Auditions
Audition Requirements
All students who audition will need to indicate on their application form the orchestra(s) and/or small ensemble(s) they would like to join, and prepare a solo of your choice representative of your current playing level, and scales as indicated below for the highest level orchestra or ensemble to which you are applying.
Orchestra and Percussion auditions will be in person.
Jazz auditions will be recorded and sent in via unlisted YouTube link.
Orchestra and Percussion auditions will be in person.
Jazz auditions will be recorded and sent in via unlisted YouTube link.
Audition Information by Ensemble
Dolce String Ensemble
Students should prepare a solo (up to 2 minutes) and the scales according to their instrument.
Violin - G major - one octave (2 octaves if you can)
Viola - C major - one octave (2 octaves if you can)
Cello -C major - one octave (2 octaves if you can)
Students will also be given a sight-reading selection.
Preparatory Orchestra
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and the following scales:
Concert Orchestra
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and scales as follows:
Youth Symphony
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and scales as follows:
Advanced Chamber Strings Ensemble(s)
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and be prepared for a sight-reading excerpt.
Jr. Jazz Ensemble
Students should prepare the following material, to be submitted by video:
Blue Monk Eb
Blue Monk Bb
Blue Monk Bass Clef
Link to backing tracks
Sr. Jazz Ensemble
Students should prepare the following material, to be submitted by video:
Cottontail Eb
Cottontail Bb
Cottontail Bass Clef
Link to backing tracks
Percussion Ensemble
No scales required. Students should prepare a 2 minute solo or etude on Snare Drum, Mallets, and/or Timpani. The Jr. or Sr. level ILMEA etudes would also be an appropriate choice for solo.
Students should prepare a solo (up to 2 minutes) and the scales according to their instrument.
Violin - G major - one octave (2 octaves if you can)
Viola - C major - one octave (2 octaves if you can)
Cello -C major - one octave (2 octaves if you can)
Students will also be given a sight-reading selection.
Preparatory Orchestra
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and the following scales:
- G, D, and C major scales - 2 octaves
- G and D Minor scales - 1 octave
Concert Orchestra
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and scales as follows:
- Violin - G, D major , A melodic minor - 2 octaves
- Viola - G, D, major, D melodic minor- 2 octaves
- Cello - G, D major, D melodic minor- 2 octaves
- Bass - C, G major, A melodic minor- 2 octaves
- All winds and brass instruments - Please use IMEC Jr. Band scale sheet
Youth Symphony
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and scales as follows:
- Strings - Please prepare E Major, A-flat Major, and D melodic minor, all in 3 octaves.
- Winds/Brass - Please use IMEC Sr. Band scale sheet
Advanced Chamber Strings Ensemble(s)
Students should prepare a solo representative of their current playing level (up to 2 minutes) and be prepared for a sight-reading excerpt.
Jr. Jazz Ensemble
Students should prepare the following material, to be submitted by video:
- Winds
- 2 choruses of Blue Monk
- First chorus play the melody, Optional second chorus improvised solo
- Guitar/Piano
- 2 choruses of Blue Monk
- First chorus play the melody, second chorus comp chords
- Bass
- 2 Choruses of Blue Monk
- First chorus play melody, second chorus walk a bass line
- Drums
- 1 chorus of Blue Monk swung
- 16 bars drum pattern of your choice
Blue Monk Eb
Blue Monk Bb
Blue Monk Bass Clef
Link to backing tracks
Sr. Jazz Ensemble
Students should prepare the following material, to be submitted by video:
- Winds
- 2 choruses of Cottontail
- First chorus play the melody, second chorus improvised solo
- Guitar/Piano
- 2 choruses of Cottontail
- First chorus play the melody, second chorus comp chords
- Bass
- 2 Choruses of Cottontail
- First chorus play melody, second chorus walk a bass line
- Drums
- 1 chorus of Cottontail swung
- 16 bars Rock/Funk pattern
- 16 bars Latin style of your choice (e.g. samba, mambo, salsa)
Cottontail Eb
Cottontail Bb
Cottontail Bass Clef
Link to backing tracks
Percussion Ensemble
No scales required. Students should prepare a 2 minute solo or etude on Snare Drum, Mallets, and/or Timpani. The Jr. or Sr. level ILMEA etudes would also be an appropriate choice for solo.
