Home Young Peoples Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Percussion Ensemble Audition Requirements

Young Peoples Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Percussion Ensemble Audition Requirements

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

Wind Symphony (WS): Wind ensemble featuring woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments, suggested ages 14-18.
For more information about Wind Symphony, please visit the Wind Symphony page.

Percussion Ensemble (PE): Percussion Ensemble consists of only percussion instruments, suggested ages 14-18.
For more information, please visit the Percussion Ensemble page.

 

Violin – YPO (current for 2021-22 auditions)

  • G Major scale in 3 octaves
  • Two minutes from 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Two scales in 3 octaves:
    • Play one scale slurred, 4 quarter notes to a bow (half note = 60 BPM)
    • Play one scale with spiccato stroke, in eighth notes or sixteenth notes (quarter note = 60 BPM)
  • Two minutes of a solo piece of your choice (comparable to Telemann Concerto or more advanced)
  • Excerpt #1: Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, pick-up to 8 measures before rehearsal [2] to downbeat of rehearsal [3]
  • Excerpt #2: Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, 1st mvt., beginning to bar 27
  • Excerpt #3: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, 2nd mvt.
    • From beginning to measure 10
    • From measure 23 to measure 59
    • 2 short excerpts as marked – see link below]
  • For excerpts, click here: YPO Viola

Cello – YPO (current for 2021-22 auditions)

  • Two minutes from 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • One or two octaves of any of the following scales: F, G, B flat, C, A
  • Two minutes from 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Two-four minutes from a prepared solo from standard repertoire, appropriate for your proficiency level
  • Two-four minutes from an etude of your choice

Flute/Piccolo – YPO and Wind Symphony (current for 2021-22 auditions)

  • All major scales in 2 octaves (Select two for your video audition)
  • Two minutes from a solo piece such as a Mozart concerto or a piece of comparable difficulty

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare the following excerpts:

  • 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats (Select two for your video audition)
  • Handel or Marcello Sonata, two contrasting movements (no more than two minutes excerpt from each movement for your video audition), or a piece of equal or greater difficulty

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare the following excerpts:

  • 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • All major scales (select two for your video audition)
  • Two minutes from Concertino by Weber or Adagio and Tarantella by Ernesto Cavallini, or a piece of equal or greater difficulty

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare the following excerpts:

  • 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats (select two for your video audition)
  • Choose one of the 50 Advanced Studies from Weissenborn Practical Method for the Bassoon or comparable etude

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare the following excerpts:

  • 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Two minutes from Solo works showing technical skills as well as lyrical expression
  • 5 Major and Minor Scales (select one major, one minor for video audition)
  • Chromatic Scales
  • Two minutes from 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats (select two for video audition)
  • Two minutes from Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3, Mvt. 1 (only the exposition), or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats (select two for video audition)
  • Two minutes from Haydn Trumpet Concerto or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare the following excerpts:

  • 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
  • (NOTE: Wind Symphony applicants are not required to prepare these orchestral excerpts)

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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats (select two for video audition)
  • Two minutes from Morceau Symphonique by Guilmant or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

NOTE: To be considered for YPO, students must also prepare the following excerpts, 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 2021-22 auditions)

  • Two minutes from Solo work(s) showing technical skills as well as lyrical expression
  • 5 Major and Minor Scales (select two for video audition)
  • Chromatic Scales
  • Two minutes from Concert Etude

Tuba – YPO and Wind Symphony (current for 2021-22 auditions)

  • Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats (select two for video audition)
  • Two minutes from Larghetto and Allegro by Handel/Little (Belwin Mills) or standard solo work of similar level difficulty

Percussion – YPO, Wind Symphony and Percussion Ensemble (current for 2021-22 auditions)

  • An etude of your choice on snare, timpani or mallets
  • Rudiments and sight reading
  • Note: Bring your own sticks

Keyboard – YPO (current for 2021-22 auditions)

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