Spring Audition Requirements for Prep Large Ensembles

The application for the 2021-2022 season will be available in Mid-March, but you can review the specific audition requirements below. Please note that repertoire requirements vary by instrument and audition type. 

Start Your Spring Ensemble Application Here!

Choruses

Children's Choruses

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

All new students are required to audition. Returning students wishing to change choruses are required to audition. Students with changing voices should audition in the fall. Returning students who wish to remain in the same chorus do not need to audition.

We are currently forming the Chorus plans for the 2021-2022 Season. If you would like to stay up-to-date with the Chorus program, please complete the 2021-2022 Chorus Interest Form. 

Tourjée Singers

Open to students ages 13-16 as of September 2021.

Only new students are required to audition. Returning students will receive invitations to return and can confirm their positions in June.

We are currently forming the Chorus plans for the 2021-2022 Season. If you would like to stay up-to-date with the Chorus program, please complete the 2021-2022 Chorus Interest Form. 

Youth Chorale & Camerata

Open to students ages 14 - 18 as of September 2021.

Only new students are required to audition. Returning students will receive invitations to return and can confirm their positions in June. 

We are currently forming the Chorus plans for the 2021-2022 Season. If you would like to stay up-to-date with the Chorus program, please complete the 2021-2022 Chorus Interest Form. 

Wind Ensembles

Wind ensemble auditions include Sr. MYWE, Jr. MYWE, and MYWE Concert Band. Audition requirements are determined by grade level for the 2021–2022 academic year.

Percussionists: If you have limited access to percussion equipment due to COVID-19, please be in touch with Christine Witmer, Associate Director, at Christine.Witmer@necmusic.edu

Sr. MYWE

Open to students in Grades 10-12 as of September 2021. New 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.

MYWE Concert Band

Open to students in Grades 9-12 as of September 2021. New 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.

Jr. MYWE

Open to students in Grades 6-9 as of September 2021. New 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.

Jazz

Youth Jazz Orchestra

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

Requirements:

• Brass, Saxophone players
  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 = 60bpm
• Piano, Guitar and Bass players
  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 = 60bpm
  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, Trombone Choir

Requirements: If you participated for these ensembles in the 2020-2021 year, you do not need to re-audition. 

Grades 6-9 in Fall of 2021

• 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 2021

• 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. 

Cello Choir

Requirements: If you participated for this ensemble in the 2020-2021 year, you do not need to re-audition. 

• Two contrasting selections - one slow and lyrical, the other fast and technical
• Two scales of the student’s choice 
• Orchestra excerpts (if you wish to be considered for admission into YS or YPO)

Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar

Open to students ages 13-18 as of September 2021. New and returning students are required to audition each year.

Requirements: Prepare two contrasting solo pieces or two contrasting movements from the same solo work. Students are required to prepare the chamber music excerpts available below.

Orchestras & Baroque Ensembles

All new students are required to audition.

Returning students who wish to remain in the same ensemble do not need to audition. However, we recommend that all returning students audition every spring. Please note: returning orchestra students can choose to NOT audition in the spring if they would like to return to the same ensemble in the fall. Please contact prep@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

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 a fast, technical piece
• One piece should be slower, more lyric
• Avoid cadenzas or cadenza style selections of a piece—it is better to present the exposition of a movement

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 student knows well and that demonstrate their 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 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.

Percussion

If you have limited access to percussion equipment due to COVID-19, please be in touch with Christine Witmer, Associate Director, at Christine.Witmer@necmusic.edu

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

If you would like to be considered for one of the full orchestras (JRO, YRO, YS or YPO), you will need to prepare the Full Orchestra excerpts. The excerpts will be available on Friday, March 19th. 

String Players 

This year, string players will be auditioning for the entire NEC Prep Youth Orchestra Program (not for specific orchestras). Students who would like to be considered for our top orchestras (JRO, YRO, YS or YPO) will need to prepare the spring orchestra excerpts in addition to their solos. Beginner students who would like to be considered for our string orchestras (STO, PSO, SRO) are not required to play excerpts.   

If you are playing excerpts, all students should prepare excerpt 1. More advanced students should prepare all of the excerpts. We recommend students consult with their teachers to make the most appropriate decision about preparing either excerpt 1 only or All of the excerpts.  

Wind, Brass, Percussion and Harp 

All Wind, Brass, Percussion and Harp players are required to play excerpts as part of their spring ensemble auditions. We recommend students consult with their teachers to make the most appropriate decision about preparing either excerpt 1 only or all of the excerpts. 

Students may select to play only excerpt 1 if their teacher feels that the remaining excerpts are too difficult for their current students. Advanced students should plan to play all the excerpts for their instruments.