Seating Auditions

Seating Auditions happen once per concert cycle. 

Why do we hold seating auditions?
The short answer is that seating auditions assign a seat to each member of the string sections in the orchestras. Seating auditions offer an opportunity for musicians to monitor their individual progress and their musical development. This also gives the conductors the opportunity to monitor the progress of musicians throughout the season and to be better able to respond to difficulties as they arise. Winds, brass, and percussion - we hold seating auditions only when deemed necessary. Most wind, brass, and percussion sections are assigned to their seats based on their initial audition to the orchestra.

When do you hold seating auditions? Do I have to do this outside of rehearsal?
We hold seating auditions once per concert cycle (3 times per season). This allows musicians the opportunity to improve their seat throughout the season.

Will the conductor know whose recording they are listening to?
Seating auditions are considered "blind". Each recording/musician is assigned a random number and should will not be audible on the recording. The recordings are compiled and given to the conductor to review. Once a seating order has been determined by the conductor, the assigned numbers are then matched up with the names. We believe that blind auditions allow for the conductors to best focus on the quality of the audition without knowledge of who is performing that audition.

All Orchestras:
Excerpts will be given out (at rehearsal, via e-mail, and website) a week or two prior to seating auditions. These excerpts will include broad areas in the music that will be performed at the upcoming concert, often some of the most challenging sections. Members should begin preparing this music as soon as the excerpts are provided - and definitely should work with their private teachers on these as much as possible!

How do I submit my audition?
Musicians are responsible for recording their own audition. This is most easily done with the recording app on your phone. It may also be done with a computer, a uni-directional microphone, or basic recording software. 

A recording should NOT be stopped once begun. Please play straight through each excerpt once. Please remember:

~ No speaking on the recording 
~ No video
~ Play through each excerpt one time. Final excerpts (see above) will be given in advance 
~ No individual tracks - please record to a single track

Deadline for submitting an audition: 11:59 pm on the due date unless otherwise stated.