Audition for the 2025-2026 Season
General Audition Day: Sunday, June 8, 2025 at PYCO School of Music
STRINGS - WOODWINDS - BRASS - PERCUSSION - PIANO - HARP
Students wishing to audition must submit their audition application and a $25 application fee.
Year-round auditions are available by appointment for admittance into all PYCO ensembles.
No audition is required for the Youth Jazz Ensemble and Adult Jazz Ensemble.
Audition Requirements
After reviewing the audition requirements for your instrument below, we invite you to fill out an application! Once we receive a completed application, you will be contacted to schedule an audition.
No audition is required for the Youth Jazz Ensemble or the Adult Jazz Ensemble!
Please note, ages are listed as general guidelines only. Placement is at the sole discretion of ensemble directors.
STRINGS
PYCO Symphony Orchestra/Symphony Strings (ages 14-20)
- 2 or 3 octave Scales (up to 4 sharps & 4 flats)
- Any solo of your choice from the standard repertoire (concerto, sonata, étude or orchestral excerpt) demonstrating technical and musical abilities
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Chamber String Orchestra (ages 11-14)
- 2 scales in one or two octaves that display student's best abilities. It is recommended that students choose scales that include shifting and extended fingers.
- 1 solo piece or étude that displays student's best abilities
- Sight reading may be required at the audition.
Junior String Orchestra (ages 8-12)
- 2 scales in one or two octaves that display student's best abilities
- 1 solo piece or étude that displays student's best abilities
- Sight reading may be required at the audition.
WOODWINDS
PYCO Symphony Orchestra/Wind Symphony (ages 14-20)
- 2 prepared contrasting pieces
- All major scales up to and including 4 sharps and 4 flats
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Junior Wind Symphony (ages 11-14)
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
- 1 prepared fast solo or song
- 1 prepared slow solo or song
- 2 scales
BRASS
PYCO Symphony Orchestra/Wind Symphony (ages 14-20)
- 2 prepared contrasting pieces
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Junior Wind Symphony (ages 11-14)
Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium/Baritone, Tuba
Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Euphonium/Baritone, Tuba
- 1 prepared fast solo or song
- 1 prepared slow solo or song
- 2 scales
PERCUSSION
PYCO Symphony Orchestra/Wind Symphony (ages 14-20)
- Prepare a snare, mallet and timpani solo of your choice from the standard repertoire, demonstrating technical and musical abilities
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Junior Wind Symphony (ages 11-14)
- 1 or 2 prepared solos on Snare Drum and/or Xylophone/Bells (ideally, 1 solo for each instrument)
- Demonstrate basic rudiments, i.e. rolls, flams
- 1 or 2 scales on xylophone
- Possible sight reading
- Optional: a short piano piece, if the student plays piano
HARP
PYCO Symphony Orchestra (ages 11-20)
- Any solo of your choice from the standard repertoire (concerto, sonata, étude or orchestral excerpt) demonstrating technical and musical abilities
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)