Audition Repertoire
Available in February 2011

For all auditions: memorization is not required. No accompaniment. Auditions will be brief: less than 5 minutes for the preparatory and advanced levels. Applicants should be prepared to play all of the requirements; however, the audition panel may hear all or part of the requirements.

Preparatory level: for placement in American Youth Concert Orchestra (AYCO) or American Youth String Ensemble (AYSE).

1. Scales: Quarter note = 120. Optional: 2 slurred 2 separate going up - 4 slurred coming down.
Violin / Viola / Cello: C,G & F Major and C & G melodic minor (2 octaves)
Bass: same as above (1-2 octaves)
Winds: Major and melodic minor scales in keys up to 3 sharps and 3 flats; chromatic as extensive as possible (2 octaves)
Harp: scales and arpeggios as extensive as possible (2 octaves required for AYSE auditions).

2. Prepared piece representing the highest level of performance (Strings only, not winds).
As a guide, students should be playing at least Grade 3 through Grade 6 music, according to the Virginia Band and Orchestra Director's Manual. For the Preliminary Round, applicants should bring two copies of their solo piece: one for the judges, and one for the applicant.

3. Music excerpt:
Winds/Brass/Percussion - see listing below. Prepare only the excerpts marked with asterisks for the Concert Orchestra.
Strings: applicants who progress to the Final Round of auditions will be provided a set of music excerpts after the Preliminary Round has been completed.

4. Sight-reading: music provided by AYPO at the time of audition.

Harpists: A pedal harp is required for the Concert, Symphonic and Philharmonic Orchestras; applicants should have 2 years playing experience.

Advanced level: for placement in American Youth Philharmonic (AYP) or American Youth Symphonic Orchestra (AYSO). Auditions for the advanced level do not require a prepared solo.

1. Scales: Quarter note = 120. Optional: 2 slurred 2 separate going up - 4 slurred coming down.
Violin: G, A, B & C Major and melodic minor (3 octaves)
Viola / Cello / Bass: C, D & E Major and melodic minor (3 octaves except Bass: 2 octaves)
Winds and Percussion: Major and melodic minor scales in keys up to 3 sharps and 3 flats; chromatic as extensive as possible (2 octaves)
Harp: G, A, B & C Major and melodic minor scales, arpeggios, and chords (3-4 octaves)

2. Prepared Orchestral Excerpts (see below). Wind and Brass players interested solely in the Concert Orchestra only need to prepare excerpts noted with an asterisk (*).

Percussionists should prepare each orchestral excerpt on timpani, snare drum, bells, and xylophone from the listing below. Percussionists may bring their own snare drum to the audition; AYPO will provide all other instruments. All accepted percussionists will participate in AYPO's Percussion Ensemble.

3. Sight-reading: music provided by AYPO at the time of audition.

Orchestral excerpts for advanced level auditions

Due to licensing issues, AYPO is not permitted to post certain excerpts online. If one of your excerpts is not posted, you will receive a copy in the mail once your application has been processed. AYPO suggests that musicians listen to a recording of the work prior to preparing the excerpts.

Strings musicians at the preparatory level who are auditioning in the Preliminary Round do not have excerpts and should prepare a solo piece. Two copies of the solo piece must be provided at the Preliminary Round.

STRINGS: Excerpts not posted here will be e-mailed to the applicant upon receipt of completed application.

VIOLIN
Dvorak - Symphony No. 4, mvt. 3
Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave
Wagner - Die Meistersinger Prelude
Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances, No. 1

VIOLA
Dvorak - Symphony No. 4, mvt. 1
Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave
Wagner - Die Meistersinger Prelude
Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances, No. 1

CELLO
Dvorak - Symphony No. 4, mvt. 1
Tchaikovsky - Marche Slave
Wagner - Die Meistersinger Prelude
Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances, No. 1

BASS
Dvorak - Symphony No. 4, mvt. 4
Wagner - Die Meistersinger Prelude
Rachmaninoff - Symphonic Dances, No. 1
Shostakovich - Overture Festivo

WOODWINDS: Wind and Brass musicians interested solely in the Concert Orchestra only need to prepare excerpts noted with an asterisk (*). Excerpts not posted here will be emailed to the applicant upon receipt of completed application.

