Audition Information

All returning BAYS students will need to submit a new application and complete the audition process each year. Students will then be placed into one of two levels: Symphony or Preparatory.

Students making the All-Area and/or All-State ensembles are automatically accepted into the Symphony. All-State students will need only to submit an application and proof of All-State membership.

Prospective students requesting membership into Symphony will be accepted until all positions are filled. New applicants will complete the audition process and will be notified of orchestra placement. Auditions are held in May and August. Information regarding audition dates will be posted on the web site in April 2012.

Audition Preparation

The audition time is approximately 10 minutes per audition. Auditions are closed to parents and the general public.

Strings

Students should be prepared to play up to four minutes of a prepared piece, preferably from major concertos or sonatas. Region etudes and state etudes ARE acceptable material for the audition into the Symphony level orchestra. Three octave scales up to four sharps and four flats, both major and minor. You will be asked to play two. Sight-reading will also be included in the audition process.

String students should be proficient in demonstrating bow styles using various slurs and use of spiccato and vibrato.

  •  Violin – fluency in all positions
  •  Viola – fluency through fifth position and reading treble clef
  •  Cello – fluency in thumb position and reading tenor and treble clef
  •  Bass – fluency in thumb position

 

Woodwind/Brass and Percussion

Students should be prepared to play up to four minutes of a prepared piece, preferably from major concertos or sonatas (do not play region or all-state etudes). All major and minor scales (harmonic or melodic). You will be asked to play two. Sight-reading will also be included in the audition process.

  • Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Trumpet, Tuba – continuous and musically appropriate vibrato
  • Flute, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba – proficient double and triple tonguing
  • Bassoon, Trombone – proficiency in tenor clef
  • Trumpet, Horn – proficiency in transposition (trumpet in C,D,E,F) and (horn in C,D,Bb,Eb)
  • Percussion – All rudiments (snare drum); all major and minor scales (harmonic or melodic) mallets; advanced solos for snare drum, mallets, timpani (including re-tuning)