University Symphony Orchestra Audition Information

Fall 2009 Auditions

  • Monday, August 24, 3-6 and 7-9 PM in Hertz Hall
  • Tuesday, August 25, 3-6 and 7-9 PM in Hertz Hall
  • Wednesday, August 26, 3-6 and 7-9 PM in 125 Morrison Hall
  • Thursday, August 27, 3-6 in 120 Morrison Hall
To sign up for an audition, please fill out the downloadable audition form (.pdf) (MS Word) and save it naming the file like this: Firstname_LastnameUSO.pdf or .doc. (e.g., Hoh_ChenUSO.pdf or Hoh_ChenUSO.doc (underscore between names)). Then attach this file to an email to Hoh Chen at hohchen@gmail.com to arrange an audition; you may also contact him at (510) 207-1788.

Music majors auditioning for Music 150A: All new students wanting to take Music 150A (private instruction on your instrument, for Music Majors only) sign up for an orchestra audition. Be sure to inform Prof. Milnes that you are auditioning for Music 150. For more information about Music 150A see the Music150 page.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Note that, unless otherwise noted, the following audition requirements remain the same for each semester in which you audition for the symphony or Music 150A.

Auditionees on all instruments should prepare a solo piece which will demonstrate fast and slow playing (may be two different pieces or movements).

In addition auditionees should prepare two orchestral excerpts. String players should prepare the pieces listed below. Wind and brass players can choose from the solo passage orchestral excerpts listed below or other equivalent excerpts. All music is available in the Jean Gray Hargrove Music Library. Suggested orchestral excerpts are listed below. You can download a .pdf* file of the music where indicated. Some pieces have more than one page that you will need to download.

*.pdf fiiles can be opened using the freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader (version 5.0 or greater).

Violin Viola & Cello  Bass Flute  Oboe Clarinet  Bassoon  French horn Trumpet  Trombone  Tuba Percussion

Excerpts for String Players

Violin

Brahms, Symphony No. 1, 1st movement: .pdf ;

Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, 3rd movement: .pdf

Viola and Cello

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, 2nd movement: Viola.mvt2.pdf ; Cello.mvt2.pdf

Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, 3rd movement: Viola.mvt3.pdf ; Cello.mvt3.pdf

Bass

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, 2nd and 3rd movement: .pdf

Suggested Excerpts for Wind and Brass Players

Flute

Brahms, Symphony No. 4, 4th movement: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf , Pg3.pdf , Pg4.pdf

Beethoven, Leonora Overture No. 3: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf , Pg3.pdf , Pg4.pdf

Dvorák, Symphony No. 8, 4th movement: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf , Pg3.pdf

Oboe

Brahms, Symphony No. 1, 1st movement Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Ravel, Le Tombeau Couperin: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Rossini, La Scala d'Seta Overture: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf , Pg3.pdf

Clarinet

Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, 1st and 2nd movements: Mvt1.Pg1.pdf , Mvt1.Pg2.pdf , Mvt1.Pg3.pdf ;
Mvt2.Pg1.pdf , Mvt2.Pg2.pdf , Mvt2.Pg3.pdf

Beethoven, Symphony No. 8, 3rd movement: .pdf

Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol Overture

Bassoon

Stravinsky, Firebird Suite, Berceuse: .pdf

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade: .pdf

Beethoven, Symphony No. 4, 4th movement

French horn

Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, 1st movement: .Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Brahms, Symphony No. 3, 3rd movement: .pdf

Trumpet

Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition, opening solo: .pdf

Stravinsky, Petrouchka: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Beethoven, Leonora Overture No.3: .pdf

Trombone

Mozart, Requiem Tuba Miram: .pdf

Rossini, La Grazza ladra Overture: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Berlioz, Damnation of Faust, Rákóczi March: Pg1.pdf , Pg2.pdf

Tuba

Wagner, Die Meistersinger, Prelude: .pdf

Wagner, Die Walküre, Ride of the Walküres: .pdf

Percussion

Prepare mallet pieces