Auditions

Audition Requirements

Audition Requirements

Please visit our Auditions page for more information about which positions are currently open and to submit an audition application.

Musicians auditioning for a Principal vacancy must audition in person.

All other musicians wishing to join the PSO at any level are invited and welcome to  submit a video as described on the Auditions page.

Auditions will be reviewed by the Music Director and the relevant section leader of the PSO.  

 

Proficiency requirements for entrance auditions for all musicians: 

All Brass and Woodwinds: 2 octaves scales @ metronome marking 110, standard keys up to 4 flats and sharps. 2 contrasting solo pieces from the standard repertoire. 

Strings (violins, violas, celli): 3 octave scales @ metronome marking 110, standard keys up to 4 flats and sharps, 2 contrasting solo pieces from the standard repertoire: one piece for solo instrument by J. S. Bach, one free choice. 

Double Bass: 2 octaves scales @ metronome marking 110, standard keys up to 4 flats and sharps. 2 contrasting solo pieces from the standard repertoire. 

Orchestral Excerpts

WOODWINDS

Debussy, Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
    beginning to [3]

Mendelssohn, A Midsummers Night’s Dream
    Scherzo pick up to 12 before [P] through double bar after [Q]

Beethoven, Leonore Overture #3
    mm. 1-36; mm. 301-360

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
    Piccolo part Mvmt IV mm. 343-431 optional

Rossini, La Gazza Ladra
    Piccolo part mm. 188-218 optional

Sight reading

Berlioz, Symphony Fantastique
    Mvmt III beginning to 1 measure after [37]

Dvorak, Symphony No. 9
    Mvmt II [2] to [3]; [4] to [5]

Brahms, Symphony No. 1
    Mvmt II mm. 17-24; [B] to mm. 44

Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol
    Mvmt IV beginining to 1 measure before [O]

Dvorak, Symphony No. 9
    English Horn part Mvmt II mm. 7-18 optional

Sight reading

Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol
    Mvmt I [A] to [B]; [C] to 15 measures after [C]

Berlioz, Symphony Fantastique
    Mvmt III [43] to [44]

Beethoven, Symphony No. 6
    Mvmt I 2 measures before [K] to mm. 492 (including downbeat)

Beethoven, Symphony No. 7
    Mvmt II 1 measure before [D] to mm. 78

Beethoven, Symphony No. 8
    Mvmt III mm. 122-133

Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
    Scherzo beginning to [B]; [D] to [G]

Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks
    Bass Clarinet part 8 measures before [13] to [14] optional
    Bass Clarinet part 2 measures before [18] to 5 measures before [20] optional
    Bass Clarinet part 10 measures after [31] to [32] optional
    Bass Clarinet part [37] to 15 measures after [37] optional

Sight reading

 

Berlioz, Symphony Fantastique
    Allegretto non troppo (IV) mm. 49-63

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4
    Andantino in modo di canzona (II) mm. 274 – end

Mozart, Marriage of Figaro
    Overture mm. 1-25 and mm. 139-172

Brahms, Violin Concerto (Op. 77)
    Bassoon 2 part Adagio (II) Jan-33

Brahms, Academic Festival Overture
    Contrabassoon part [K] – [L] optional

Sight reading

BRASS

Parts also available at http://www.hornsociety.org/hornexcerpts-org

Mozart, Symphony No. 40
    Mvmt 3 mm. 61-84

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
    Mvmt 2 pickup to mm. 83-98

Dvorak, Symphony No. 9
    Horn 3 part Mvmt 1 mm. 16-27

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5
    Mvmt 1 mm. 17-21

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4
    Mvmt 1 mm. 1-20

Sight reading

Parts not found on IMSLP are available upon request

Haydn, Trumpet Concerto in Eb Major
  Mvmt I Exposition
Mvmt II All

Bartok, Concerto for Orchestra
    Trumpet 2 part Mvmt II [90] to [147]

Mussorgsky, arr. Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition
    Promenade beginning to [2]

Respighi, Pines of Rome
    Pini presso una Catacomba Tromba Interna (off stage trumpet solo)

Stravinsky, Petrouchka (1947 version)
   
Ballerina’s Dance [134] to [139]

 Sight reading

Rimsky-Korsakov, Russian Easter Festival
    Trombone 2 part Overture [M] – [N]

Wagner, Die Meistersinger
    Introduction to Act III; III. Aufzug, Scene V top of Pg. 8 to Vivace

Berlioz, Damnation of Faust
    Bass Trombone part Hungarian March pickup to [4] to 3 after [5] optional

Sight reading

Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique
  Mvmt IV [56] to 6 measures after [57]
    Mvmt V [84] to end

Franck, Symphony in D minor
  Mvmt I [U] to 12 measures after [V]
    Mvmt III 2 measures after [N] to 16 measures after [N]

Hindemith, Symphonic Metamorphosis
    4 measures after [L] to [N]

Stravinsky, Petroushka (1911 version)
    [100-101] and [121-122]

Sight reading

PERCUSSION

Please select four orchestral excerpts from standard orchestral literature showing advanced knowledge of repertoire and skills on all of the following instruments: timpani; snare drum; xylophone; glockenspiel; cymbals; bass drum; tambourine; triangle.

Sight Reading

STRINGS

Mozart, Symphony No. 40
    Mvmt I mm. 1-42

Glinka, Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila
    1. 1-19

Prokofiev, Symphony No. 1
    Mvmt II mm. 5-32

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherezade
    Mvmt I [D] to [E}

Sight reading

All of the above plus:

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
    Mvmt II beginning to [A]

Strauss, Don Juan
    Page 1

Bartok, Concerto for Orchestra
   
Mvmt I mm. 51-63
    Mvmt V mm. 21-47

Sight reading

Scales,
    G major – 3 octaves; E Major – 3 octaves; D minor – 3 octaves

Glinka, Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila
    mm. 1-19

Mozart, Symphony No. 40
    Mvmt IV mm. 146-185

Brahms, Symphony No. 1
    Mvmt I 4 m. before [E] to 9 before [F]

Brahms, Symphony No. 2
    Mvmt I Beginning to [B]

Shostakovitch, Symphony No. 5
    Mvmt I [15] to [17] Available at http://violaexcerpts.com

Sight reading

All of the above plus:

Strauss, Don Juan
    mm. 1-36

Sight reading

Beethoven, Symphony No. 7
    Mvmt I mm. 233-299

Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5
    Mvmt II pickup to m. 33 to 1 before [B]

Beethoven, Coriolan Overture: mm. 102-176 Stay on top part. Pay close attention to dynamics. Metronome marking 78-half note.

Verdi, La Forza Del Destino
    8 mm. after [C] to [F]

Sight reading

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
    Mvmt IV mm. 8-mm. 91

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5
    Mvmt III mm. 1-mm. 96

Mozart, Symphony No. 40
    Mvmt I mm. 114-mm. 138

Brahms, Symphony No. 1
    Mvmt I [E] to 9 mm. before [F}

Sight reading

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
    Mvmt IV mm. 8-mm. 91

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5
    Mvmt III mm. 1-mm. 96

Mozart, Symphony No. 40
    Mvmt I mm. 114-mm. 138

Brahms, Symphony No. 1
    Mvmt I [E] to 9 mm. before [F}

Prokofiev, Lieutenant Kije
    Mvmt II (solo version) [15] to [17]

Mahler, Symphony No. I
    Mvmt III mm. 3-mm.10

Sight reading

If you have questions or would like to submit an audition please complete the form on the main auditions page or call us at (603) 686-8133.

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