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ORCHESTRAL AUDITIONS

Information

The Ensembles

Philharmonic Orchestra

Audition Required

Meets Monday/Wednesday

1:00-2:50pm

Symphony Orchestra

Audition Required

Meets Monday/Wednesday

1:00-2:50pm

Chamber Orchestra

Audition Required

Meets Tuesday 3:00-4:50pm, Friday 1:00-2:50pm

Winter Semester Only

Baroque Ensemble

Audition Required

Meets Tuesday 3:00-3:50pm, Friday 1:00-1:50pm

Fall Semester Only

University Orchestra

Non-Audition

Meets Wednesday

7:00-8:50pm

University String Orchestra

Non-Audition Strings Only Ensemble

Meets Thursday

7:00-8:50pm

Studio Orchestra

Both Auditioned and Non-Audition (Director's discretion)

Meets Friday

2:00-4:50pm

If you are interested in participating in Studio Orchestra, please contact Ron Saltmarsh (ron_saltmarsh@byu.edu) for information.

Auditions for the BYU orchestras, as well as all auditioned ensembles in the School of Music, are administered by the private studio teachers for each instrument. Auditions are the first day or two of classes, and each of the studio instructors will have sign-up sheets on their doors.

After the auditions are complete, ensemble placement will be posted in order for rehearsals to begin the second week of school. The only exceptions to this procedure are the University Orchestra and the University String Orchestra, which are non-audition ensembles in which participation is determined through regular online registration. If you are unable to register because the section for your instrument is full, attend the first scheduled class to see if there is space for you to be added.

  • Updated for Fall 2024

    BYU PHILHARMONIC VIOLIN AUDITIONS(Symphony below)     

    LIVE on September 4, 2024

    All Music Majors are required to take this audition and only Music Majors can take this audition.

    • The live audition will be held in room #4069 and all violin music majors are required to take this live audition.
    • The audition will take approximately 7-8 minutes. 
    • Results will be posted by Thursday, Sept. 6, outside room #4069.
    • Link to the Google Form and sign-up sheet. .

    Audition Repertoire:

    1. Please prepare a 5-minute excerpt of a movement of a solo piece of your choice that shows off your best qualities as a musician and violinist.

    2. Please prepare the entire first violin part to Symphony No. 3 by Aaron Copland, Movement 4, rehearsal 90 through 98. You will be sent an official PDF for the audition on August 26th or 27th. Until then please use the link.

      1. Practice links for audition prep:

        1. Practice with different speeds 
        2. Robbie Herbst doing an excellent job of teaching the excerpt

    Upload your Youtube video link to this form by September 4, 2024, by midnight.

    • Late applications will be considered as possible alternates for the Symphony.
    • Please do not send a link to our email addresses. They will not be considered.
    • Results will be posted on Thursday, Sept. 6, outside room #4069.

    BYU SYMPHONY VIOLIN AUDITIONS

    VIDEO SUBMISSION (Youtube Only)

    This audition is for non-majors and is due no later than September 4, 2024, by midnight. We will only accept Youtube videos. No other type of videos will be considered.

    Audition repertoire for the BYU Symphony YouTube Video:

    Please prepare a 5-minute excerpt of a movement of a solo piece of your choice that shows off your best qualities as a musician and violinist.

  • Students: Please prepare and record the following for your auditions.

    • Two contrasting standard orchestral excerpts (such as the first page of the Mendelssohn Scherzo and the first page of Don Juan)  
    • Two contrasting viola pieces from your repertoire (such as the first page from a concerto and the first page of a sonata or a Bach Suite. Please note, I prefer different pieces, I don’t want to hear two movements of the same piece)  

    Contact Dr. Claudine Bigelow at claudine_bigelow@byu.edu for any additional questions.

  • Updated for Fall 2024

    Auditions

    • Auditions are open to any current BYU student. 
    • All MUSIC MAJORS are required to audition. 

    Recording Instructions

    1. Upload video to YouTube. Email the link to  michelle_kesler@byu.edu by 5pm on the first day of school. 
    2. Begin your video recording by stating your email address, your full name, your major (Performance, Education, Composition, Commercial Music, Bachelor of Arts), your year (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate Student)
    3. Film so that the cello (from about the bridge) and you can be seen.
    4. Don’t stand too close to your recording device (phone, computer, tablet, external microphone) as the sound may be garbled. 

    Repertoire For Philharmonic Audition:

    • Please prepare a popper etude of your choice (memorized) and the following excerpts from Sibelius symphony no. 5

      Mvt I:
      Rehearsal J-2 after rehearsal K
      Rehearsal L-M

      Mvt II:
      14 before rehearsal G-G

      Mvt III:
      Rehearsal N-P

    REPERTOIRE FOR BYU SYMPHONY:

    • Play THREE MINUTES of a solo piece of your choice that you feel best represents your playing. Follow the same recording instructions listed above.

    FYI

    This is the cello audition for the entire year, not just for the current semester, although sometimes there are openings for winter semester.

    If you would like to get more information about the BYU Cello Studio, please contact Dr. Kesler
    michelle_kesler@byu.edu

  • Prepare 3-4 minutes of repertoire that shows off your technical skill to its highest. Excerpts for the sight-reading will be provided.

    Please contact Professor Hansen at bass@byu.edu for additional questions.

  • Updated for Fall 2024
    Percussion materials and instructions can be found here.

    Sign up for auditions here.

    Contact Dr. Matt Coleman at matt_coleman@byu.edu if you have any additional questions.

Woodwind/Brass Auditions are found here