QCYSO - FAQ

2008-09 GUIDELINES FOR AUDITIONS
for the
QUAD CITY YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
and
YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE

WHAT ARE THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS?
Membership in both orchestras is by audition only. Auditions for both orchestras will be held at the same time in August for membership beginning that school year. Members of both orchestras are expected to pay yearly membership dues of $65 for the Youth Orchestra and $50 for the String Ensemble.

Members are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Excused absences from rehearsals are given for required attendance at school instrumental events, family trips, or illness. Membership in either ensemble will be jeopardized by more than two unexcused absences or by missing a dress rehearsal or concert.

WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS?
To audition for membership in either the Youth Orchestra or the String Ensemble, a player must play a standard orchestral instrument and meet these restrictions:

Strings.....................................................Must be in grades 6-12
for the 2008-2009 school year.

Winds & Percussion.................................Must be in grades 7-12
for the 2008-2009 school year.

In general, violinists must be familiar with 5th position in order to be considered for the Youth Orchestra. Familiarity with 3rd position is required for acceptance into the String Ensemble.

AUGUST AUDITION SCHEDULE (for membership in 2008-09):

Where:
All auditions take place in the Ensemble Room of the Bergendoff Fine Arts Building at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL

When:
Wednesday, August 6, 2008

starting 3:00 pm All woodwinds
starting 5:00 pm All brass
starting 7:00 pm Harp, piano, percussion

Thursday, August 7, 2008

starting 3:00 pm All violas
starting 5:00 pm All cellos, basses

Saturday, August 9, 2008

starting 8:30 am Violins (9th grade and older)

Sunday, August 10, 2008

starting 12:30 pm Violins (6th-8th grade)
starting 4:30 pm Make-ups

*Audition times are scheduled by appointment only. Please contact the Symphony office to reserve an audition time (563-322-0931).

For more information visit our web site: qcsymphony.com or contact frontdesk@qcsymphony.com or phone 563-322-0931).

WHAT DO I PLAY FOR AUDITIONS?

1. Perform a short solo work for your instrument, approximately
2 minutes long. [Solos may be school contest solos, excerpts from larger works, or any selection which shows your skill. Solos do not have to be memorized. Accompaniment is not expected; the judges want to hear only the auditionee alone.]

2. Perform the required orchestral excerpt for your instrument. Excerpts are available by contacting the QC Symphony office at (563) 322-0931 or downloading from the website here.

3. Play a scale (strings only):

Violin, Viola, and Cello auditionees for Youth Orchestra should play a 3-octave scale in C major at quarter note = m.m. 120
Violin , Viola, and Cello auditionees for String Ensemble should play a 2-octave scale in C major at quarter note = m.m. 120
Double Bass auditionees for either ensemble should play a 2-octave scale in C major at quarter note = m.m. 120

WHO ARE THE JUDGES?
The Audition Committee is made up from the conducting and administrative staff of both orchestras and guest musicians.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
You should wear appropriate, comfortable clothing for playing your instrument.

WHEN ARE THE RESULTS ANNOUNCED?
Notification letters of audition results of will be mailed out as soon as possible. Players are either:
1. Accepted as a member of the orchestra.
[For string players, assignment to either the Youth Orchestra or String Ensemble will be indicated in the letter.]

2. Placed on an "alternate" list.
[Alternates are invited to join the orchestras if a vacancy occurs in their section during the year.]

3. Not accepted for membership at this time.

WHAT ABOUT SEATING?
Seating for players in each section is decided at the completion of all auditions. Results will be announced at the first rehearsal in the fall. This allows for any unforeseen changes that may occur between auditions and the first rehearsal.

OFFICIAL AUDITION POLICY AS STATED IN THE "PLAYERS' HANDBOOK":
"All current members of the Youth Orchestra and String Ensemble must re-audition each year for continued membership in the ensembles. Current membership in the orchestras does not guarantee a permanent position or seating assignment for a player. All positions and membership are open each year. All auditionees, whether current members or not, shall have an equal opportunity to attain membership in the ensembles, based solely upon the quality of the audition performed."

SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT AUDITIONS....

Auditions can be a stressful time for all musicians. Each player is trying very hard to do his or her best and unfortunately, not everyone can be accepted each year. Please remember that many of the Youth Orchestra's and String Ensemble's best players were not accepted at their first auditions. They practiced hard in the intervening year, studied their instrument with a private teacher, and took advantage of the many performing opportunities in their school ensembles. They returned the next year and achieved their goal.
Woodwind and brass players should remember that, unlike concert bands, orchestras generally use only one, or possibly two, players per part. Also note that saxophone is not routinely an orchestral instrument.
The judges try to make every auditionee feel comfortable in the few minutes allotted to each student. However, please remember that there are more than 150 young people auditioning for acceptance and a time limit has to be observed.
In the interest of time, the judges will stop players in the middle of their solos when they have heard enough music to make their decision. This may mean that the student plays for only 1 minute or so before being asked to move on to another part of the audition. Players should not be offended or feel shortchanged when this happens. It is not a comment upon their playing; rather, it is a necessity because of the number of players to be heard.
Auditionees should play their best material first! If the solo selection has several sections of different speeds, players should begin with the section that shows them off to best advantage.
And lastly, please understand that players are accepted into the orchestras and seated based upon their performance at the audition and the audition alone. The judges are unable to "second-guess" a player's ability and for the sake of fairness to all, can only evaluate the performance a student presents at the audition.


