To qualify, students must have been playing their instrument a minimum of three years and studying privately with a teacher. Prior ensemble experience is required - one year in the Preparatory Orchestra or the equivalent. Approximate age of orchestra members is 12-18 years old. Skills listed for the Preparatory Orchestra are required plus the ability to demonstrate an awareness of balance, reading and counting simple and compound meters.

Students should be prepared to play:

• An unaccompanied solo (does not have to be memorized)
• Two octave scale and arpeggio up to four sharps or flats
• An unfamiliar selection of music by sight-reading it

Students will be evaluated for:

• Skills listed for the Preparatory Orchestra audition requirements
• Ability to demonstrate an awareness of balance
• Reading and counting simple and compound meters

Strings

• Violins:  Solid knowledge of 1st - 3rd positions and vibrato
• First Violin:  Comfortable in the 5th position
• Cello/Bass: 5th and 6th positions
• Proficiency in the following bowing techniques:  spiccato, detache, martele, and staccato

Woodwind/Brass

• Full, clear tone in all registers
• Accurate articulation technique including combinations of staccato and legato tonguing
• Clarinet, horn and trumpet: some knowledge of transposition

Percussion
Plan to bring your own sticks and snare drum to the audition and use them for the solo, etc.

• Proper snare drum technique
• Some knowledge of and proper technique for all basic instruments including: timpani, snare drum, bass drum, drum set, triangle, mallets and other auxiliary instruments (bells, cymbals, tambourine, etc.)

Audition Results and Placement

Students will be notified of the audition results as soon as possible following the auditions.  Students successfully completing an audition are offered membership in one or more of the groups.  Upon payment of tuition, materials fees and completion of required forms, the student’s place in the group becomes permanent for the current season. 

If openings occur during the season in any group, auditions for the openings will be held at the discretion of the conductor/Director.  Current member of the orchestras have an equal opportunity to audition for openings as do qualified students from outside the organization.  Members selected to fill vacancies in a group after the normal auditions will be placed to fill specific vacancies in the section.  Membership in one of the orchestras does not automatically insure acceptance into another.

Each member’s placement in the group will be based upon auditions and input from qualified professional musicians.  The Conductor/Director determines the placement in each section to best fulfill the needs of the group and changes in position or rotation of parts may occur at any time during the year.  Members who do not perform to acceptable standards, as set by the Conductor/Director, may be reassigned or asked to discontinue membership.

Principals or section leaders are selected by the Conductor/Director and are responsible for demonstrating leadership in the following areas:

• The musical proficiency of and leadership within their section
• Modeling positive behavior
• Reporting concerns to the Conductor/Director or staff
• String principals must see that their section has the correct bowings in coordination with the concertmaster and Conductor/Director

To inquire about the Symphony's music education programs, call Lana Ramos at (707) 546-7097 ext. 225.

To find out about sponsoring music education and concerts call Connie Wolfe at (707) 546-7097 x214.