ORCHESTRAL AUDITIONS

Updated for Fall 2024

BYU Philharmonic Violin Auditions (for majors only)

Live Auditions – September 3, 2025

All violin music majors are required to take this audition. This audition is exclusively for music majors.

Audition Details:

• Location: Room #4069
• Duration: Approximately 7-8 minutes
• Results posted: Friday, September 5, 2025, outside Room #4069

Google Form and Sign-Up Sheet

Audition Repertoire:

1. Solo Piece: Prepare a 5-minute excerpt from a movement of a solo piece of your choice that highlights your best qualities as a musician and violinist.
2. Orchestral Excerpt: TBA
   
   • An official PDF of the excerpt will be posted on this webpage in August 2026.

BYU Symphony Violin Auditions (for non-majors)

Video Submission (YouTube Only)

This audition is open to non-music majors. All audition videos must be submitted by September 2, 2025, by midnight.

Submission Guidelines:

• Upload your YouTube video link to the designated form by the deadline.
• Only YouTube links will be accepted—other video formats will not be considered.
• Late submissions may be reviewed but will only be considered for alternate positions.
• Do not send video links via email—they will not be accepted.
• Results will be posted on Friday, September 5, 2025, outside Room #4069.

Google Form and Sign-Up Sheet

Audition Repertoire:

• Prepare a 5-minute excerpt from a movement of a solo piece of your choice that demonstrates your musical and technical abilities.

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.