Orchestra Seating Auditions :: MYA Handbook

Orchestra Seating Auditions

Please check the Season Calendar on the website for audition dates.

All Symphony and Concert Orchestra members must audition to participate in the concerts unless arrangements are made with both the Director of MYA and the Conductor of the orchestra; Concert, Prep and Cadet Orchestra members are not required to audition but those who do not will be placed behind all who do audition.

Coaches and conductors will determine the audition excerpts and will not announce them ahead of the audition day. Music will be handed out at the end of the previous year and/or send out the music with the acceptance letter.

Woodwind/Brass and Percussion sections:

Will be assigned to parts before the year begins and parts will be rotated among members. Auditions will be for solo parts and to determine seating within each section/part using the 1^st and solo parts.
There will be times when solos from the 2^nd and 3^rd parts will be specifically identified and given to members.
Winds and brass will schedule specific audition times before the semester begins (in late August for 1^st semester and December for 2^nd semester).
Every attempt will be made to listen to tapes so seatings are posted at the 1^st rehearsal each semester.

String sections:

Auditions for all strings will begin the 2^nd rehearsal of each semester.
Violins will be assigned to sections and rotated for concerts.
All auditions for strings will be during normal rehearsal time.

If members cannot/do not audition on the date of their instrument auditions:

Members can take the audition a week ahead, provided they are not the 1^st section scheduled to audition.
Members can take the audition a week later than their scheduled day but, if they tie in their audition scores with others, they are moved behind the ones who auditioned on the correct day provided they are not the last section scheduled to audition in which case members must make arrangements to take the audition on their day or a week ahead.
If members attend rehearsal on the day of your audition but do not do the audition, their rating will receive an additional – ½ their scores (with day late, the total would be -1) when the auditions are listened to.
If members do not audition on or before the day of auditions, they might receive additional excerpts for the audition.
Only 3 members are to be out of orchestra at a time – one in the actual audition, one commuting to the audition and one commuting back from the audition. Once the 1^st audition is completed, members should immediately return to orchestra without telling the others where the audition spots are. The next member should leave orchestra only once another member returns, not before. Members should go in order and not take extra time from orchestra to practice their part instead of proceeding directly to the audition and directly back once the audition is completed. Any infractions from these procedures noted by the person conducting the auditions and/or the MYA office staff will be noted and the member placed in the back of the section.
It is possible that different sections will be selected for different days.

Once seatings have been determined members are expected to sit in their earned seating.