Auditions

Auditions for new students

Where: Oakland University, Varner Hall
When: May 2024
Audition Registration: Registration will open online April 1st. Check the website for updates in March.

Auditions will be heard for the following instrument openings:

Symphony Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion
Philharmonia Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Percussion
String Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
Studio String Orchestra: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

Auditions allow conductors to get to know your student and to evaluate their playing level. Once auditions are completed students are placed in the orchestra in which they can be both successful and challenged. Final orchestra placement is at the discretion of the orchestra conductors.

We offer four levels of orchestras

Symphony Orchestra

Level:

Advanced

Instruments:

Strings, Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion

Age group:

Advanced High School musicians

Philharmonia Orchestra

Level:

Advanced Intermediate

Instruments:

Strings, Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion

Age/Repertoire:

Suzuki books 6 and beyond (Strings). Generally grades 6 through 12

String Orchestra

Level:

Intermediate

Instruments:

String musicians only (Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass)

Age/Repertoire:

Suzuki books 4 through 7 or equivalent. Generally grades 5 through 10.

Studio String Orchestra

Level:

Advanced Beginner

Instruments:

String musicians only (Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass)

Age/Repertoire:

Suzuki books 2 through 4. Generally grades 2 through 7

Audition Requirements

For Studio Strings: 2-3 minutes of a solo of your choosing showing technique, tone quality, familiarity with key signatures and ability to display confident and expressive playing. The solo will be heard unaccompanied and does not need to be memorized. Students will also be given sight reading. (see below)
String, Philharmonia, and Symphony: 3 to 4 minutes of a solo of your choosing showing technique, tone quality and ability to display confident and expressive playing. The solo will be heard unaccompanied and does not need to be memorized. Students will also be given sight reading. (see below)
Wind/Brass students auditioning for the first time? Choose a Philharmonia/Symphony Joint audition session.
Percussionists: For pianists/percussionists, prepare a piano solo as well as a solo on your chosen percussion instrument. For percussionists only, prepare a solo on your chosen percussion instrument.
Multiple Instruments: Be prepared to perform a solo on each instrument you would like to play in the orchestra, and schedule an audition time for each instrument.
Sight reading: All auditioning students will be asked to sight read music appropriate to their demonstrated skill set during their audition. Conductors choose sight reading excerpts that represent their ensemble’s expected ability level and look for student’s accuracy of note reading/intonation, rhythm and musical interpretation after being given one minute of silent preparation.
Scales are not required for any audition.

The Audition Schedule is as follows;

* dates in italics are priority sessions for our currently enrolled students