PICCOLO
Rossini, La Gazza Ladra Overture
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4 (Scherzo)

FLUTE
*Brahms, Symphony No. 4 (4th movement solo after D)
*Debussy, Afternoon of a Faun
Mendelssohn, Midsummer Night's Dream (Scherzo)
Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf solo

OBOE
*Beethoven, Symphony No. 3 (Funeral March, Scherzo, and Finale)
*Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 4, mvt. 2
Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf solo

ENGLISH HORN
Berlioz, Roman Carnival Overture (opening)
Dvořák, Symphony No. 9 (New World)

CLARINET
*Beethoven, Symphony No. 4
*Beethoven,Symphony No. 6, mvts. 1 and 2
Mendelssohn, Midsummer Night's Dream (Scherzo)
Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf solo

E-FLAT CLARINET
Berlioz, Symphony Fantastique, 5th mvt.
Ravel, Bolero (solo)
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5

BASS CLARINET
Franck, Symphony in D minor
Gershwin, An American in Paris (solo)
Strauss, Don Quixote (solo)

BASSOON
*Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, mvts. 1 and 2
Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade
Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf solo

BRASS: Wind and Brass musicians interested solely in the Concert Orchestra only need to prepare excerpts noted with an asterisk (*). Excerpts not posted here will be emailed to the applicant upon receipt of completed application.

HORN
*Beethoven, Symphony No. 3, Finale
*Brahms, Symphony No. 1, 2nd mvt.
*Brahms, Symphony No. 3, 3rd and 4th mvts.
Strauss, Till Eulenspiegel (opening call)
Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5, 2nd mvt.
Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, mvt. 1

TRUMPET
*Beethoven, Leonore No. 3 (off-stage call)
*Sibelius, Finlandia
*Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker Suite: Marche
Tchaikovsky, Capriccio Italien
Verdi, La Forza del Destino
Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet

TROMBONE
*Berlioz, Hungarian March (Rakoczy)
*Rimsky-Korsakov, Russian Easter Overture (2nd Trombone Solo)
Ravel, Bolero (solos)
Strauss, Till Eulenspiegels Merry Pranks
Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet

BASS TROMBONE
*Berlioz, Hungarian March (Rakoczy)
*Beethoven, Symphony No. 9
Strauss, Ein Heldenleben
Brahms, Symphony No. 1 (chorale)

TUBA
*Berlioz, Symphony Fantastique, 5th mvt.
*Wagner, Die Meistersinger Overture
Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream

PERCUSSION:

Glock: Stravinsky, Petroushka
Timpani: Beethoven, Symphony #9 (coda)
Snare Drum: Prokofiev, Peter and the Wolf*
Xylophone: Khachaturian, Dance of the Rose Maidens and Sabre Dance*
Possible Sight Reading on Snare Drum and/or Xylophone
*This excerpt cannot be posted online and will be mailed to the applicant.

*In addition to the above excerpts, applicants who wish to be considered for the flagship orchestra, AYP, must also prepare the following excerpts:
Marimba - Allemande from Violin Partita II in D minor by J.S.Bach (1st 16 measures)
Timpani - Etude #39 from Etuden fur Timpani by Hochrainer (entire etude)*
Snare Drum - #1 from Douze Etudes pour Caisse-Claire by Delecluse (1st 35 measures)*
*This excerpt cannot be posted online and will be mailed to the applicant.

HARP: All harp excerpts will be mailed to the applicant once the application has been processed.

AYP & AYSO
Britten, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra
De Falla, Three Cornered Hat
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker Suite
Tchaikovsky, Sleeping Beauty
Tchaikovsky, Swan Lake
Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol

AYCO
Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker Suite
Bizet, Carmen Suite 1 & 2
Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio Espagnol
Verdi, La Forza del Destino

AYSE
Prepared solo and scales

Available in February 2011