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PYCO Orchestra String Seating Auditions
To avoid server overload, PYCO Orchestra Video Audition Due Dates are staggered as follows:
CELLOS: due by Wednesday, March 24th at 9 pm
VIOLAS & BASSES: due by Thursday, March 25th at 9 pm
VIOLIN 1: due by Friday, March 26th at 9 pm
VIOLIN 2: due by Saturday, March 27th at 5 pm

Instructions for Easy Recording & Uploading

  • Record each excerpt separately, preferably on a smartphone or tablet.*  Make sure the device is placed back far enough that it will show your face, the entire fingerboard of your instrument, and your bow arm.
  • From your phone/tablet, open this page (pyco.org/pyco-orchestra-string-seating-auditions) and click on the excerpt link below that you want to upload.  It will ask you to select a file.  Go to where you saved your excerpt on your phone/tablet and select that video recording.​
  • Upload the file.  No need to rename your file.  Just make sure you are uploading your excerpt to the correct link and to the correct instrument group (for example, do not upload a Violin 1 excerpt by clicking on a Violin 2 link).
​​*We prefer smartphones because they compress the file which makes the upload process faster and more reliable. HD video or recording on special recording equipment is unnecessary. It is not critical for your audio quality or for the outcome of your audition. It will only clog our servers, make your upload time longer, and possibly cause your upload to not complete.
Please email info@pyco.org with any upload questions or problems.
Please use brackets to mark the excerpt selections below in your music. This is a condensed list of the passages in your music that have been identified as particularly difficult and required to have a dedicated time of personal practice and professional help from your teacher. However, remember that at the concert you will play ALL the excerpts! For divisis play the highest part.

VIOLIN 1: due by Friday, March 26th at 9 pm

  • Elgar’s Serenade: II. 2ms before L to M
  • Elgar’s Serenade: III. 3ms before O to P (play top notes)
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: I. Beginning to #2
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: I. #4 to 10ms before #6
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. beginning to 7ms before #3
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. pick up to #10 to #11
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. 10ms after #13 to the end
  • Milford’s Suite in D minor: Gavotte, last 5 measures

VIOLIN 2: due by Saturday, March 27th at 5 pm

  • Elgar’s Serenade: I. pick up to C to 1m before F (always choose bottom notes)
  • Elgar’s Serenade: I. 5 ms before H to the end (always choose bottom notes)
  • Elgar’s Serenade: II. 1m before L to M
  • Elgar’s Serenade: III. P to the end
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: I. #8 to #9
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. Beginning to #2 (skip measures of rest)
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. #7 to #10 (skip measures of rest)
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. 6ms after #13 to the end

VIOLAS: due by Thursday, March 25th at 9 pm

  • Elgar’s Serenade: I. 4ms before C to D (play bottom notes)
  • Elgar’s Serenade: I. D to 2ms after E (play bottom notes)
  • Elgar’s Serenade: I. H to the end
  • Elgar’s Serenade: II. 2ms before L to 1m before M
  • Elgar’s Serenade: III. O to P (play bottom notes)
  • Elgar’s Serenade: III. 1m after P to the end (play bottom notes)
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: I. #8 to #9
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: IV. beginning to #3 and #13 to the end

CELLOS: due by Wednesday, March 24th at 9 pm

  • ​Elgar’s Serenade, Movement 1: rehearsal B to measure 82
  • Elgar’s Serenade, Movement 1: measure 119 to end (upper divisi)
  • Elgar’s Serenade, Movement 2: rehearsal L
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony, Movement 1: pick up to rehearsal 4 to end of rehearsal 7
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony, Movement 4: pick up to rehearsal 2 to end of rehearsal 2​

BASSES: due by Thursday, March 25th at 9 pm

  • ​Britten’s Simple Symphony: Movement 1, 8 after Rehearsal 1 to Rehearsal 2
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: Movement 1, 4 before Rehearsal 7 to Rehearsal 8
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: Movement 2, pick up to Rehearsal 5 to Trio
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: Movement 4, beginning to Rehearsal 1
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: Movement 4, pick up to Rehearsal 2 to Rehearsal 3
  • Britten’s Simple Symphony: Movement 4, Rehearsal 8 (skip first measure of rest) to Rehearsal 9
  • Milford’s Suite in D minor, Movement 1: measure 24-30
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The Pittsburgh Youth Concert Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.