Audition Requirements


Audition Requirements

Union Symphony Youth Orchestra (Ages 13–21)

Please make sure to announce which scale you will be playing prior to playing it.

  • Strings
    • Scales and arpeggios – slurred 4 per bow scales and 3 per bow arpeggios
      • Violin
        • A Major 3 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • Melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio of student’s choice
        • (slurred 4 for the scales and 3 for the arpeggio)
      • Viola
        • C Major 3 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • Melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio of student’s choice
        • (slurred 4 for the scales and 3 for the arpeggio)
      •  Cello
        • C Major 3 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • Melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio of student’s choice
        • (slurred 4 for the scales and 3 for the arpeggio)
      • Bass
        • F Major 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
        • Melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio of student’s choice
      • Prescribed selections
        • Violin
          • Vivaldi – Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 6: movements 1 or 3
          • Handel – Violin Sonata in F Major: movement 1
          • Mozart – Violin Sonata in E Minor: movement 1
          • Or piece of equivalent or greater difficulty
        • Viola
          • Telemann – Viola Concerto in G Major: movement 4
          • Marcello – Sonata in E Minor: movement 2
          • Bach – Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major: Courante
          • Or piece of equivalent or greater difficulty
        • Cello
          • Bach – Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major: Courante
          • Breval – Sonata in C Major: movement 1
          • Grieg – Cello Sonata in A Minor: movement 1
          • Or piece of equivalent or greater difficulty
        • Bass
          • Bach – Gavotte
          • Marcello – Sonata in E Minor: movement 2
          • Vivaldi – Sonata No.5 in E Minor: movement 2
          • Or piece of equivalent or greater difficulty
        • Harp
          • Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Waltz of the Flowers Cadenza
          • Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique Mvt 2 beginning to Rehearsal 23
          • Solo Piece of Choice
  • Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion
    • Scales
      • Flute –  Bb Major (2 Oct), C Major (3 Oct), A Major (2 Oct) – Chromatic C-Ab (2 plus Oct)
      • Oboe – C Major (2 Oct), Eb Major (2 Oct), G Major (1 Oct) – Chromatic C-Eb (2 plus Oct)
      • Clarinet  –  D Major (2 Oct), C Major (2 Oct), F Major (3 Oct) – Chromatic  E – F (3 plus Oct)
      • Bass Clarinet  – D Major (2 Oct), C Major (2 Oct), F Major (2 Oct) – Chromatic E – C (2 plus Oct)
      • Bassoon –  Bb Major (2 Oct), D Major (2 Oct,)  E Major (2 Oct) – Chromatic A# – F (2 plus Oct)
      • Horn  – G Major (2 Oct), A Major (2 Oct), Eb Major (2 Oct) – Chromatic – F – G (2 plus Oct)
      • Trumpet  – C Major (2 Oct), Bb Major (2 Oct), A Major (2 Oct) – Chromatic – G – Bb (2 plus Oct)
      • Trombone  – G Major (2 Oct), F Major (2 Oct), Bb Major (2 Oct) – Chromatic – F – Ab (2 plus Oct)
    • Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Solo Requirements

Prelude Junior String Orchestra

  • String
    • Perform all scales and arpeggios from memory.
    • The tonic may be repeated in each octave.
    • Perform scales as sixteenth notes at a minimum tempo of quarter note = 50.
    • Perform arpeggios the same number of octaves as the corresponding scales, eighth note triplets at a minimum tempo of quarter note = 50.
      • Violin
        • D Major 2 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • Melodic minor of the student’s choice 1 octave
        • (slurred 4 for the scales and 3 for the arpeggio)
      • Viola, Cello
        • C Major 2 octaves
        • Melodic minor of the student’s choice 1 octave
        • (slurred 4 for the scales and 3 for the arpeggio)
      • Bass
        • F Major 1 octave
        • Melodic minor of the student’s choice 1 octave.
  • ALL INSTRUMENTS
    •  Play a solo of your choice showing your abilities and range. Please state your selection in the video.  (ex. Suzuki Book II, III, or IV)