Auditions

Audition Requirements 2021–2022

Union Symphony Youth Orchestra (Ages 13–21)

  • Strings
    • Scales and arpeggios – slurred 4 per bow scales and 3 per bow arpeggios
      • Violin
        • G, A and B-flat major 3 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • F Major 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
        • D melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
      • Viola
        • C, D and E-flat major 3 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • B-flat Major 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
        • G melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
      •  Cello
        • C and D Major 3 octaves scales and arpeggio
        • E-flat Major and B-flat Major 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
        • G melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
      • Bass
        • E, F, G, and A major 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
        • E melodic minor 2 octaves scale and arpeggio
      • 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

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, Viola, Cello
        • C, G, D major 2 octaves
        • F major 1 octave
        • Any melodic minor of the student’s choice 1 octave
        • Slur scales 4 notes per bow and arpeggios 3 notes per bow
      • Bass
        • C, D, F major 1 octave
        • G major 2 octaves
        • Any melodic minor of the student’s choice 1 octave.
        • Slur scales 2 notes per bow and arpeggios separate bows
  • Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion
    • All Prelude Orchestra woodwinds, brass, and percussion scale requirements will be the same as the current Middle School (Grade 6-8) All-State Honors Band audition requirements. These requirements are posted at the NCMEA Band Section website at: http://www.ncbandmasters.org/honorsbandauditionrequirements.html
    • Solo requirements may be the same as those listed for the Honors  Band or a piece that is of the same difficulty level.
  • ALL INSTRUMENTS
    • Sight reading
      •  Play a solo of your choice showing your abilities and range. Please bring a copy of your solo for the judges.  (ex. Suzuki Book II, III, or IV)