Ensemble Audition Requirements

Orchestras

Auditions are done by video submission with a Prep 24-25 application. The submission deadline is May 15th, 2024. Requirements vary by ensemble. Applicants should ensure that their audition materials satisfy the requirements for the ensemble(s) they wish to be considered for.

String Training Orchestra (STO) Preparatory String Orchestra (PSO), and String Repertory Orchestra (SRO)

  • Two contrasting solo pieces
  • Two scales in any mode or key.

Junior Repertory Orchestra (JRO) and Youth Repertory Orchestra (YRO)

  • Strings, woodwinds, and brass players:
    • Two contrasting solos, two to three minutes in length
    • Two scales in any mode or key
    • Excerpt #1 from the PDF corresponding to your instrument found below this section
  • Percussionists:
    • One piece on timpani, one piece on snare, and one piece on mallets
    • All excerpts from the Percussion Excerpts PDF found below this section

Youth Symphony (YS) and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO)

  • Strings, woodwind, and brass players:
    • Two contrasting solo pieces, five minutes in length each. Partial movements- for instance, the exposition of a concerto first movement - are acceptable
    • Two scales in any mode or key
    • All excerpts from the PDF corresponding to your instrument found below this section
      • NOTE: Excerpts for auxiliary wind instruments - piccolo, English horn, E-flat clarinet or bass clarinet - are optional. However, flutists who would like to be considered for Youth Symphony or Youth Philharmonic Orchestra are encouraged to submit the piccolo excerpts.
  • Percussionists:
    • One piece on timpani, one piece on snare, and one piece on mallets
    • All excerpts from the Percussion Excerpts PDF found below this section

String Chamber Orchestra (SCO)

  • Two contrasting solo pieces, two to three minutes in length each
  • Two scales in any mode or key

All excerpts listed for your instrument in this document

 

Audition Excerpts 

Please find the orchestral excerpts required for certain ensembles below:

Baroque Ensembles

Auditions are done by video submission with a Prep 24-25 application. The submission deadline is May 15th, 2024. 

Strings, Woodwind, and Brass

  • Two contrasting solo pieces
  • Two scales in any mode or key

Percussion

One piece on timpani, one piece on snare, and one piece on mallets

Piano and Harpsichord

  • Two contrasting solo pieces
  • Two scales in any mode or key

Chorus

Students who wish to join one of our choirs must submit a 24-25 Prep application by May 15th. Students who wish to participate in Youth Chorale (ages 14-18) must perform a live audition on May 30th. Students who wish to participate in Children's Chorus (ages 7-13) may audition by video.

Children’s Chorus (ages 7-13)

Auditioning applicants will be expected to sing any song they feel comfortable and confident performing a capella. This could be "Happy Birthday," a folk song, lullaby, patriotic song, a tune from a musical, etc. Memorization is not required.

Youth Chorale (ages 14-18)

Auditioning applicants will be expected to sing 2 contrasting selections of their choice, i.e. an art song, Broadway musical selection, a folk song, etc. Two contrasting languages are preferred, but not required. Applicants are welcome to perform with an accompanist.

Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensembles

Auditions are done by video submission with a Prep 24-25 application. The submission deadline is May 15th, 2024. 

Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (Jr. MYWE)

Open to students in grades 6-9. Students should prepare:

  • Two contrasting pieces at the Junior District level
  • Two major or minor scales of the student’s choice (up to three flats and three sharps)
  • One chromatic scale in the range of the student’s choice
  • Percussionists should prepare three pieces: one on timpani, one on snare, and one on mallets. No scales required.

Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble Concert Band (MYWE CB)

Open to students in grades 10-12. Students should prepare:

  • Two contrasting pieces at the All-State level
  • Two scales of the student’s choice (up to four flats and four sharps)
  • One chromatic scale in the range of the student’s choice
  • Percussionists should prepare three pieces: one on timpani, one on snare, and one on mallets. No scales required.

Senior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (Sr. MYWE)

Open to students in grades 10-12. Students should prepare:

  • Two contrasting pieces at the All-State level.
  • Two scales of the student’s choice (one major and one minor, up to four flats and four sharps)
  • One chromatic scale in the range of the student’s choice
  • Percussionists should prepare three pieces: one on timpani, one on snare, and one on mallets. No scales required.

Youth Jazz Orchestra (YJO)

Auditions are done by video submission with a Prep 24-25 application. The submission deadline is May 15th, 2024. 

