Symphony Orchestra
Audition Requirements

GMYS 23-24 Auditions 

Saturday, Aug 26, 2023

Sunday, Aug 27, 2023

Location and Times TBA

All students must audition for Symphony every year. Students already in Symphony are auditioning for seating. If you have any questions, please contact msanchez@gmys.org

Students will be asked to prepare:

  • Movements linked below
  • Scales listed below by instrument 
  • Sightreading

Students should prepare the movements in their entirety. Our panel will select excerpts to audition per instrument. Click the links to:

Violin:

Students will play ONE of the following major OR melodic minor scales and arpeggios:

G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, a, d, and g – All scales and arpeggios must be three octaves.

All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED. Scales and arpeggios must be played in even eighth notes using 

separate bows. Quarter note = 60-80

Viola:

Students will play ONE of the following major OR melodic minor scales and arpeggios:

C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, d, g, and c – All scales and arpeggios must be three octaves.

All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED. Scales and arpeggios must be played in even eighth notes using 

separate bows. Quarter note = 60-80

Cello:

Students will play ONE of the following major OR melodic minor scales and arpeggios:

C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, d, g, and c – All scales and arpeggios must be three octaves.

All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED. Scales and arpeggios must be played in even eighth notes using 

separate bows. Quarter note = 60-80

Bass:

Students will play ONE of the following major OR melodic minor scales and arpeggios:

C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb, e, g, and a – All scales and arpeggios must be two octaves No displacement

All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED. Scales and arpeggios must be played in even eighth notes using 

separate bows. Quarter note = 60-80

Woodwinds & Brass

A chromatic scale covering the range for their instrument (as given in the All-State Concert Band Audition 

Requirements.) The scale will be performed in even

sixteenth notes at a minimum tempo of MM ♩= 120. The scale will be tongued ascending and slurred descending where 

applicable. Scale is to be memorized.

Twelve major scales, (in 2:30 minutes or less) from memory, complete with arpeggios, at a minimum tempo of MM ♩= 120. 

Scales are to be performed a

minimum of 2 octaves where possible. Students who wish to play a 3rd octave may do so. All scales must be performed 

within the allotted time frame. Scales

must be performed in complete octaves. The scales will be tongued ascending and slurred

descending where applicable. Scales will be performed in the “circle of fourths”, starting with the concert key of: C, F, B♭, 

E♭, A♭, D♭, G♭, B, E, A, D, G.

WOODWINDS

Piccolo: Chromatic: 2½ octaves from Eb to Bb

Bb Clarinet; Chromatic: 3 octaves from E

Flute; Chromatic: 3 octaves from C

Bass Clarinet; Chromatic: 3 octaves from E

Oboe; Chromatic: 2 octaves from D

Eb Contra Alto, Bb Contra Bass Clarinet; Chromatic: 2 octaves from E

English Horn; Chromatic: 2 octaves from D

All English Horn students must audition on Oboe.

Bassoon; Chromatic: 3 octaves from Bb

Contra Bassoon; Chromatic: 2 ½ octaves Bb to F

Eb Clarinet; Chromatic: 3 octaves from E

BRASS & PERCUSSION

Trumpet; Chromatic: 2 octaves from C

Euphonium; (BC & TC); Chromatic: 2 octaves from concert Bb

Horn in F; Chromatic: 2 octaves from F

Tuba; Chromatic: 2 octaves from Bb

Trombone; Chromatic: 2 octaves from Bb

Percussion; Percussionists must audition in all three areas.

Mallets; Chromatic: 2 octaves from Bb

Bass Trombone; Chromatic: 2 octaves from pedal Bb

 

Timpani & Snare; prepared exercises of choice

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