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YPO Audition Requirements

Full symphonic orchestra, suggested ages 14-18
For more information about YPO, please visit the Young Peoples Orchestra page.

Violin – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • G Major scale in 3 octaves
  • Solo piece such as Mozart Concerto in G Major, Bach Concerto in a minor, Nardini Concerto in e minor, Haydn Concerto in G Major or any piece of equal or greater difficulty
  • Excerpt #1: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, Mvt. 4, Violin I, three pick ups to measure 7 to downbeat of measure 47
  • Excerpt #2: Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 1, Violin I, Rehearsal [E]- Rehearsal [F]
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Violin

Viola – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • All major scales in 3 octaves: Slow (ex: one note/bow or slur by 2) – detache (medium tempo) – spiccato (medium tempo)
  • Solo of your choice (comparable to Telemann Concerto or more advanced)
  • Excerpt #1: Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 1st mvt., beginning to first repeat sign
  • Excerpt #2: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, 2nd mvt., beginning to 8 measures before Rehearsal [C] [3 short excerpts as marked – see link below]
  • Excerpt #3: Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, measures 36-66
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Viola.

Cello – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • A solo piece of your choice that includes tenor clef
  • Excerpt #1: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, theme and first two variations from Andante con moto [as marked, see link below]
  • Excerpt #2: Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rehearsal [C] to Rehearsal [D]
  • Excerpt #3: Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, Adagio non troppo, up to Rehearsal [A]
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Cello

Double Bass – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • One or two octaves of any of the following scales: F, G, B flat, C, A
  • An etude or solo piece of your choice

Please select two of the following four excerpts that best shows your abilities:

  • Excerpt #1: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, 3rd Mvt. trio (measure 141 with pick-up) to 19 measures before Rehearsal [B]
  • Excerpt #2: Brahms’ Symphony No. 2, 4th Mvt., opening to Rehearsal [B]
  • Excerpt #3: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, 1st Mvt., 4th measure of Rehearsal [B] to Rehearsal [C]
  • Excerpt #4: Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg, Rehearsal  [J] to downbeat of Rehearsal [M]
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Bass.

Harp – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • A prepared solo from standard repertoire, appropriate for your proficiency level
  • An etude of your choice

Flute/Piccolo – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • All major scales in 2 octaves
  • Solo piece such as a Mozart concerto or a piece of comparable difficulty
  • Excerpt #1: Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, Mvt. 4 – Flute 1, solo after [D]
  • Excerpt #2: Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo – Flute 1, measure before Rehearsal [P] to the end
  • Optional Piccolo Excerpt #1: Sousa’s Stars and Stripes, Trio
  • Optional Piccolo Excerpt #2: Berlioz’s “Minuet of the Will O’ the Wisps” from Damnation of Faust
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Flute/Pic.

Please note: Piccolo is optional but encouraged. Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Flute only, Flute + Piccolo).

Oboe/English Horn – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • Major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats
  • Handel or Marcello Sonata, two contrasting movements, or a piece of equal or greater difficulty
  • Excerpt #1: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Mvt. 2 – Oboe 1, beginning solo to Rehearsal [A]
  • Excerpt #2: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Mvt. 2 – Oboe 1, Rehearsal [A] to Rehearsal [B]
  • Optional English Horn Excerpt #1: Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony, Largo – English Horn solo
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Oboe/EH.

Please note: English Horn is optional but encouraged. Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Oboe only or Oboe and English Horn).

Clarinet – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • All major scales
  • Concertino by Weber or Adagio and Tarantella by Ernesto Cavallini, or a piece of equal or greater difficulty
  • Excerpt #1: Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo – Clarinet 1 in B-Flat, Beginning to Rehearsal [B]
  • Excerpt #2: Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 3 – Clarinet 1 in A, Measure 6 to the end of 2 measures before Rehearsal [47]
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO-Clarinet.

Please note: TRYPO clarinetists perform regularly on Bb and A clarinets. We also have some instruments to lend to incoming students, so if you do not currently own an A clarinet, you may play the Rachmaninoff on the Bb for your audition. Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Bb, A, Bass and/or Eb). A, Bass, and Eb are optional but encouraged. If bringing Bass and/or Eb, please be prepared to play something of your choice on those instrument(s). 

Bassoon – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • Major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats
  • Choose one of the 50 Advanced Studies from Weissenborn Practical Method for the Bassoon, or comparable etude
  • Excerpt #1: Mozart’s Overture to Marriage of Figaro – Bassoon 1, 5th measure of Rehearsal [C] (measure 139) to Rehearsal [D] (measure 171)
  • Excerpt #2: Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Mvt. 2 – Bassoon 1, last 31 measures
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO-Bassoon.

Horn – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
  • Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3, Mvt. 1 (only the exposition), or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

Please select at least one of the following excerpts, respective of the your abilities:

  • Excerpt #1: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Mvt. 3 – Horn 1 in F, [Standard solo as marked, see link to music below]
  • Excerpt #2: Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, Op. 35, Mvt. 4 – Horn I in F, Solo after Rehearsal [N] to downbeat of Rehearsal [O]
  • Excerpt #3: Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, Mvt. 2 – Horn 1 in E, measures 90-105
  • For excerpt, click here: YPO Horn.

Please note: Excerpt must sound in the correct pitch when played. Transposition may be required.

Trumpet – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
  • Haydn Trumpet Concerto or standard solo work of similar level difficulty
  • Excerpt #1: Beethoven’s Overture Leonore No. 3, trumpet solo
  • Excerpt #2: Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Trumpet.

Please note: Excerpt must sound in the correct pitch when played. Transposition may be required. Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Bb only, Bb and C).

Trombone/Bass Trombone – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
  • Morceau Symphonique by Guilmant or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

Orchestral excerpts should be chosen from the following repertoire respective of the student’s instruments and abilities:

  • Tenor Excerpt #1: Berlioz’s Hungarian March as marked
  • Tenor Excerpt #2: Mozart’s Requiem, Tuba Mirum Solo as marked
  • Bass Excerpt #1: Rossini’s La Gazza Ladra Overture as marked
  • Bass Excerpt #2: Schumann’s Symphony No. 3, Mvt. 4, Opening and first solo as marked
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Trombone.

Please note: Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Tenor or Bass).

Tuba – YPO [No changes for 2018 auditions.]

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
  • Larghetto and Allegro by Handel/Little (Belwin Mills) or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

Percussion – YPO [No change for 2017 Auditions – standby for 2018 confirmation.]

  • An etude of your choice on snare, timpani or mallets
  • Rudiments and sight reading

Note: Bring your own sticks

Keyboard – YPO

  • Please contact TRYPO’s office to see whether there is a keyboard opening.