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Registration & Auditions

Home   |   Classes   |   Registration   |   Schedule   |   Tuition

Registration Now Open For:

  • Collegiate Preparatory Class
    A video audition should be recorded and submitted as part of your SCM application. See guidelines below.
  • Musicianship Skills
  • Music Composition
Register Now

Chamber Music is on hold for Term 1. The audition deadline is now October 31.

Auditioning for 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.

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.

Founded in 1942, Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra is the largest youth orchestra training program in the United States.

Contact Us

11065 5th Ave NE, Suite A
Seattle, WA 98125

206.362.2300 | info@syso.org

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  • Student Portal
  • About
    • About SYSO
    • Parent Association
    • Alumni
    • Faculty
      • Conductors
      • Coaches & Faculty
    • Staff & Board
  • Programs
    • Orchestras
      • Virtual Orchestra Program
      • Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra
      • Junior Symphony Orchestra
      • Debut Symphony Orchestra
      • Symphonette Orchestra
      • Prelude String Orchestra
    • Conservatory
      • Seattle Conservatory of Music
    • School
      • Endangered Instruments
      • Musical Pathways Project
    • Summer Programs
      • Marrowstone Music Festival
      • SYSO Summer Music
  • Events
    • Silent Auction: March 1-7
    • Season Showcase
    • Concerto Competition
    • Concerts & Tickets
  • Audition
  • Support
    • Make a Gift
    • Annual Fund
    • Corporate Giving
    • Estate Giving
    • Our Sponsors
  • Media
    • Leadership Letter
    • Photos & Video
    • Recordings
    • Press
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