Orchestra auditions for the 2021-2022 season will be submitted via video due April 1, 2021, except all percussion and Steel auditions which will take place in person during the month of May, 2021.
Orchestra Audition video submissions should be approximately 5-8 minutes long except percussion auditions which are approximately 5 minutes. During that time, students will perform 2-3 minutes of their two contrasting solo pieces and, if they choose, the orchestral excerpts found at the bottom of this page.
All auditioning students are asked to prepare two contrasting pieces for their audition. For the audition video, please include a 2-3 minute portion of each piece. (You do not need to start at the beginning.) It is important that the two solo selections you choose are CONTRASTING so that the judges hear the range of your technical and musical capabilities: fast vs slow, lyrical vs technical. If your two pieces are 1) a slow, lyrical piece and 2) a fast, technical piece with a slow introduction, make sure you play the fast part of the second piece.
When submitting an audition registration, students will indicate whether they plan to play the orchestral excerpts or not. Excerpts are only required for students who wish to be considered for Symphony Orchestra or Philharmonic Orchestra. If a student isn’t sure whether they should audition for these ensembles, we suggest looking at the excerpts with their teacher to see if it feels like an appropriate piece for their level.
Strings
- Two contrasting movements or solo pieces
- Orchestral Excerpts provided by CYSO*
*The orchestral excerpts are only required if you wish to be considered for placement in Symphony Orchestra or Philharmonic Orchestra (Sunday orchestras). You do not need to prepare the excerpts to be considered for placement in Concert Orchestra, Debut Orchestra, Accelerando Strings, Preparatory Strings, or Overture Strings (Saturday orchestras).
Winds & Brass
- Two contrasting movements or solo pieces
- Three orchestral excerpts chosen by student fromCYSO’s Orchestral Excerpt list.* Note that you must play at least 1 excerpt from each list, A and B, for your instrument. For example, you can pick 1 excerpt from list “A” and 2 from list “B” for a total of 3 excerpts.
*The orchestral excerpts are only required if you wish to be considered for placement in Symphony Orchestra or Philharmonic Orchestra (Sunday orchestras). You do not need to prepare the excerpts to be considered for placement in Concert Orchestra or Debut Orchestra (Saturday orchestras).
Percussion
CYSO understands that most percussionists do not have access to more than a practice pad at this time. Because of this, we will be holding live auditions in the month of May.
To be considered for Debut or Concert Orchestra (Saturday Orchestras):
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- Snare Drum:
- Solo or excerpt of your choosing (~1 minute)
- Exercise #75 from Fundamental Studies for Snare Drum
- Target tempo should be quarter note = 120 bpm
- Rolls should be played as multiple bounce (“buzz”) rolls
- Mallets:
- Solo or excerpt of your choosing (~1 minute)
- Shostakovich – Suite from The Golden Age (complete)
- Copland – Hoe Down from Rodeo (complete)
- Snare Drum:
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- Timpani:
- Demonstrate ability to tune drums to specific pitches
- Sight reading
- Timpani:
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To be considered for Philharmonic or Symphony Orchestra (Sunday Orchestras):
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- Snare Drum:
- Solo or etude of your choosing (~1 minute)
- Excerpt from Keiskleiriana 1
- Mallets:
- Solo or etude of your choosing (~1 minute)
- Gershwin – Porgy and Bess (excerpt)
- Copland – Appalachian Spring (complete)
- Snare Drum:
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- Timpani:
- Demonstrate ability to tune drums to specific pitches
- Sight reading
- Timpani:
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Please note that you can still be considered for Debut or Concert Orchestra if you prepare the repertoire required for Philharmonic or Symphony Orchestra.
Harp & Piano
- Two contrasting movements or solo pieces
- Harp: Two excerpts chosen by student from CYSO’s Orchestral Excerpt list*
- Piano: Two excerpts chosen by student from CYSO’s Orchestral Excerpt list*
*The orchestral excerpts are only required if you wish to be considered for placement in Symphony Orchestra or Philharmonic Orchestra (Sunday orchestras). You do not need to prepare the excerpts to be considered for placement in Concert Orchestra (Saturday).
2021-2022 CYSO Excerpt List
You may download the excerpts for each instrument by clicking on the instrument in the list below. Please review all excerpts, as they may have been updated since last season.
