Ensemble Auditions: Winds, Brass & Percussion

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  Flute
  Auditions Administered by Professor Christina Castellanos
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where:
  
  Sign Ups: Sign-ups can be found in the document under "Audition Materials"
  
  Audition Materials:
  
  Audition Procedures:
  
  Please contact Professor Castellanos for audition information at christina_castellanos@byu.edu
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  Clarinet
  Auditions Administered by Dr. Jaren Hinckley
  Contact Dr. Hinckley at clarinet@byu.edu if you have any questions about anything related to clarinet / bass clarinet auditions.
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026
  4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (the day before classes start)
  
  Where: 4251 MB
  
  Sign Ups: Sign up for one of the following audition times - If there are no slots available at all, just plan to come at 8 pm; we'll keep going until we are done!
  

  • 4-5 PM
    
  • 5-6 PM
    
  • *6-7 PM
    *Do not sign up in this hour unless there are no spaces left in the first two hours.

  These auditions are for the following ensembles: Philharmonic Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, and Symphonic Band. You should not register for any of the auditioned groups until after the audition results have been revealed. But it is wise to keep your Tues/Thurs 1-3 p.m. slot open since that’s when the bands meet. (If you are hoping for one of the orchestras, they meet Mon/Wed 1-3.)
  
  Audition Procedures: Make sure you arrive on time for the hour you signed up for. There will be a form for you to fill out before you enter the room for your audition. A proctor will send you into the room one at a time in random order. Judges will be behind a screen and will not be able to see you; this prevents any bias in the judging. When the proctor sends you into the audition room, please do not make any verbal noise that would reveal your identity. Just sit down and start to play. The judges may stop you midway through an excerpt—this does not mean anything bad; it just means we have heard enough of that excerpt and you can move on to the next one. There will also be a sight-reading example on the music stand for you to do after your excerpts. When you are finished with everything, we generally will say "thank you," but please do not respond, just quietly leave. Each audition is only five minutes long, so when you enter the room, do not waste any time; just enter and start playing!
  
  Audition Materials:
  

  • CLARINET MAJORS: You must prepare the audition materials provided here (on pdf).
    
  • NON-CLARINET MAJORS: You have two options:

  1. You can prepare the same exact materials as the clarinet majors
     
  2. You can prepare two contrasting pieces of your choice (from the solo clarinet repertoire, orchestral excerpts, chamber music, etc., pretty much anything) that demonstrate your skill. One should be fast and show off your finger speed/dexterity and tonguing ability; the other should be slow and pretty to show off your musicality. You will also be asked to play a three-octave scale of your choice (tongued one direction and slurred the other). This scale can be a major, minor, or chromatic scale.
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  Saxophone
  Auditions Administered by Dr. Benjamin Nichols
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where:
  
  Sign Ups:
  
  Audition Materials:
  
  Audition Procedures: Prepare two short contrasting excerpts, one more lyrical and the other more technical. Can be etudes or from the saxophone repertoire. Be ready to sight read. Classical auditions will be in the morning, while jazz will be in the afternoon.
  
  Contact Dr. Nichols at benjamin_nichols@byu.edu for any additional questions.
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  Oboe
  Auditions Administered by Dr. Christian Tran
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where: 4011 MB
  
  Sign Ups:
  
  Audition Materials and Procedures: Audition Instructions/Materials
  
  MAJORS: Oboe majors are expected to leave their schedules open Monday-Thursday from 1-3pm until after audition results have been posted the night of auditions.
  NON-MAJORS: Non-majors may elect to audition for one or two ensembles as fits their schedule. Spots for non-majors may be limited.
  
  Additionally, these auditions will determine placement for the Studio Orchestra, an elective ensemble that meets in the recording studio to record commercial music projects/film scores. This ensemble is open to both majors and non-majors. This ensemble meets Fridays from 3-5pm.
  
