Symphony Orchestra

Symphony Orchestra Audition Requirements

  • Solo work of the student’s choice, an excerpt about 1-2 minutes in length - grade 5-6 recommended. Please bring a copy of the piece to the adjudicators at the time of audition. 
  • Scales and arpeggios 
  • Sight-reading may be required 

Scales and Arpeggios

Students are asked to play scales and tonic arpeggios from memory at a minimum tempo of a quarter note = 72.

Strings

  • Chromatic scales may be asked - play one or two octaves starting on any note.
  • Students may be asked to play with various articulations such as martelé or staccato.

Violin

  • Major - (2 octaves) Dd, F, F# (3 octaves) A, Bb
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) c#, f, f# (3 octaves) a, bb

Viola

  • Major - (2 octaves) F#, Bb, B (3 octaves) C, D
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) f#, bb, b (3 octaves) c, d

Cello

  • Major - (2 octaves) E, F#, Ab, B (3 octaves) C, D
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) e, f#, g#, b (3 octaves) c, d

Bass

  • Major - (2 octaves) F, F#, G
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) f, f#, g

Winds and Brass

All scales and arpeggios are to be played slurred and at a tempo which best shows your proficiency

  • Scales and arpeggios will be played ascending and descending
  • Arpeggios will be played in the common chords for the same key

Flute

  • Major scales, two octaves, keys of: C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, G, Ab, A, Bb, and B
  • Minor scales, two octaves, keys of a, b, c, c#, d, e, f, f#, and g
  • Chromatic - 3 octaves

Oboe

  • Major - (a 12th) F#, Ab (2 octaves) Bb, B Db, E, F
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (12th) g, g# (2 octaves) bb, b, c#, f
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on Bb, C, Eb, E

Clarinet

  • Major - (2 octaves) Ab, Bb, B, Db, D, Eb (3 octaves) E
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (2 octaves) g#, a, bb, b, c# (3 octaves) e
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on F, A,  C (3 octaves) starts on E

Bassoon

  • Major - (2 octaves) Db, D, Eb, E, Ab (3 octaves) Bb, B
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (2 octaves) c#, e, g, g# (3 octaves) bb, b
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on E, F, A (3 octaves) start on Bb

French Horn

  • Major - (2 octaves) C, Db, F#, Ab
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (2 octaves) c#, eb, g, a
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on E, F, F#, G

Trumpet

  • Major
  1. All instruments (a 12th) D (2 octaves) F#, A
  2. Bb instruments (2 octaves) Bb
  3. Eb Cornet (a 12th) Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor  
  1. All instruments (a 12th) c (2 octaves) g#, a
  2. Bb instruments (2 octaves) bb
  3. Eb Cornet (a 12th) bb
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on F#, G, Ab, A

Trombone

  • Major
  1. Bass Clef (a 12th) Bb, C (2 octaves) E, Ab
  2. Treble Clef (a 12th) C, D (2 octaves) F#, Bb 
  • Melodic or harmonic minor  
  1. Bass Clef (a 12th) bb, c# (2 octaves) f# 
  2. Treble Clef (a 12th) c, eb (2 octaves) g#
  • Chromatic  
  1. Bass Clef (2 octaves) start on G, Ab
  2. Treble Clef (2 octaves) start on A, Bb

Baritone,  Euphonium

  • Major
  1. Bass Clef (a 12th) C (2 octaves) E, G, Ab
  2. Treble Clef (12th) D (2 octaves) F#, A, Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor
  1. Bass Clef (a 12th) bb (2 octaves) f#, g, g#
  2. Treble Clef (a 12th) c (2 octaves) g#, a, bb
  • Chromatic
  1. Bass Clef (2 octaves) start on E, F, F#, G
  2. Treble Clef (2 octaves) start on F#, G, Ab, A

Tuba

  • Major
  1. Bass Clef Eb tuba (a 12th) F (2 octaves) A, C, Db
  2. Bass Clef F tuba (a 12th) G (2 octaves) B, D, Eb
  3. Bass Clef Bb tuba (a 12th) C (2 octaves) E, G, Ab
  4. Bass Clef C tuba (a 12th) D (2 octaves) F#, A, Bb
  5. Treble Clef All tubas (a 12th) D (2 octaves) F#, A, Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor
  1. Bass Clef Eb tuba (a 12th) eb (2 octaves) b, c, c#
  2. Bass Clef F tuba (a 12th) f (2 octaves) c#, d, eb
  3. Bass Clef Bb tuba (a 12th) bb (2 octaves) f#, g, g#
  4. Bass Clef C tuba (a 12th) c (2 octaves) g#, a, bb
  5. Treble Clef All tubas (a 12th) c (2 octaves) g#, a, bb
  • Chromatic
  • Bass Clef Eb tuba (2 octaves) start on A, Bb, B, C
  • Bass Clef F tuba (2 octaves) start on B, C, Db, D
  • Bass Clef Bb tuba (2 octaves) start on E, F, F#, G
  • Bass Clef C tuba (2 octaves) F#, G, Ab, A
  • Treble Clef All tubas (2 octaves) F#, G, Ab, A

Tuned Percussion and Harp

Tuned Percussion

  • Major - (1 octave) F#, C# (2 octaves) D, Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (1 octave) eb (2 octaves) b, g
  • Chromatic - (1 octave) start on any natural

Harp (pedal)

Major - 4 octaves: all keys (no double # or b)