Southwest Florida Symphony
Youth Orchestra Program
Audition
Requirements
2013-2014
Auditions by Appointment.
Please contact Todd Betz – Youth Orchestra Manager at
tbetz@swflso.org
to reserve an audition time.
To audition:

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

Applicant must be 21 years of age or less, prior to the posted audition date.
Applicant must select and prepare a musical selection.
Applicant must be prepared to play musical scales
Applicant must demonstrate sight-reading ability
Southwest Florida Symphony. 12651 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33919. (239)418-0996
Sinfonietta
Intermediate String Orchestra
1. Solo, etude, or excerpt of your choosing showing your best ability.
Criteria for judging: Technique, Intonation, Musicality, and Tone
Please bring two extra copies of the solo or etude, in addition to your own.
2. Scales and Arpeggios (We will choose 2 of the following):
Violin:
Viola:
Cello:
Bass:
2-octave: C, G, D, A, Bb
2-octave: C, G, D, F, Eb
2-octave: C, G, D, F
2-octave: G, F
1-octave:
1-octave:
1-octave:
1-octave:
F, Eb
A, Bb
Bb, A
C, D, A, Bb
(If you are not yet comfortable with all of these scales, or can only play one octave of some
of them, please audition and show us what you are able. This is an optimal guideline.)
3. Sight-reading (a short excerpt)
Students will be given a sight reading excerpt to perform during the audition. Sight
reading is very important in the evaluation process of the audition.
Concert Orchestra
Full Orchestra
Strings
1. Scales and Arpeggios
ALL STRING INSTRUMENTS will play from the following major scales and arpeggios:
C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb. (Scales and arpeggios will be chosen by the coaches at the audition)
All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED. Scales and arpeggios will be played in even
eighth notes using separate bows. Quarter note = 60-80
Violin: G, A scales and arpeggios three octaves. All
other scales and arpeggios must be two octaves.
Viola: C, D scales and arpeggios three octaves. All
other scales and arpeggios must be two octaves.
Cello: C, D scales and arpeggios three octaves. All
other scales and arpeggios must be two octaves.
Bass: G, F, A scales and arpeggios two octaves
(no displacement). All other scales and arpeggios must be one octave.
Southwest Florida Symphony. 12651 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33919. (239)418-0996
2. Solo or Etude
Please bring two extra copies of the solo or etude, in addition to your own.
Students should perform a solo or etude that best demonstrates their ability, musicality and
technical facility. Solo must demonstrate shifting. Also, students should strive for good tone,
phrasing, and musicality in their selected solo or etude.
The suggested minimum solo level should be comparable to:
Violin Suzuki Book 4 or above, must include shifting, preferably some vibrato
Viola Suzuki Book 3 or above, including shifting, preferably some vibrato
Cello Suzuki Book 3 or above, including shifting, preferably some vibrato
Bass Suzuki Book 2 or above, including shifting, preferably some vibrato
3. Sight Reading
Students will be given a sight reading excerpt to perform during the audition. Sight reading is
very important in the evaluation process of the audition.
4. Excerpt (for Seating Auditions at Fall Auditions Only)
Students will perform the assigned excerpt. All excerpts will be posted and made available July
1st. Excerpts will be accessible from the Symphony web page www.swflso.org . Please print
the appropriate pdf excerpt for your instrument. If there is difficulty obtaining the excerpt from
the webpage, please contact the Symphony office at 239-418-0996.
Winds/Brass/Percussion
1. Scales and Arpeggios
ALL WINDS AND PERCUSSION will play from the following major scales and arpeggios:

Concert Pitch
C, F, G, Bb, D, Eb, A, Ab, E, Db (All-State rhythm pattern. Tongued ascending and slurred
descending)
All scales and arpeggios should be MEMORIZED.
(Scales and arpeggios will be chosen by the coaches at the audition)
 Chromatic Scale - Perform a chromatic scale (at least 2 octaves):
Flute from C; Clarinet from E; Oboe from C; Bassoon from F;
Trumpet from G; Horn from F; Trombone from F; Tuba from F;
Mallets (Percussion) from C
Southwest Florida Symphony. 12651 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33919. (239)418-0996
2. Solo or Etude– Please prepare one of the options below.
Please bring two extra copies of the solo or etude, in addition to your own.

