Spring Audition Requirements for Prep Large Ensembles

Choruses

Children's Choruses

Includes Preparatory Chorus, Children's Chorus, and Chamber Chorus.

All new students are required to audition.

We are currently forming the Chorus plans for the 2023-2024 Season.

Youth Chorale

Open to students ages 14 - 18 who are interested in being in a like-minded choral community. Previous experience in a chorus is not required, though all interested applicants are expected to have fundamental music reading skills (i.e. knowledge of major key signatures, basic rhythm and note-reading/naming skills, etc.).

All new applicants are required to complete an audition. 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. 2 contrasting languages are preferred, but not required. Applicants are welcome to perform with an accompanist.

We are currently forming the Chorus plans for the 2023-2024 Season.

Wind Ensembles

Wind ensemble auditions include Sr. MYWE, Jr. MYWE, and MYWE Concert Band. Audition requirements are determined by grade level for the 2023–2024 academic year.

Sr. MYWE

Open to students in Grades 10-12. All students are required to audition.

Requirements: Students should prepare two contrasting pieces at the All-State level. Additionally, students should submit 3 scales. 2 scales should be of the students' choice (major or minor, up to four flats and four sharps). The third scale should be a chromatic scale in the range of the students' choice.

Percussionists should prepare three pieces: one on timpani, one on snare, and one on mallets. There are no scales required. Please note that when you sign up for the auditions online, you will only be able to enter two pieces in the form, but percussion students should still be prepared to play three different pieces.

MYWE Concert Band

Open to students in Grades 10-12. All students are required to audition.

Jr. MYWE

Open to students in Grades 6-9. All students are required to audition.

Requirements: Students should prepare two contrasting pieces at the Junior District level. Additionally, students should submit 3 scales. 2 scales should be of the students' choice (major or minor, up to three flats and three sharps). The third scale should be a chromatic scale in the range of the students' choice.

Youth Jazz Orchestra

New students are required to audition. Returning students do not need to audition.

Requirements:

Brass and Saxophone
1. Solo Pieces: Prepare one medium tempo jazz piece of your choice (you should not play a ballad). Pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter, etc. are acceptable standards.
2. Scales: Prepare Major scales in concert pitch: B flat and F (two octaves if possible). Prepare 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
1. Solo Pieces: Prepare one medium tempo jazz piece of your choice (you should not play a ballad). Pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter, etc. are acceptable standards.
2. Scales: Prepare Major scales in concert pitch: B flat and F (two octaves if possible). Prepare minor scales in concert pitch: C and A (two octaves if possible). Scales should be prepared in the following tempo: Eighth Note = 60 bpm
3. Prepare a video comp/walking over a 12 bar blues
Drummers:
1. Please play various tempos, swings, and Latin grooves. It is not necessary to present the requirements listed above.

Youth Brass Ensemble

Requirements: If you participated for these ensembles in the 2022-2023 year, you do not need to re-audition.

Grades 6-9 in Fall of 2023

Students should prepare two contrasting selections at the Junior District level.
Additionally, students should be prepared to play scales up to 3 flats and 3 sharps plus a chromatic scale.

Grades 10-12 in Fall of 2023

Students should prepare two contrasting selections at the All-State level.
Additionally, students should be prepared to play scales up to 4 flats and 4 sharps plus a chromatic scale.

Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar

Open to students ages 13-18. New and returning students are required to audition each year. For audition requirements, please visit the Chamber Music page, linked here.

Orchestras & Baroque Ensembles

All students are required to audition.

Please contact prepplacements@necmusic.edu to request to opt out of your spring audition and stay in your current ensemble.

The orchestra audition requirements below are the same for both orchestra and Baroque ensembles.

String, Wind, Brass, and Harp Players: Solo Piece Guidelines

Prepare two solo works or two movements from the same work that represent contrasting styles. Students will also be asked to present two scales of their choice (any mode, any key).

Please keep in mind the following when selecting solo pieces:

One piece should be fast and technical
One piece should be slower and more lyric
Avoid cadenzas or cadenza-style pieces

The most important thing is that you present your best playing and select works that you (in consultation with your private teacher) have prepared in advance of your audition. Audition pieces should be works the you know well and that demonstrate your range of technical abilities and musicianship. Your private teacher can help determine and prepare appropriate pieces for the audition.

Optional: The following solo concerti are examples of repertoire for string players that are good for higher level large ensemble auditions. This is a guideline of works to consider for the audition. These are NOT required.

Violin — Mozart, Haydn
Viola — Stamitz, Hoffmeister, Telemann
Cello — Haydn, Boccherini
Bass — Dittersdorf, Dragonetti, Bottesini

Students who wish to be considered for placement in the full orchestras (Junior Repertory Orchestra, Youth Repertory Orchestra, Youth Symphony and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra) must also prepare the orchestral excerpts available below. The orchestral excerpts are an essential component of our audition process. Please prepare the excerpts thoroughly. They are an important part of our consideration in placing each performer at the proper level.

Percussion

Students should prepare three pieces: one on timpani, one on snare, and one on mallets. Please note that when you sign up for the auditions online, you will only be able to enter two pieces in the form, but percussion students should still be prepared to play three different pieces. Students who are interested in the full orchestras (Junior Repertory Orchestra, Youth Repertory Orchestra, Youth Symphony and Youth Philharmonic Orchestra) must also prepare the orchestral excerpts available below.

Piano and Harpsichord

Piano students may audition to play harpsichord in the Baroque Ensembles. Pianists should prepare two solo works or two movements from the same work that represent contrasting styles. Students will also be asked to sight-read and should be prepared to play two scales of their choice (any mode, any key).

Full Orchestra Excerpts

Beginner students who would like to be considered for our string orchestras (STO, PSO< SRO) are not required to play excerpts.

Students who would like to be considered for Junior Repertory Orchestra or Youth Repertory Orchestra should submit:

Two contrasting solos two to three minutes each in length.
Two scales (any mode, any key)
Only excerpt no. 1 for their instrument from the pdf below.

Students who would like to be considered for Youth Symphony or Youth Philharmonic Orchestra should submit:

Two solos of approximately five minutes each. Partial movements - for instance, the exposition of a concerto first movement - are acceptable.
Two scales (any mode, any key)
ALL the excerpts for their instrument from the pdf below
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 as they will be called upon to play piccolo if accepted into either orchestra.