Auditions & Membership

• New musicians must audition for entry into our ensembles.
• It is recommended that before submitting an audition request form, you download the audition materials and seek advice from your private teacher about which level of audition materials are appropriate to your current playing level.
• If you would like to find a private teacher, please contact Youth Ensembles Manager directly: Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org

• Returning musicians must all audition each season.
• Discuss with your teacher and prepare the scales and excerpts for the highest-level ensemble in which you would like to play.  It is highly recommended you work with your private teacher on your audition materials.
• If you desire to remain in your current level, you are still required to audition for seating purposes. Seating auditions will be held in August.

Musicians will be notified of the audition results as soon as possible following the auditions. In many cases, results may not be decided until all auditions have been completed. Results will be distributed by email. Musicians successfully completing an audition are offered membership in one (or more) of the ensembles. Each member’s placement in the group will be based upon auditions and input from qualified professional musicians.

Late or Mid-season auditions will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. Late entry affects seating and is disqualifying for the concertmaster seat and most principal seats.

For questions about auditions, please contact Youth Ensembles Manager Elena Sloman, esloman@srsymphony.org

Ways to Prepare

• Determine where the problem spots are (down to the measure), and focus on them one at a time, slowly and carefully, until they get consistently better. Then put the difficult spot into context, playing a longer passage. After that, play through the whole piece or excerpt.
• Deal with one challenge at a time. For example, if rhythm is the problem, practice the passage first without articulations, dynamics, slurs, etc. Once one problem in the passage is fixed, add the other things back in one at a time.
• Practice all your music with a metronome for accuracy of tempo and rhythm. Start at a tempo that feels too easy, play it perfectly, then slowly speed up the metronome until you are performing the music at the assigned tempo.  Do this process for short passages first, gradually building up to include the whole piece or excerpt.
• When challenged by the rhythm in a passage, be sure first that you can sing (or tap or clap) the rhythm.  If you can do that successfully consistently, try it slowly on your instrument, gradually speeding up to the assigned tempo. Then put the passage into context in a longer passage. After that, play through the whole piece or excerpt.
• When you are feeling confident that you can play through the piece pretty well, ask yourself to address the details: dynamics, articulation, phrasing etc.  Is this piece sad or joyous, lively, or spooky? If the music has markings you don’t know, be sure to ask your teacher about them. Get your technique in place so you can then be an artist!
• Practice your audition in front of family or friends. Doing a “dry run” will help you be comfortable with the audition routine and feel less nervous in your actual audition.
• Arrive early enough to not feel rushed. You’ll need time to find parking, fill out any necessary paperwork, warm up and perhaps use the restroom. Wear comfortable clothes you are accustomed to. As you warm up, be attentive to your sound, and focus on good breathing and releasing any tension. Staff are there to help, so ask if you need anything!

Things to Keep in Mind

• We want you to have a good experience so that you play well. Staff and the audition panel want to see you succeed and continue growing.
• The audition panel will assess your current accomplishments, they are not looking for mistakes. We’re excited to see you do well.
• Your placement in an orchestra or seating in a section is based on many factors, some of which you can’t control. What really matters is that you are dedicated and continue to improve.
• We know you might come to your audition with some expectations about your placement. You might be hoping for an orchestra, section or even have a seat in mind. Know that the results of your audition are not just based on your playing that day, but on how everyone played in auditions. You, your teacher, and your family know what you did to prepare for the audition, but only the audition panel knows how every audition went. Prepare over weeks rather than days. Remember that we’re hoping for the best for you and share your talent with the panel.