New! Auditions for the 2009 Spring Semester will be held Friday November 14th from 9 am - 12 pm. A sign up sheet will be posted on the orchestra board in Sage Hall. Email us at orchestra@smith.edu with questions. See below for more information.
Excerpts! Please please click here to travel to the page where you can download an excerpt list and your part for Beethoven Symphony #5! Remember, the same password applies. Email the Web Manager Colleen McGaughey at cmcgaugh@smith.edu for the information if you've forgotten, or of couse if you never knew it to begin with!
2008 Audition information:.
Auditions will take place in front of a panel, which will consist of the conductor, two sectional leaders, and one board member. The main point of the panel is to encourage everyone to feel comfortable playing in front of their peers. After sitting on the panel, section leaders will have a general idea of the ability level of the sections, which will help them lead sectionals more efficiently.
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Audition Information:
- Three octave scale
- Short Solo Piece
- Excerpts for your instrument
Requirements for Returning members
- Three octave scale
- Excerpts for your instrument
Q. What scales am I responsible for?
A. You can pick any 3-octave scale you'd like.
Q. How competitive are auditions?
A. It varies a lot by instrument and by year, so it's hard to say.
Q. Are there any requirements for the solo piece?
A. Only that it showcases your technical proficiency on your instrument (and it shouldn't be too short; 3 minutes is a good length).
Q. What if I don't see excerpts for my instrument on the auditions page?
A. Email orchestra@smith.edu and we'll tell you what to prepare.
Q. Should I prepare Violin I or Violin II excerpts? (Also applies to winds & brass).
A. If you would like to be considered for the first violin section, prepare the first violin excerpts (though you may still be placed in the second violin section). If you're only interested in second violin, prepare the second violin excerpts.
Q. What if I only have a B flat clarinet, and the excerpts are written for A clarinet?(Also applies to Trumpet).
A. You can just practice the excerpts as written on your B flat clarinet, and don't worry about it for the audition.