Concert Orchestra

Concert Orchestra Audition Requirements

  • Solo work of the student’s choice, an excerpt about 1-2 minutes in length - grade 4-5 recommended. Please bring a copy of the piece to the adjudicators at 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

  • Scales can be played slurring eighth two notes per bow. 
  • Arpeggios can be played slurring three notes per bow.
  • Chromatic scales may be asked - play one octave starting on any note.
  • Students may be asked to play with various articulations such as martelé or staccato.

Violin

  • Major - (2 octaves) Ab, A, Bb, C, D
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) a, b, c, d

Viola

  • Major - (2 octaves) Db, D, Eb, F, G
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) d, e, f, g

Cello

  • Major - (2 octaves) Eb, F, G, A, Bb
  • Melodic minor - (2 octaves) c, d, g

Bass

  • Major - (1 octave) C, D, E
  • Melodic minor - (1 octave) c, d, e

Winds and Brass

  • All scales and arpeggios are to be played slurred, 2 octaves, ascending and descending at a tempo which best shows your proficiency
  • Scales will be played ascending and descending
  • Arpeggios will be played in the common chords for the same keys

Flute

  • Major scales- (2 octaves) in C, D, Eb, E, F, G, Ab, A, and Bb
  • Minor scales- (2 octaves) harmonic or melodic form in a, b, c, d, e, f#, and g
  • Chromatic - 2 octaves

Oboe

  • Major - (1 octave) A (a 12th) F (2 octaves) C, D, Eb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (a 12th) f#, g (2 octaves) b, c, d
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on C, D

Clarinet

  • Major - (2 octaves) F, G, A, Bb, D
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (2 octaves) e, g, b, c, d
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on F, C

Bassoon

  • Major - (2 octaves) Bb, C, F, G, A
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (2 octaves) b, c, d, g, a
  • Chromatic - (2 octaves) start on F, C

French Horn

  • Major - (1 octave: E, F (a 12th) Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (2 octaves) f
  • Chromatic - (a 12th) start on A

Trumpet

  • Major - (1 octave) F (a 12th) Ab, Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (1 octave) f (a 12th) a, b
  • Chromatic - (a 12th) start on Bb

Trombone

  • Major - Bass Clef (1 octave) Db (a 12th) Ab, Bb; Treble Clef (1 octave) Eb (a 12th) Bb, C
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - Bass Clef (1 octave) e (a 12th) g; Treble Clef (1 octave) f# (a 12th) a
  • Chromatic - Bass Clef (1 octave) start on Eb; Treble Clef (1 octave) start on F

Baritone & Euphonium

  • Major - Bass Clef (1 octave) Eb (a 12th) F# Ab; Treble Clef (1 octave) F (a 12th) Ab, Bb
  • Melodic or harmonic minor - Bass Clef (1 octave) eb (a 12th) g, a; Treble Clef (1 octave) f (a 12th) a, b
  • Chromatic - Bass Clef (a 12th) start on Ab; Treble Clef (a 12th) start on Bb

Tuba - C, Eb, F, Bb

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

Tuned Percussion and Harp

Tuned Percussion

  • Major - 1 octave) E, Ab

  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (1 octave) c#, f

Harp (pedal)

  • (3 octaves) C, G, D, A, E, Bb, Eb, Ab

  • Melodic or harmonic minor - (3 octaves) a, e, d, g in harmonic, c, f in melodic and harmonic