Brass and Saxophone

  • One medium-tempo jazz piece of the student’s choice (no ballads). Pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter, etc. are acceptable standards.
  • Major scales in concert pitch: B flat and F (two octaves if possible). Minor scales in concert pitch: C and A (two octaves if possible). Scales should be prepared in the following tempo: Eighth Note = 60 bpm

Piano, Guitar, and Bass

  • One medium-tempo jazz piece of the student’s choice (no ballads). Pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter, etc. are acceptable standards
  • Major scales in concert pitch: B flat and F (two octaves if possible). Minor scales in concert pitch: C and A (two octaves if possible). Scales should be prepared in the following tempo: Eighth Note = 60 bpm
  • One video comp/walking over 12 bar blues

Drummers

  • Play various tempos, swings, and Latin grooves. Full pieces are not required

Youth Brass Ensemble (YBE)

Auditions are done by video submission with a Prep 24-25 application. The submission deadline is May 15th, 2024. 

Grades 6-9

  • Two contrasting pieces at the Junior District level
  • Two scales of the student’s choice, up to three flats and three sharps
  • Once chromatic scale of the student’s choice.

Grades 10-12

  • Two contrasting pieces at the All-State level
  • Two scales of the student’s choice, up to four flats and four sharps.
  • One chromatic scale of the student’s choice.

Chamber Music Ensembles

Auditions are done by video submission with a Prep 24-25 application. The submission deadline is August 1st, 2024.

  • Two contrasting solo pieces
  • Two scales in any mode or key

Please note: Chamber ensembles are formed by matching players of similar ability with mutual availability. Due to the nature of this process, students who audition for a chamber ensemble are not guaranteed a placement.

Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar (CHIPS)

For advanced students ages 13-18 with a strong interest in chamber music, the Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar (CHIPS) program is open to violinists, violists, cellists and pianists. CHIPS offers selected students an immersive opportunity for advanced musical study. The objective of the program is to build high level collaborative music-making skills with an emphasis on performance. In addition to receiving weekly faculty coaching and participating in regular performance classes, CHIPS students perform multiple times each year in Guest Artist masterclasses and are presented in a concert in Jordan Hall at the end of the year. This year’s student artists performed in masterclasses given by renowned chamber musicians such as Donald Weilerstein and Miriam Fried, Vivian Weilerstein and Seth Knopp. Past guest artists have included the Verona Quartet, Paul Biss, Roger Tapping, Peter Salaff, Paul Katz, Areta Zhulla, The Claremont Trio, George Li, Mai Motobuchi and Kim Kashkashian. Support is provided for student participation in major chamber music competitions such as the Fischoff Competition and the Coltman Competition. Graduates of the CHIPS program are young leaders in the world of chamber music and have gone on to study at top conservatories and colleges in the US and abroad.

For 2024-2025 we are thrilled to be offering two CHIPS programs. One program will focus on String Quartets and the other on Piano Trios. Piano Trios will meet on Saturday mornings between 10-12 noon. String Quartets will meet on Saturdays between 12:30 and 2:45 pm. Given the intensity of this program, attendance at all CHIPS events is required.

NEC Prep’s Chamber Music Intensive Seminar is generously supported by The Robert and Jane Morse Endowed Chamber Music Fund at NEC.

Violin

  • One excerpt of a movement of solo Bach (up to 5 minutes in length)
  • One excerpt of a movement of a concerto (up to 7 minutes in length)
  • Lena Frank “Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout"
  •  Mendelssohn: String Quartet Op. 13,
    • Violin 1, Movement I, Beginning-m. 46
  • A recorded statement answering the following questions:
      • Why are you interested in participating in an immersive chamber music experience like CHIPS?
      • Describe one of the things you enjoy most about chamber music.

Viola

  • One excerpt of a movement of solo Bach (up to 5 minutes in length)
  • One excerpt of a movement of a concerto (up to 7 minutes in length)
  • Lena Frank “Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout"
  •  Mendelssohn: String Quartet Op. 13,
    • Movement I, Beginning-m. 46
  • A recorded statement answering the following questions:
      • Why are you interested in participating in an immersive chamber music experience like CHIPS?
      • Describe one of the things you enjoy most about chamber music.

Cello

  • One excerpt of a movement of solo Bach (up to 5 minutes in length)
  • One excerpt of a movement of a concerto (up to 7 minutes in length)
  • Beethoven, Piano Trio in D Major, Op.70 No. 1
    •  Movement I. Allegro vivace e con brio, m. 74-120
  • Brahms, String Quartet in C minor, Op. 51 no. 1
    • Movement II. Romanze, m. 49-72
  • A recorded statement answering the following questions:
      • Why are you interested in participating in an immersive chamber music experience like CHIPS?
      • Describe one of the things you enjoy most about chamber music.

Piano

  • Player's choice: two contrasting solo pieces or two contrasting movements from the same solo work.
  • Beethoven, Trio Op. 1 no. 2 in G Major
    • Movement I, m. 28-72
  • Mendelssohn, Trio in C Minor Op. 66
    • Movement II. Andante Espressivo, m. 1- 32
  • A recorded statement answering the following questions:
      • Why are you interested in participating in an immersive chamber music experience like CHIPS?
      • Describe one of the things you enjoy most about chamber music.