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.
