no more

than 2-3 minutes in length. Specific areas being evaluated will include intonation,

rhythmic accuracy, bowing and bow control, tone, and variety of articulation when

applicable.

III. All applicants will be asked to sight-read a short selection which will be provided at

the audition.

Winds/Brass:

I. Applicants will perform 2 scales, one each from list A and list B. Applicants must

perform one major and one minor scale (natural, harmonic, or melodic). All scales

should be played as many octaves as possible, and must be performed from memory.

List A: C/G/D/A/E/F majors; A/E/B/F#/C#/D minors

List B: Bb/Eb/Ab majors; G/C/F minors

II. Applicants should prepare 2 contrasting solo pieces or excerpts (one faster and one

slower selection) that best demonstrate their skill level. Selections should be no more

than 2-3 minutes in length. Specific areas being evaluated will include tone, intonation,

accuracy of notes/rhythms, breath support and control, and cleanliness and accuracy of

articulations.

III. All applicants will be asked to sight-read a short selection which will be provided at

the audition.

Percussion:

Applicants should prepare short 1-2 minutes audition excerpts on as many

instruments as they are proficient; selections should demonstrate a proficiency with

basic rudiments. Audition repertoire may include, but is not limited to band music,

etudes, and solo repertoire. Instruments available for use in percussion auditions are

bells, timpani, triangle, bass drum, and suspended cymbal; applicants wishing to

perform an audition any other instrument will need to bring one to the audition.

All Applicants:

All applicants should bring 2 photocopies of their prepared solo pieces for use by the

audition committee.

Senior Youth Orchestra

Winds , Brass, Percussion

Major scales shall be played in complete octaves as dictated by the range chart (see below). The required diatonic scales for all instruments are six sharps and six flats and shall be played in the pattern of a quarter note followed by six eighth notes. Chromatic scales shall be played in complete octaves within the given range of the instrument as defined in the range chart. Scales shall be played either slurred or tongued as indicated by the judges. Percussionists shall perform separate technical requirements in lieu of the scale requirements. A solo piece demonstrating the student’s ability.

Violin

Scales-3 octaves: G, A, Ab, Bb, C 2 octaves: D, Eb, E, F
Suggested pieces: Concertino in G Major, Op.24-O. Rieding 1st. Movement-Allegro moderato or First Pupil’s Concerto No.1- Friedrich Seitz, 1st. Movement: Allegro moderato in D Major and F Major.

*or a piece similar in difficulty to above demonstrating at least 3rd. and 5th. positions.

Viola

Solo piece should be of difficulty comparable to Telemann Concerto

Cello

Scales-3 octaves: C, D, Eb, E, F 2 octaves: G, Ab, A, Bb
Solo piece should be of difficulty comparable to Tchaikovsky Chanson Triste or Breval Sonata

Bass
Scales-2 octaves: E, F, G, Ab, A, Bb, C, D

Chamber Ensemble

Must be age 13 and above. Must be taking weekly private lessons. Must be able to commit absolutely to weekly rehearsals (Saturday afternoons).

Must demonstrate performing the 1st movement of Benjamin Britten’s Simple Symphony (1st violin part for all violins, your instrument part for all others).

In addition:
For violins
J.S. Bach – Double Concerto (for two violins) in D minor, BWV 1043. 1st movement – solo 1st violin part

For violas
J.C. Bach (Johan Christian Bach) – Concerto in C minor – 1st movement
or
J.S. Bach – Prelude to the Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 (arranged for viola)

For cellos
J.S. Bach – Prelude to the Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007
or
A. Vivaldi – Double Concerto (concerto for two cellos) in G minor, RV 531 1st cello part – 1st movement

For Bass
Anything that demonstrates impeccable rhythm and good intonation

*All selections are expected to be performed with appropriate (and steady) tempo, articulations, dynamics, and vibrato, with good intonation and tone, strong rhythm, and musical maturity.

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