We highly recommend that you begin preparing the audition requirements as early as possible, even if you are currently on the waitlist. The requirements are unlikely to change between now and the time you may be contacted for an audition opportunity.

Audition Requirements:

1. Scales

    • Violin & Viola: 3 octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios (play scales quarter note = 60, with three notes per beat)
    • Cello: 3 octave F major scale and F major chords arpeggios (play scales quarter note = 60, with three notes per beat)
    • 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 (instrument provided by Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra)

2. Solo work

One solo piece that represents both technical and expressive playing. Candidates should bear in mind that the Youth Orchestra performs standard (difficult) orchestral repertoire and your selection of solo material should reflect your readiness to perform at this level.

3. Orchestra Excerpts

You must prepare the required excerpt for your instrument listed below. If you are unfamiliar with these excerpts, we encourage you to listen to recordings of the piece and bring the excerpt to your private instructors or ensemble leaders for their input. Please contact youthorchestra@oaklandsymphony.org if you have any questions.

Winds/Brass: Play 1st parts, unless otherwise indicated.

Flute: 

Oboe:

  • Marquez: mm19-47, mm125-153
  • Bizet: Suite 2, I. Pastorale: Letter F to G, English Horn solo at letter C (only if you have access to an E.Horn), IV. Farandole: Letter D (w/p.u.) until M

Clarinet:

Bassoon:

Horns:

Trumpet:

Trombone:

Tuba:

Violin 1:

Violin 2:

Viola: 

Cello:

Bass:

Percussion: From Reich Clapping Music & Shostakovich Symphony No. 5 (must prepare all excerpts)

Reich:
Clapping Music
Bottom part only

Shostakovich:
Timpani
(i) 4th Movement (Allegro non troppo): Fig. 97 – Fig. 98
(ii) 4th Movement (Allegro non troppo): Fig. 121 – Bar 3 Fig. 133

Xylophone
(iii) 2nd Movement (Allegretto): Fig. 69 – Fig. 71
(iv) 3rd Movement (Largo): Fig. 89 – Fig. 90

Snare Drum
(v) 1st Movement (Moderato): Fig. 27 – 3 bars after Fig. 29

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

  • Intonation
  • Rhythm
  • Tone Quality
  • Musicality
  • Sight Reading
  • Style/Technique
  • Potential
  • Overall performance and preparation