Seattle Conservatory of Music

SYSO learning opportunities have moved online!

“Truly one of Seattle’s hidden jewels. Where else can music-loving kids get small classes headed by top musicians/teachers who dote on them, who know them by name and care so much that they learn?”

-SCM PARENT

Applications for the 2020 – 2021 season are now open!
[UPDATED 8/3: Applications Extended Through August 24th]

New Musicianship Skills Class

An Important Announcement Regarding Course Formats for the 2020 – 2021 Season.

Audition information for Chamber Music and Collegiate Preparatory Class Listed Below:

Apply Now

The Seattle Conservatory of Music is a program of Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra. Its mission is to provide students with a full curriculum of music, academic, and performance opportunities that expand student knowledge and enrich student appreciation.

The programs offered by the Seattle Conservatory of Music prepare students for college-level coursework and are seen as indispensable for those who are considering majoring in music in college. The Conservatory curriculum consists of Academics (Musicianship Skills and Composition) and Performance Study (Collegiate Preparatory Class and Chamber Music).

The Seattle Conservatory of Music is a versatile program with a wide array of classes to fulfill a range of needs and wants. Recommended curriculum and placement tests are available upon request.

For the 2020-2021 season, there have been major changes to the SCM curriculum. For the 2020-2021 season we will be offering:

– Musicianship Skills (this class replaces Music Theory, Ear Training, and Music History)
– Music Composition
– Collegiate Preparatory Class
– Chamber Music

For more information and to schedule a visit, contact Operations Coordinator Evan Berge:
evan.berge@syso.org | 206.686.3142

Conservatory Placement and Entrance Audition Requirements

Auditions for the 2020-2021 season for Chamber Music and Collegiate Preparatory Class will be recorded and submitted as part of your SCM application.

Submissions open July 1st and will close August 24th (updated on 8/3)

Recording Your Audition Video

Download the video submission instructions.

Watch a tutorial on recording your audition.

Scales (eighth notes in a minimum tempo of quarter note = 66, do not record with metronome)

One major scale and its corresponding arpeggio: two or three octaves according to your ability, one bow per 4 notes for strings/tongued for winds on scales and one bow per 3 notes for arpeggios.
One melodic minor scale and arpeggio: two or three octaves according to your ability, one bow per 4 notes for strings/tongued for winds on scales and one bow per 3 notes for arpeggios.
Pianists should play one major and minor scale two or three octaves according to your ability, both hands.

Solo Piece

Solo piece of 2-3 minutes in length.
OR
Two contrasting solo piece excerpts of 90 seconds in length each.

Students who submitted an audition for the 2020-2021 orchestra season may simply resubmit their Orchestra audition for their Chamber Music audition. Including students who recorded orchestral excerpts for their audition.
Lastly, to ensure the best possible placement for the student we may ask the applicant to participate in a brief 5-minute sight reading session over Zoom* with Chamber Music Director, Joseph Gottesman.

*Being asked to participate in a sight-reading session does not indicate an insufficient audition.

Collegiate Preparatory Class

Orchestral Instruments: One movement of a Solo Concerto or Sonata and one other contrasting selection of a Concerto, Sonata, or Etude.
Pianists/Vocalists: Two pieces from different historical periods (e.g. one classical era and one modern era piece) from a Solo Concerto, Sonata, or Etude.

Selections should be picked with the intention of honing and performing the work as part of the collegiate preparatory class.
Recording should be done without accompaniment even if the work calls for it.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

Class Schedule

SCM Brochure

Season Calendar

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STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

“Hours of rehearsal are not enough to be a good performer. I’m heading to college next year to major in performance and boy am I glad to have studied ear training and music theory, and to have been in prep class.”