How Orchestra Auditions are Scored
Students will be graded on a scale of 0 to 4 in each of the following categories: Scales, Solo, and Sight Reading. This score is then multiplied by a rating of difficulty of their solo piece. This ranges from 1 to 5, and encompasses all the solos that students play, regardless of ensemble. (Ratings are not necessarily whole numbers.) The highest score a student can receive is 60, but a low score out of 60 is not an indicator of poor performance. It indicates that a student is less advanced than our most advanced students. This system is incredibly helpful in determining with data what ensemble is best for a student.
Below are some examples of solos and the difficulty multiplier they would receive. These are taken from past auditions and the Suzuki Method Books, and for simplicity, only scores that fall at whole numbers are listed. If you have any questions about where your solo would fall, please reach out to [email protected].
Difficulty of 1.0
Violin - Minuet 1, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 1
Viola - Gavotte, F. J. Gossec, Suzuki Book 1
Cello - The Happy Farmer, R. Schumann, Suzuki Book 1
Difficulty of 2.0
Violin - Minuet 3, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 3
Viola - Gavotte in G minor, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 3
Cello - March in G, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 2
Difficulty of 3.0
Violin and Viola - Student Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Mvt. 3, F. Seitz, Suzuki Book 4
Cello - Minuet, L. Boccherini, Suzuki Book 3
Flute - La Danoise, F. Philidor
Trumpet - Fantasie and Variations, No. 1, J. Arban
Difficulty of 4.0
Violin - Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Major, F. Haydn
Viola - Hungarian Dance No. 5, J. Brahms
Cello - Sonata in E minor, No. 5, A. Vivaldi
Clarinet - Clarinet Concerto, C. M. von Weber
Trumpet - Sonata for Trumpet and piano, K. Kennan
Difficulty of 5.0
Violin - Violin Concerto in E minor, F. Mendelssohn
Cello - Concerto in D minor, Prelude, E. Lalo
Trumpet - Carnival of Venice, H. L. Clarke
Below are some examples of solos and the difficulty multiplier they would receive. These are taken from past auditions and the Suzuki Method Books, and for simplicity, only scores that fall at whole numbers are listed. If you have any questions about where your solo would fall, please reach out to [email protected].
Difficulty of 1.0
Violin - Minuet 1, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 1
Viola - Gavotte, F. J. Gossec, Suzuki Book 1
Cello - The Happy Farmer, R. Schumann, Suzuki Book 1
Difficulty of 2.0
Violin - Minuet 3, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 3
Viola - Gavotte in G minor, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 3
Cello - March in G, J. S. Bach, Suzuki Book 2
Difficulty of 3.0
Violin and Viola - Student Concerto No. 2 in G Major, Mvt. 3, F. Seitz, Suzuki Book 4
Cello - Minuet, L. Boccherini, Suzuki Book 3
Flute - La Danoise, F. Philidor
Trumpet - Fantasie and Variations, No. 1, J. Arban
Difficulty of 4.0
Violin - Violin Concerto No. 2 in G Major, F. Haydn
Viola - Hungarian Dance No. 5, J. Brahms
Cello - Sonata in E minor, No. 5, A. Vivaldi
Clarinet - Clarinet Concerto, C. M. von Weber
Trumpet - Sonata for Trumpet and piano, K. Kennan
Difficulty of 5.0
Violin - Violin Concerto in E minor, F. Mendelssohn
Cello - Concerto in D minor, Prelude, E. Lalo
Trumpet - Carnival of Venice, H. L. Clarke