About Auditions
To increase accessibility for players who are new to the orchestra, we have changed our admissions procedure into the Concert Orchestra. For the Concert Orchestra, youth players can gain admission EITHER through a teacher recommendation OR by audition. For the Philharmonic Orchestra, an audition for any player (new or existing) is required.
Our auditions for the HPYO are held annually in early June for entrance into the upcoming season. Players may choose to audition in-person or through video submission. Our coaching faculty and artistic administrative team determine the recommended placement for players in one of the two HPYO ensembles.
Live auditions for the 2024-2025 Season are now closed, video submissions will be accepted until Monday, September 2 or until the positions have been filled.
Players can choose which orchestra they would like to audition for. Players who audition for the Concert Orchestra will only be considered for that ensemble. Players who audition for the Philharmonic Orchestra may be offered a seat in the Concert Orchestra if the panel feels they will meet with more success in that ensemble.
Late applications will be accepted for any remaining seats in the ensembles until the 3rd rehearsal of each term. Those with successful late auditions will be placed in any remaining seats in the orchestra for the term in which they enter the orchestra. Late auditions are by video submission only.
HPYO Season Support provided by:
Concert Orchestra Application Requirements
Teacher Recommendation: Youth players can gain admission to the Concert Orchestra by submitting a teacher recommendation form. This recommendation can come from a classroom music teacher, an extracurricular ensemble instructor, a private music teacher, or any experienced musician in the player’s life who is familiar with their level of ability and understands how that relates to our repertoire.
OR
Audition Requirements: Youth players who would prefer to audition for the Concert Orchestra may do use using the following guidelines.
Scales:
All players will be asked to play 2 contrasting scales that best demonstrate their level of technical ability.
The following should be considered when choosing scales:
- The scales should be in different keys.
- Scales should be performed in as many octaves of the scale as the player is capable.
- Scales should be performed with contrasting articulations.
- Consider making one of the scales a minor key.
- When deciding on tempo, keep in mind that a slower, accurate and clean scale is always more impressive than a fast but sloppy scale.
Solo:
All players will be asked to play a solo or etude of 1-3 minutes in length that demonstrates their best playing.
The following should be considered when choosing a solo:
- Consider a piece that has already been performed and can be played with confidence.
(instead of something new and challenging that is currently being working on) - Understand that the panel will likely not hear all of the solo, so it may be beneficial to make cuts to the piece if there is a specific section that should be highlighted.
- Whenever possible, be sure that the piece is a solo or etude, and not an ensemble part.
Philharmonic Orchestra Application Requirements
All youth musicians who wish to play in the Philharmonic Orchestra are required to audition for a position in the ensemble. The audition consists of scales, a solo and orchestral excerpts.
Scales:
All players will be asked to play 3 contrasting scales that best demonstrate their level of technical ability.
The following should be considered when choosing scales:
- The scales should be in different keys.
- Scales should be performed in as many octaves of the scale as the player is capable.
- Scales should be performed with contrasting articulations.
- Consider making one of the scales a minor key.
- When deciding on tempo, keep in mind that a slower, accurate and clean scale is always more impressive than a fast but sloppy scale.
Solo:
All players will be asked to play a solo or etude of 2-5 minutes in length that demonstrates their best playing.
The following should be considered when choosing a solo:
- Consider a piece that has already been performed and can be played with confidence.
(instead of something new and challenging that is currently being working on) - Understand that the panel will likely not hear all of the solo, so it may be beneficial to make cuts to the piece if there is a specific section that should be highlighted.
- The piece should be a solo or etude, and not an ensemble part.
Orchestral Excerpts:
Click on the button below to find the excerpts required for your instrument. Orchestral Excerpts are an opportunity for players to demonstrate their knowledge of orchestra repertoire.
The following should be considered when preparing Orchestral Excerpts:
- Find one or more recordings of the piece and listen to them carefully.
- Using the recordings as a reference, determine the tempo for the excerpt.
- Using the recordings as a reference, work on performing the piece with a sense of style and articulations appropriate for the piece.
If you have further questions, please email HPYO General Manager Megan Benjafield at mbenjafield@hpo.org