Year-Round Auditions Available By Appointment
For admittance into the PYCO Orchestra & All PYCO Ensembles
STRINGS, WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION, KEYBOARD, & HARP
For admittance into the PYCO Orchestra & All PYCO Ensembles
STRINGS, WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION, KEYBOARD, & HARP
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 a live audition.
Please note, grades are listed as general guidelines only. Placement is at the sole discretion of ensemble directors.
Please note, grades are listed as general guidelines only. Placement is at the sole discretion of ensemble directors.
STRINGS
PYCO Orchestra Strings (grades 9-12)
- 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 Strings (grades 6-9)
- 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 Strings (grades 4-7)
- 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 Orchestra Woodwinds & Chamber Woodwinds (grades 8-12)
- 2 prepared contrasting pieces
- All major scales up to and including 4 sharps and 4 flats
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Junior Wind Ensemble Woodwinds (grades 5-8)
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 Orchestra Brass & Chamber Brass (grades 8-12)
- 2 prepared contrasting pieces
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Junior Wind Ensemble Brass (grades 5-8)
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 Orchestra Percussion (grades 9-12)
- 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 Ensemble Percussion (grades 5-8)
- 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
PIANO/KEYBOARD & HARP
Piano/Keyboard (grades 9-12)
- 3 solo works of your choice (concerto, sonata, etude or orchestral excerpt), each no more than 5 minutes in duration. One solo should be from the Baroque period, and another from the Classical period.
- Sight reading (provided at the audition)
Harp (grades 9-12)
- 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)