Audition Details and Requirements

Audition Notification

Upon receipt of the completed application form (submitted online by Friday, April 3, 2009), advanced level applicants may download required orchestral excerpts. If a student does not have access to the electronic excerpts, please indicate on the audition application that a hard copy is needed. Applicants will later be notified by mail as to the specific time for his/her audition as well as the location and directions. Participation in the final audition round does not guarantee placement in an orchestra.

Audition Results

Applicants will be notified of the final audition results by mail, within 30 days of the last audition date. Results will not be available by phone. All decisions of the Music Director and Conductors are final.

Special Auditions: Under special circumstances (such as specific orchestra needs) some musicians may audition during the season. Special auditions will be at the discretion of the Conductor in concurrence with the Music Director and the Executive Director. Musicians who gain admission to any orchestra through a special audition will not cause another musician to lose his/her membership in that orchestra. Under special circumstances a conductor may appoint a non-member musician to perform with the orchestra for a specific concert.

Seating

Strings: The conductors may choose a number of musicians to occupy or audition for principal positions in the string sections of each orchestra. Musicians holding AYPO Principal positions have leadership responsibilities beyond those of regular section members. Regular section members will be seated in different positions for each concert program based on a pattern derived according to the size of the section and the number of concert programs.

Winds and Percussion: The conductors may choose a number of musicians to occupy or audition for principal positions. Musicians holding AYPO Principal positions have leadership responsibilities beyond those of regular section members.

Audition Schedule

Musicians are scheduled according to the instruments they play and must adhere to the audition time assigned by AYPO. Please note on the application any specific, unavoidable conflicts with the audition schedule below.

Preliminary Round - Prepatory & Advanced Levels
*Applicants taking preliminary round auditions should note the dates for the final audition round so as to be available if they qualify.

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Flute, and Clarinet players with the following criteria must audition in the Preliminary Round:

1. Non-members (were not AYPO members of the 2008-2009 season).
-OR-
2. Current members of AYSE or AYCO wishing to move to the advanced level orchestras (AYSO or AYP).

NOTE FOR CURRENT ORCHESTRA MEMBERS:

• Current members of AYSE or AYCO who do not wish to move into the advanced orchestras, skip the Preliminary Round and only audition in the Final Round.
• Current members of AYSO or AYP skip the Preliminary Round and only audition in the Final Round.

Audition dates and time are subject to change, based on the number of applications and instrumentation received.

For additional information please contact Holly Hanneke, General Manager, at (703) 642-8051, ext. 24, or hhanneke@aypo.org.