Audition Requirements

We highly recommend that you begin preparing the audition requirements as early as possible.

Prerequisites

Youth Orchestra (advanced level) – Students are expected to receive private instruction on their orchestral instrument. Private lessons are an ongoing condition of their participation.
String Orchestra (intermediate/advanced level) – Students are expected to receive private instruction on their instrument or are currently enrolled in a school music or afterschool music program. Private lessons are an ongoing condition of their participation.

1. Scales

- Violin & Viola: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios in triplet spiccato (each note played as a triplet) at quarter note = 60
- Cello: 3-octave F major scale and F major chords arpeggios in triplet spiccato (each note played as a triplet) at quarter note = 60
- Bass: 3 octave E major scale and E major chords arpeggios
- Brass: Bb and Ab Major concert
- Winds: A and Ab Major concert
- Harp: C major scale, hands together, at a comfortable tempo
- Percussion: concert snare drum roll (please bring snare) soft-loud-soft, 3 of the basic snare drum rudiments (flam, ruffs, paradiddles, etc.), and a C Major scale on the glockenspiel

2. Solo or Prepared Piece(s)

All candidates should present a prepared piece or study—such as a concerto movement or equivalent—that demonstrates their current level of musicianship, including technical facility and artistic expression, and reflects their readiness to perform at a high level. The candidate’s solo piece should total no more than 6 minutes in length. Excerpts from larger works are welcome to meet this requirement. Auditions are strictly unaccompanied; neither collaborative pianists nor recorded accompaniments or backing tracks are permitted.

Note: If your prepared piece is shorter (e.g., 4 minutes), you do not need to add additional repertoire to reach the 6-minute mark.

3. Orchestral Excerpts – Youth Orchestra only (Advanced Level)

All candidates auditioning for the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra (advanced level) are required to prepare excerpts for their listed instrument. If you are unfamiliar with these excerpts, we encourage candidates to listen to recordings of the pieces and bring them to their private instructors or ensemble leaders for input. Please contact youthorchestra@oaklandsymphony.org for any questions.

Audition adjudicators will be evaluating your performance based on the following criteria:

Rhythmic accuracy
Rhythmic stability (steady tempo)
Intonation (playing in-tune with yourself)
Tone quality
Dynamic contrast
Instrument-specific technique
Musicality, expression, and phrasing
Appropriateness of repertoire for your technical level
Ability to recover if you make a mistake
Careful preparation of all audition music

Apply Now

To register for an audition, please complete the Audition Application. There is a non-refundable $35 application fee. Candidates auditioning on multiple instruments must complete a new audition application for each instrument and pay the non-refundable fee. Payments are processed through PayPal.

Note: While this application form allows users to save and return to the form within 30 days, entries are not stored in the system until the application is paid.

Financial circumstances should not be a barrier to joining OSYO. We offer need-based aid for all program costs, including audition fee waivers. To request a free application or discuss financial assistance, please contact our office directly.