Auditions must be scheduled at least 48 hours prior to the audition day, with no exceptions. Please refer to the following table to determine your instrument-specific deadline:

All students should prepare the following for their auditions:

1. One major and one minor scale of your choice.
Strings: Two or three octaves according to ability. Woodwinds and brass: One or two octaves according to ability.

2a.  WINDS/BRASS/HARP/VIOLA/CELLO/BASS
Excerpts from a solo composition no more than 2 minutes in length, no accompaniment, memorizing not required. Choose excerpts that best show your technical and musical abilities.

2b. Returning YSO Violin 2 students, returning JSO Violin students and new-to-SYSO Violin applicants aged 15 years and older:  Students are required to prepare pre-selected orchestral excerpts in lieu of a solo composition. Click here to download the excerpts as .pdf files. Do not prepare a solo composition.

2c. All other Violin students.
Excerpts from a solo composition no more than 2 minutes in length, no accompaniment, memorizing not required. Choose excerpts that best show your technical and musical abilities.

2d. Percussion: Be prepared to demonstrate several rudiments plus, prepare a 1-minute piece from each of the following: solo on a mallet piece (i.e. xylophone and/or marimba); solo on timpani; solo on snare.

3.  Sight-reading appropriate to your level will be required.

4. The following are some of the categories you will be judged on as appropriate:

• Note accuracy
• Rhythm
• Intonation
• Tone
• Articulations/bowing
• Tonguing
• Musicianship/style

For more audition preparation, read:

Helpful Tips for Preparing a Great Audition