Auditions

Audition Information

Auditions for the 2023-2024 season will be held on Monday September 11, 2023

Auditions can be intimidating but we hope to make the process comfortable and safe for all musicians. To audition students are expected to participate and be in good standing in their school ensembles.

Auditions make sure that the student is advanced enough to have a positive orchestral experience by matching them with an appropriate but not overwhelming challenge. Auditions are required for new members entering the Shoreline Youth Symphony Orchestra and those who would like to move between ensembles.

Students will play a scale and solo piece of their choice and a short sight‐reading excerpt. The SYSO and SYCO audition pieces and scales should be at or above the level of the CMEA regionals audition selection for your level (high school and middle school, respectively). Scales and solo pieces can be found at cmea.org under Auditions and Festivals. The scales and solos need not be exactly those listed for CMEA, but should be comperable. You can find the audition requirements for each ensemble below.

There will be a parent representative from SYSO at the audition to answer any questions that you may have. We look forward to hearing from you.

If you have any questions regarding your audition or what to perform for the audition, feel free to contact the conductor when you submit your audition request.

SYSE: alex.svensen@sysoct.org

SYCO & SYSO: chris.jones@sysoct.org

Audition requirements

SYSE

We provide a relaxed, nurturing environment in these auditions, as we realize this may be the student’s first audition experience.

Violin

1 octave D Major

1 octave C Major

2 Octave G Major

Viola

1 octave G Major

Choice of 1 or 2 octave D Major

2 Octave C Major

Cello

1 octave G Major

Choice of 1 or 2 octave D Major

2 Octave C Major

Bass

1 octave G Major

1 octave C Major

optional 1 octave D Major

SYCO - Strings

The SYCO audition piece and scales should be at or above the level of the CMEA middle school regionals audition selections. These regional scales and solo pieces can be found at cmea.org under Auditions and Festivals.

Violin

2 octave D Major

2 octave B Flat Major

2 or 3 octave G Major

Viola

2 octave C Major

1 octave B Flat Major

2 octave D Major

Cello

2 Octave C Major

1 octave B Flat Major

1 or 2 octave D Major

Bass

1 octave C Major

1 octave B Flat Major

1 octave D Major

Solo

Please prepare a solo of your choice that represents your best playing ability (CMEA solo or other).

Sight Reading

You will be asked to play a short excerpt so that we can determine your sight reading level. You can take a minute to look at the key signature, time signature, and scan over the piece.

SYCO - Winds & Brass

The SYCO audition piece and scales should be at or above the level of the CMEA high school regionals audition selection. These scales and solo pieces can be found at cmea.org under Auditions and Festivals.

Scales

one scale and arpeggio of your choice

a two octave concert F chromatic scale

Solo

A CMEA middle school region audition etude or equivalent

Sight Reading

You will be asked to play a short excerpt so that we can determine your sight reading level.

SYCO - Percussion

You will be asked to play both mallets and snare.

Mallets: One major scale and arpeggio of your choice and the chromatic scale from the CMEA middle school audition list for mallets.

Snare: One of the CMEA middle school solos or its equivalent.

SYSO - Strings

Symphony Orchestra

The SYSO audition piece and scales should be at or above the level of the CMEA high school regionals audition selection. These scales and solo pieces can be found at cmea.org under Auditions and Festivals.

Violin

Any 3 Octave Major Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Any 3 Octave Melodic Minor Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Viola

Any 3 Octave Major Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Any 3 Octave Melodic Minor Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Cello

Any 3 Octave Major Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Any 3 Octave Melodic Minor Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Bass

Any 2 Octave Major Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Any 2 Octave Melodic Minor Scale and Arpeggio of your choice

Solo

Please prepare a solo of your choice that represents your best playing ability (CMEA solo or other).

Sight Reading

You will be asked to play a short excerpt so that we can determine your sight reading level. You can take a minute to look at the key signature, time signature, and scan over the piece.

SYSO - Winds & Brass

Scales

2 octave scale and arpeggio from the CMEA audition list and the CMEA chromatic scale requirement

Solo

A CMEA solos/etude or their equivalent

Incoming 9th grade students may choose to play the middle school CMEA etude/solo.

Sight Reading

You will be asked to play a short excerpt so that we can determine your sight reading level.

SYSO - Percussion

You will be asked to play both mallets and snare.

Mallets: two major scales and arpeggios of their choice and the chromatic scale from the CMEA high school audition list.

Snare: Two of the snare rudiments and one of the snare solos/etudes from the CMEA HS audition list.

Incoming 9th grade students may choose to play the middle school CMEA solo/etude.