  Note: BYU Large Ensembles meet at the following times:
  Orchestras – M/W 1-3PM
  Bands – Tu/Th 1-3PM
  
  Direct any questions about the audition to Dr. Tran at christian_tran@byu.edu.
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  Bassoon
  Auditions Administered by Dr. Christian Smith
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where:
  
  Sign Ups:
  
  Audition Materials: Bassoon Auditions Sheet Music
  
  Audition Procedures: Bassoon Auditions consist of the following:
  
  1—CHROMATIC SCALE (slurred, from low Bb to your highest note, and back down ascending/descending).
  2—MAJOR SCALES (full range, slurred) – 4-5 will be randomly selected for you to play at the audition.
  3—MAJOR ARPEGGIOS (full range) – 4-5 will be randomly selected for you to play at the audition. If you are a new student to the BYU Bassoon Studio, and haven’t spent much time on arpeggios, just do the best you can.
  4—ETUDE EXCERPT (from Milde: Scales and Chords, Op. 24) – Etude No. 8 (see link below, scroll down to page 9), start from the beginning and play the first 7 lines, plus one note.
  
  NOTE: There is some tenor clef in the Milde etude. If you are not familiar with tenor clef, feel free to write in the note letters above each note. As you prepare the etude (and other technique), keep in mind that clarity/accuracy is most important, not speed. If you have both accuracy and speed, great. But clean playing at a slower tempo is much better than less accuracy at a faster tempo.
  
  If you are not a music major, and haven’t been able to prepare this audition material, feel free to contact Dr. Christian Smith about the possibilities of playing in an ensemble--bassoon@byu.edu as well as any other questions about bassoon auditions.
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  Horn
  Auditions Administered by Professor Brian Blanchard
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where:
  
  Sign Ups: Audition time sign-up and sheet music can be found at this link.
  
  Audition Materials: The required repertoire is as follows:
  
  

  • Mozart: Horn Concerto No. 2 K. 417, first movement. Measures 25–83
  • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5, fourth movement. Second horn part, measures 24–41
  • Frank: Symphony in D minor, second movement. First horn part, 17 measures after A to C.
  • Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, first movement. First horn part, measures 1–20.

  Audition Procedures:
  
  Contact Dr. Brian Blanchard at brian_blanchard@byu.edu for more information.
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  Trumpet
  Auditions Administered by Professor Randy Lee
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where:
  
  Sign Ups: You can find the sign-up link in the "Audition Materials" form below.
  
  Audition Materials: Find audition materials and sign-ups here.
  
  Audition Procedures:
  
  Email randy.lee@byu.edu for any additional questions.
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  Trombone

  Auditions Administered by Dr. Will Kimball

  Fall 2026 Ensemble Auditions

  Contact Dr. Will Kimball at will_kimball@byu.edu for audition information.

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  Tuba/Euphonium
  Auditions Administered by Professor Dan Bryce
  Contact Professor Bryce at dan_bryce@byu.edu for any questions regarding auditions.
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where: Professor Bryce's office, 3139 MB
  
  Sign Ups:
  
  Audition Materials: Select the appropriate instrument link - listen to the audition pieces and learn them to the best of your ability. If you need to rent an instrument, the instrument shop will rent an instrument to those signed up for a course, or who will be, up to 1 month in advance of the course.
  Tuba Euphonium
  
  Audition Procedures: The auditions will be screened and as always, the most prepared players who perform the best will be placed into the ensembles according to the audition placement. Please know that if you are not a music major you're still welcome to audition and I will place you according to your audition success not your music major status.
  
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  Percussion
  Auditions Administered by Dr. Matt Coleman
  
  When: Tuesday, Sept. 1
  
  Where: Percussion Rehearsal Room, 1215 MB
  
  Sign Ups: Sign up for auditions here.
  
  Audition Materials: Percussion materials and instructions can be found here.
  
  Audition Procedures:
  
  Contact Dr. Matt Coleman (matt_coleman@byu.edu) if you have any additional questions.