Solo – Grade 2 – 4 difficulty of your choice.
or

Middle School All-State Etudes from the Florida Bandmasters Association
(Etudes are from the Rubank Advanced Method, Volume 1)
Flute
Oboe
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 35, #15; beginning to meas.21 plus 1
note, top line, quarter
note = 72
Technical Exercise: pg. 53, #22; all, quarter note = 160
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 23, #5; all, quarter note = 90
Technical Exercise: pg. 46, #6; all, no repeat, dotted
quarter note = 112
Bassoon
Bb Clarinet
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 22, #5; meas. 1-21, plus 1 note, top
line, quarter note = 76
Technical Exercise: pg. 34, 'Var. 1'; meas. 1-16; top line; no
repeats,
quarter note = 132
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 42, #19; meas. 1-22, top line, quarter
note = 60
Technical Exercise: pg. 34, #13; meas. 1-20 plus 1 note,
top line, quarter note = 108
Trumpet
Horn in F
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 28, #13; meas. 1-15 plus 1 note, top
line, quarter note = 84
Technical Exercise: pg. 51, #18; all, half note = 80
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 45, #31; meas.1-31 plus 1 note, no
repeats,
quarter note = 76
Technical Exercise: pg. 49, #8; all, no repeats, no DC,
dotted quarter note =
112
Trombone
Tuba
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 22, #5; all, top line, no repeats, quarter
note = 96
Technical Exercise: p. 55, #19; all, half note = 90
Lyrical Exercise: pg. 64, #7; all, quarter note = 84
Technical Exercise: pg 35, #18; meas. 1- 24, dotted
quarter note = 104
Percussion
Xylophone
Pg. 24-25, Allegro from Sonatina; meas. 1-34 plus 1 note,
quarter note = 160
Masterworks for Mallets, trans. by Beth Gottlieb
Publisher: Row-Loff
Snare
Pg. 36, Etude 24; meas. 1 - 40, dotted quarter note = 80
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters
Publisher: Mitchell Peters
3. Sight Reading
Students will be given a sight reading excerpt to perform during the audition. Sight reading is
very important in the evaluation process of the audition.
4. Excerpt (for Seating Auditions at Fall Auditions Only)
Students will perform the assigned excerpt. All excerpts will be posted and made available July
1st. Excerpts will be accessible from the Symphony web page www.swflso.org . Please print the
appropriate pdf excerpt for your instrument. If there is difficulty obtaining the excerpt from the
webpage, please contact the Symphony office at 239-418-0996.
Southwest Florida Symphony. 12651 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33919. (239)418-0996
Symphony Orchestra
Advanced Full Orchestra
Strings
1. Scales and Arpeggios
Students should play scales and arpeggios by memory. Typically, students accepted into the
youth symphony are familiar with several 3 octave scales and arpeggios.
ALL STRING INSTRUMENTS will play from the following major scales and arpeggios:
C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab. (Scales and arpeggios will be chosen by the coaches at the
audition)
All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED. Scales and arpeggios will be played in even
eighth notes using separate bows. Quarter note = 60-80
Violin: G, A, C, D scales and arpeggios in three octaves. All
other scales and arpeggios must be two octaves.
Viola: C, D, F, G scales and arpeggios in three octaves. All
other scales and arpeggios must be two octaves.
Cello: C, D, F, G scales and arpeggios in three octaves. All
other scales and arpeggios must be two octaves.
Bass: E, F, G, A, Bb, C scales and arpeggios in two octaves
(no displacement). All other scales and arpeggios must be one octave.
2. Solo or Etude
Please bring two extra copies of the solo or etude, in addition to your own.
Students should perform a solo or etude that best demonstrates their ability, musicality and
technical facility. Students wishing to participate in Symphonic Orchestra should demonstrate
vibrato, upper position work, good intonation, and solid technique. Also, students should strive
for good tone, phrasing, and musicality in their selected solo or etude.
3. Sight Reading
Students will be given a sight reading excerpt to perform during the audition. Sight reading is
very important in the evaluation process of the audition.
4. Excerpt (for Seating Auditions at Fall Auditions Only)
Students will perform the assigned excerpt. All excerpts will be posted and made available July
1st. Excerpts will be accessible from the Symphony web page www.swflso.org . Please print the
appropriate pdf excerpt for your instrument. If there is difficulty obtaining the excerpt from the
webpage, please contact the Symphony office at 239-418-0996.
Southwest Florida Symphony. 12651 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33919. (239)418-0996
Winds/Brass/Percussion
1. Scales and Arpeggios (Scales and arpeggios will be chosen by the coaches at the audition)
Typically, students accepted into the youth symphony are familiar with
all 12 major scales and arpeggios. (All-State rhythm pattern. Tongued ascending and slurred
descending)
Able to play chromatic scale (at least 2 octaves)
All scales and arpeggios are to be MEMORIZED.
2. Solo or Etude – preferably grade 4 or higher.
Please bring two extra copies of the solo or etude, in addition to your own.
Percussion students should play a snare drum and a mallet piece. Percussion students may
also be asked to demonstrate timpani tuning.
Students should perform a solo or etude that best demonstrates their ability, musicality and
technical facility. Students wishing to participate in Youth Symphony should demonstrate good
rhythm, good intonation, and solid technique. Students should also strive for good tone,
phrasing, and musicality in their selected solo or etude.
3. Sight Reading
Students will be given a sight reading excerpt to perform during the audition. Sight reading is
very important in the evaluation process of the audition.
4. Excerpt (for Seating Auditions at Fall Auditions Only)
Students will perform the assigned excerpt. All excerpts will be posted and made available July
1st. Excerpts will be accessible from the Symphony web page www.swflso.org . Please print the
appropriate pdf excerpt for your instrument. If there is difficulty obtaining the excerpt from the
webpage, please contact the Symphony office at 239-418-0996.
Once accepted into the SWFSYO, a member is expected to remain for a full season, barring
extenuating circumstances.
Southwest Florida Symphony. 12651 McGregor Blvd. Ft. Myers, FL 33919. (239)418-0996