Preparatory String Orchestra

Marta Zurad, Conductor

Preparatory String Orchestra (PSO) is open to early intermediate string players. Students placed in PSO are comfortable shifting and playing fast passagework and able to play with a solid, confident tone that is generally well in tune. While orchestral assignments are made by level, not age, most members of PSO are in grades 6-8. 

Rehearsals: Saturdays, 8:30-10:00 AM in Brown Hall & 10:30 AM-12:00 PM in Burnes Hall

2017-2018 Concert Schedule

  • Winter Festival: Saturday, December 16, 2017 at 3:00 PM (PSO 8:30) & 1:30 PM (PSO 10:30) in Jordan Hall
  • Spring Festival: Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 1:00 PM in Jordan Hall

Audition Information

The NEC Prep Orchestra Program holds auditions each May for the following academic year. Orchestra auditions are not held for specific orchestras, rather students are placed into an orchestra based on their audition. We begin scheduling May auditions in March of each year.

To sign up for a May audition, click here.

For those admitted into the orchestra program, seating auditions are held in early September. Additional entrance auditions may be held in the Fall for select instruments, on a space availability basis only. For more information about Fall auditions or to sign up for an audition, please call (617) 585-1160 or e-mail prep@necmusic.edu.

Spring 2017 Audition Information

For Current Students

Seating Auditions Requirements

All PSO students will take a seating audition on Friday, September 8, or Saturday, September 9, 2017. Accepted students can schedule their seating audition here.

Specific fall seating audition requirements: 

  • Prepare a 3-octave scale and two contrasting solo pieces or two contrasting sections from the same work. One piece should be fast and technical; the other, slow and lyrical. You may only be asked to play one solo during the seating audition. You may play the same piece/pieces that you performed during the May placement audition. 
  • Students will also be asked to sight-read.

Absence Requests

For information on how to report an absence, please click here.

2017-2018 Rehearsal Calendar

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Still Have Questions?

Contact the Prep Office at prep@necmusic.edu or (617) 585-1160.

During the academic year, PSO members can also contact the PSO Student Manager or call (617) 585-1160.