String Auditions
The Fall 2024 string audition schedule will be announced at the beginning of August. The auditions will take place during the first three days of the fall semester - August 19, 20 and 21.
Sign-up sheets for audition times will be posted on the orchestra bulletin board (check back later for details).
String auditions for Fall 2024 will take place at the following times and locations:
Monday, August 19:
CMC 124 (Orchestra room)
1:30pm - 3:20pm, Violas
Tuesday, August 20:
CMC 116 (Band room)
10:30am - 12:00pm, Cellos
12:00pm - 1:00pm, Basses
Wednesday, August 21:
CMC 124 (Orchestra room)
1:30pm - 3:20pm, Violins
Sign-up sheets will be posted on the orchestra bulletin board outside CMC 124.
Make sure to present yourself to the proctor at least 10 minutes before your audition. On Monday and Wednesday this person will be next to the orchestra bulletin board; on Tuesday, just outside the band room.
Audition Excerpts
See below for the excerpts and solo requirements for your instrument (a solo is not required for violists).
A word about preparing these excerpts: The metronome markings represent common performance practice, and are given to help you get to know the works they come from, but you should not feel compelled to adhere to them. You can certainly modify them within a range of 10-15 metronome marks in either direction. The important things to focus on are not exact metronome adherence but rather a vivid sense of the music and (this is part of that vivid sense) strong rhythm - no rushing or dragging, and a vital feeling of pulse.
If the excerpt is unfamiliar to you (and even if it isn’t) find a recording and a full score to supplement your orchestral part, so that you can study and understand what else is going on in the orchestra at the moment of the excerpt. Scores are available online on the IMSLP website, and YouTube will provide many recordings to choose from.
A useful way to practice would be to arrange a certain number of mock auditions for yourself after you’ve learned the excerpts. Ask friends or family to listen to you as judges, or record yourself playing. This sort of work will help you a great deal in getting ready for your audition.
Please remember that the auditions are our way of getting to know you. We understand the challenges they bring your way, but try to prepare and play them with joy and beauty. We’re looking forward very much to hearing you.
If you have any questions about the excerpts or how to prepare for your audition, please contact Dr. Shames at jshames@ou.edu.
1. Solo piece (preferably a movement of concerto or a virtuosic piece)
2. Brahms Symphony No. 4, 4th movement mm.33-80
- PDF link
- Excerpt is on page 13
- Metronome range: quarter note = 92-98
3. Mendelssohn Midsummer Night Dream, Scherzo - beginning until 7 after D only
- PDF link
- Excerpt is on pages 8-10
- Metronome range: dotted eighth note = 78-82
4. Prokofiev Classical Symphony, 1st movement beginning - Reh H
- PDF link
- Excerpt is on page 1
- Metronome range: half note = 96 appx.
5. Mozart Symphony No. 39, 2nd movement mm 1-35
- PDF link
- Excerpt is on page 5-6
- Metronome range: eighth-note = 82-88 appx.
Note about Divisi: Always play the upper divisi line, NEVER play double-stops or full chords. Exception: play the double stops in Tchaikovsky Mvt. I, mm.385-388. As for chords, in many cases the top 2 notes can be played for effective sound and style, however if there is any risk of compromising intonation by playing 2 notes, play only the top note.
Mozart Symphony No. 31 (Paris)
- PDF link
-
Mvt. I, mm.64-122 (proceed directly and continuously from m.104 to m.111, omitting mm.105-110)
- 69/half-note
-
Mvt. III, mm.95-154
- 116/half-note
Brahms Academic Festival Overture
- PDF link
-
Mm.270-325 (from 7 bars before K to downbeat of 4th bar after M)
- 132/quarter-note
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
- PDF link
-
Mvt. I, mm.336-388 (proceed directly and continuously from m.356 to m.362, omitting mm.357-361)
- 72/dotted quarter-note
-
Mvt. III, mm.119-144 (proceed directly and continuously from m.128 to m.133, omitting mm.129-132)
- 132-138/quarter-note
-
Mvt. IV, mm. 99-118
- 108/half-note
-
Mvt. IV, mm.148-218 - stop after downbeat of m.218 (proceed directly and continuously from m.171 to m.188, omitting mm.172-187)
- 108/half-note
Solo work of your choice (1 minute appx.)
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, movement 2, 13 before B to 1 before B; 3 before D to E
- PDF link
- Excerpt is on page 7
- Metronome range: 1st excerpt- dotted quarter= 56-66; 2nd excerpt- quarter note=86
Brahms Academic Festival Overture, mm. 86-105; mm. 129-140; mm. 277-292
- PDF link
- Excerpts are on pages 2 and 4
- Metronome range: for all excerpts- half note=76-80
Mozart Symphony No. 31, mvt 1: mm. 176-205; mvt. 3: mm. 135-154; 167-174
- PDF link
- Excerpts are on pages 3, 7 and 8
- Metronome range: 1st excerpt- quarter note=144; 2nd and 3rd excerpts: half-note= 112-120
Solo work (1 minute)
Brahms Academic Festival Overture, m. 88-106; Maestoso, m. 379-387
- PDF link
- Excerpts are on page 2 and 4
- Metronome range: 1st excerpt- half note=76-80; 2nd excerpt- quarter note= 74 appx.
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5, Mvt I: letter M-N, Mvt IV: last page, presto (after small letter b) to small letter ‘d’
- PDF link
- Excerpts are on page 3 and 14
- Metronome range: 1st excerpt- dotted eighth=90-98; 2nd excerpt- half-note= 160
