Home YPO and Wind Symphony Audition Requirements

YPO and Wind Symphony Audition Requirements

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

Wind Symphony: Wind ensemble featuring woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments, suggested ages 14-18.
For more information about Wind Symphony, please visit the Wind Symphony of Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestra page.

Violin – YPO (current for 2020-21 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 pickups 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 (current for 2020-21 auditions)

  • All major scales in 3 octaves:
    • Slow: 1 or 2 half notes per bow (half note = 60 BPM)
    • Medium tempo: 4 quarter notes, 6 or 8 notes per bow (half note = 60 BPM)
    • Détaché stroke: Sixteenth notes (quarter note = 60 BPM)
    • Spiccato (slow): Eighth notes or sixteenth notes (quarter note = 60 BPM)
  • 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, pick-up to measure 37 to measure 66
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Viola

Cello – YPO (current for 2020-21 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 (current for 2020-21 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 (current for 2020-21 auditions)

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

Flute/Piccolo – YPO and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 & Wind Symphony 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 and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 & Wind Symphony 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 and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 & Wind Symphony 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 and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 & Wind Symphony Bassoon

Saxophone – Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 auditions)

  • Solo works showing technical skills as well as lyrical expression
  • 5 Major and Minor Scales
  • Chromatic Scales
  • Concert Etude

Please note: Please indicate on audition form which instrument(s) you will be bringing to your audition (Alto, Tenor, Bari, etc).

Horn – YPO and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 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 excerpts, click here: YPO & Wind Symphony Horn

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

Trumpet – YPO and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 & Wind Symphony 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 and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 & Wind Symphony Trombone

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

Euphonium – Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 auditions)

  • Solo works showing technical skills as well as lyrical expression
  • 5 Major and Minor Scales
  • Chromatic Scales
  • Concert Etude

Tuba – YPO and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 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 and Wind Symphony (current for 2020-21 auditions)

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

Note: Bring your own sticks

Keyboard – YPO (current for 2020-21 auditions)

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