	QCYSO - Frequently Asked Questions 2008-09 GUIDELINES FOR AUDITIONS for the QUAD CITY YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA and YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE WHAT ARE THE MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS? Membership in both orchestras is by audition only. Auditions for both orchestras will be held at the same time in August for membership beginning that school year. Members of both orchestras are expected to pay yearly membership dues of $65 for the Youth Orchestra and $50 for the String Ensemble. Members are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Excused absences from rehearsals are given for required attendance at school instrumental events, family trips, or illness. Membership in either ensemble will be jeopardized by more than two unexcused absences or by missing a dress rehearsal or concert. WHAT ARE THE AGE REQUIREMENTS? To audition for membership in either the Youth Orchestra or the String Ensemble, a player must play a standard orchestral instrument and meet these restrictions: Strings.....................................................Must be in grades 6-12 for the 2008-2009 school year. Winds & Percussion.................................Must be in grades 7-12 for the 2008-2009 school year. In general, violinists must be familiar with 5th position in order to be considered for the Youth Orchestra. Familiarity with 3rd position is required for acceptance into the String Ensemble. AUGUST AUDITION SCHEDULE (for membership in 2008-09): Where: All auditions take place in the Ensemble Room of the Bergendoff Fine Arts Building at Augustana College, Rock Island, IL When: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 starting 3:00 pm All woodwinds starting 5:00 pm All brass starting 7:00 pm Harp, piano, percussion Thursday, August 7, 2008 starting 3:00 pm All violas starting 5:00 pm All cellos, basses Saturday, August 9, 2008 starting 8:30 am Violins (9th grade and older) Sunday, August 10, 2008 starting 12:30 pm Violins (6th-8th grade) starting 4:30 pm Make-ups *Audition times are scheduled by appointment only. Please contact the Symphony office to reserve an audition time (563-322-0931). For more information visit our web site: qcsymphony.com or contact frontdesk@qcsymphony.com or phone 563-322-0931). WHAT DO I PLAY FOR AUDITIONS? 1. Perform a short solo work for your instrument, approximately 2 minutes long. [Solos may be school contest solos, excerpts from larger works, or any selection which shows your skill. Solos do not have to be memorized. Accompaniment is not expected; the judges want to hear only the auditionee alone.] 2. Perform the required orchestral excerpt for your instrument. Excerpts are available by contacting the QC Symphony office at (563) 322-0931 or downloading from the website here. Bass Trombone Cello Cello (String Ensemble) Clarinet Double Bass Double Bass (String Ensemble) English Horn Flute Harp Horn Oboe Piano Piccolo Tenor Trombone Timpani Trumpet Tuba Viola Viola (String Ensemble) Violin Violin (String Ensemble) 3. Play a scale (strings only): Violin, Viola, and Cello auditionees for Youth Orchestra should play a 3-octave scale in C major at quarter note = m.m. 120 Violin , Viola, and Cello auditionees for String Ensemble should play a 2-octave scale in C major at quarter note = m.m. 120 Double Bass auditionees for either ensemble should play a 2-octave scale in C major at quarter note = m.m. 120 WHO ARE THE JUDGES? The Audition Committee is made up from the conducting and administrative staff of both orchestras and guest musicians. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? You should wear appropriate, comfortable clothing for playing your instrument. WHEN ARE THE RESULTS ANNOUNCED? Notification letters of audition results of will be mailed out as soon as possible. Players are either: 1. Accepted as a member of the orchestra. [For string players, assignment to either the Youth Orchestra or String Ensemble will be indicated in the letter.] 2. Placed on an "alternate" list. [Alternates are invited to join the orchestras if a vacancy occurs in their section during the year.] 3. Not accepted for membership at this time. WHAT ABOUT SEATING? Seating for players in each section is decided at the completion of all auditions. Results will be announced at the first rehearsal in the fall. This allows for any unforeseen changes that may occur between auditions and the first rehearsal. OFFICIAL AUDITION POLICY AS STATED IN THE "PLAYERS' HANDBOOK": "All current members of the Youth Orchestra and String Ensemble must re-audition each year for continued membership in the ensembles. Current membership in the orchestras does not guarantee a permanent position or seating assignment for a player. All positions and membership are open each year. All auditionees, whether current members or not, shall have an equal opportunity to attain membership in the ensembles, based solely upon the quality of the audition performed." SOME GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ABOUT AUDITIONS.... Auditions can be a stressful time for all musicians. Each player is trying very hard to do his or her best and unfortunately, not everyone can be accepted each year. Please remember that many of the Youth Orchestra's and String Ensemble's best players were not accepted at their first auditions. They practiced hard in the intervening year, studied their instrument with a private teacher, and took advantage of the many performing opportunities in their school ensembles. They returned the next year and achieved their goal. Woodwind and brass players should remember that, unlike concert bands, orchestras generally use only one, or possibly two, players per part. Also note that saxophone is not routinely an orchestral instrument. The judges try to make every auditionee feel comfortable in the few minutes allotted to each student. However, please remember that there are more than 150 young people auditioning for acceptance and a time limit has to be observed. In the interest of time, the judges will stop players in the middle of their solos when they have heard enough music to make their decision. This may mean that the student plays for only 1 minute or so before being asked to move on to another part of the audition. Players should not be offended or feel shortchanged when this happens. It is not a comment upon their playing; rather, it is a necessity because of the number of players to be heard. Auditionees should play their best material first! If the solo selection has several sections of different speeds, players should begin with the section that shows them off to best advantage. And lastly, please understand that players are accepted into the orchestras and seated based upon their performance at the audition and the audition alone. The judges are unable to "second-guess" a player's ability and for the sake of fairness to all, can only evaluate the performance a student presents at the audition.

QCYSO - Frequently Asked Questions