Audition for WS’s 2024-25 Season! Wind ensemble featuring woodwinds, brass, and percussion instruments, suggested ages 14-18. For more information about Wind Symphony, please visit the Wind Symphony page.
WINDS & BRASS
- Major scales up to 4 sharps and flats in 2 octaves. Adjudicators will ask for 1 scale at time of audition.
- Two contrasting solo works or sections of the same work that show contrast (solos can be drawn from your existing PMEA audition material if you are already preparing for a PMEA audition).
- Students applying to YPO specifically must also prepare two (2) orchestral excerpts from the list below. Here are some special instructions for flutes, oboes and clarinets.
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- Flutes: Piccolo is optional but strongly encouraged for YPO. Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Flute only, Flute + Piccolo). Piccolo applicants should prepare at least one of the two additional piccolo excerpts of their choice in addition to the two flute excerpts.
- Oboes: English Horn is encouraged for additional opportunities in YPO. Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Oboe only, Oboe + English Horn). English Horn applicants should prepare at least one of the two additional excerpts of their choice in addition to the two oboe excerpts.
- Clarinets : If you do not own or have access to an A Clarinet at the time of your audition, you may play excerpts on B flat as needed.
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Students are encouraged to audition for both Wind Symphony and YPO. They may indicate their preference for either ensemble, but ensemble directors will place students in the ensemble they determine to be the best fit.
- 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
- For excerpts, click here: WS Flute/Pic
- 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
- Excerpt #2 Rossini, William Tell Overture
- For excerpts, click here: WS Oboe/EH
- 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: WS Clarinet
- 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
- Bizet Carmen Suite Dragons of Alcala
- For excerpts, click here: WS Bassoon
- 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: WS French Horn
Please note: Excerpt must sound in the correct pitch when played. Transposition may be required.
- Excerpt #1: Beethoven’s Overture Leonore No. 3, trumpet solo
- Excerpt #2: Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade
- For excerpts, click here: WS 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).
- 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: WS Trombone/Bass Trombone
Please note: Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Tenor or Bass).
- Wagner, Ride of Valkyries
- For excerpts, click here: WS Tuba
PERCUSSION: Audition Requirements
- An etude of your choice on snare, timpani or mallets
- Rudiments and sight reading
- Note: Bring your own sticks
2023-24 Audition Requirements
Flute/Piccolo – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- All major scales in 2 octaves
- Two minutes from a solo piece such as a Mozart concerto or a piece of comparable difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
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 – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats
- Handel or Marcello Sonata, two contrasting movements (no more than two minutes excerpt from each movement if submitting a video audition), or a piece of equal or greater difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
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 – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- All major scales
- Two minutes from Concertino by Weber or Adagio and Tarantella by Ernesto Cavallini, or a piece of equal or greater difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
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 – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season 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 OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
Saxophone – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Two excerpts from an etude(s) or Solo work showing technical skills as well as lyrical expression (each excerpt must be at least a minute in length) – you may also use your district’s PMEA audition solo.
- Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
Please note: Please indicate on audition form which instrument(s) you will be bringing to your audition (Alto, Tenor, Bari, etc).
French Horn – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
- Two minutes from Mozart Horn Concerto No. 3, Mvt. 1 (only the exposition), or standard solo work of similar level difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
Trumpet – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
- Two minutes from Haydn Trumpet Concerto or standard solo work of similar level difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
Please note: Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Bb only, Bb and C).
Trombone/Bass Trombone – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
- Two minutes from Morceau Symphonique by Guilmant or standard solo work of similar level difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
Please note: Please indicate on audition form which instruments you will be bringing to your audition (Tenor or Bass).
Euphonium – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Two excerpts from an etude(s) or Solo work showing technical skills as well as lyrical expression (each excerpt must be at least a minute in length) – you may also use your district’s PMEA audition solo.
- Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
Tuba – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- Major and minor scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats
- Two minutes from Larghetto and Allegro by Handel/Little (Belwin Mills) or standard solo work of similar level difficulty OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
Percussion – Wind Symphony (current for the 2023-24 season auditions)
- An etude of your choice on snare, timpani or mallets OR you may use PMEA audition excerpts.
- Rudiments and sight reading
Note: Bring your own sticks