Audition Requirements + Music

2026 Spring Wind Ensemble & Concert Band

Auditions have concluded, but students are still welcome to audition for available openings in both ensembles!

Please email mysp@myspmusic.org to inquire about joining MYSP mid-semester.


Other MYSP Ensembles

In-person auditions for the 2025–2026 MYSP season have concluded. However, we welcome interested students to audition throughout the year for any available openings in our ensembles!

Please email mysp@myspmusic.org for more information!

All MYSP students are placed in ensembles through an audition. Our goal is to match each musician with the ensemble whose repertoire best fits their current playing level, ensuring they can both thrive within the group and continue to grow as musicians. Ensembles are not divided by age, but rather by musical development and readiness.

Openings for the 25-26 MYSP season in the following sections/ensembles:

Prelude Strings: violin, viola, cello, and bass
Intermezzo Orchestra: violin, viola, cello, and bass
String Orchestra: violin, viola, cello, and bass
Concert Band: All instruments
Repertory Orchestra: viola, cello, bass, bassoon, horn, trumpet
Youth Symphony: viola, cello, bass, bassoon, horn

Not sure which ensemble to audition for? See audition requirements below and check out our Large Ensembles page for more information or contact us at mysp@myspmusic.org.

Audition requirements for the 2026-2027 season will be posted in early February.

Youth Symphony & Repertory Orchestra

Full Orchestras - Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion

All instruments are required to prepare the following:

  • Prepare all 12 Major Scales and one melodic minor scale of your choice
    (as many octaves as you can comfortably play)

  • Solo of your choice (2 minutes)

  • 2026 audition excerpts for your instrument (will announced in February)

  • Sight-reading

String Orchestra

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass
2026 audition excerpts will be announced in February.

Audition Requirements for Violin, Viola, and Cello (see below for Bass):

  1. Scales: Two 3-octave scales of your choice. (If you are already part of the ensemble, please play different scales than you did last year.) Perform your scales with two quarter notes slurred to a bow, tempo = 60 to a quarter note (approximately), with your largest sound, best vibrato, and demonstrating use of the entire bow. 

  2. Solo: prepare and perform a 1-minute excerpt from a solo of your choice. Please pick something that highlights your strengths. 

  3. Excerpts: must be performed at the audition with a metronome at the tempo of your choice. Please consult your teacher regarding what bowings and fingerings would help you sound your best.

  4. Sight-reading: up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, and may include off-beats, syncopations, and compound meters. The goal is not to play it perfectly, but just to demonstrate understanding of what is on the page.

Audition Requirements for Double Bass: 

  1. Scales: A Major and Ab Major scales in 2 octaves, to be played in your tempo and bowing style of choice. Demonstrate your biggest and best sound. 

  2. Solo: prepare and perform a 1-minute solo excerpt, etude, or orchestral excerpt of your choice. Please pick something that highlights your strengths. 

  3. Excerpts: must be performed with a metronome at the tempo of your choice. Please consult your teacher regarding what bowings and fingerings would help you sound your best.

  4. Sight-reading: up to 4 sharps and 4 flats, and may include off-beats, syncopations, and compound meters. The goal is not to play it perfectly, but just to demonstrate understanding of what is on the page. 

Intermezzo Orchestra

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

All instruments are required to prepare the following:

C, G, D, F, and B-flat Major Scales

2026 audition excerpts: will be announced in February

Sight reading (will be disclosed at the time of the audition)

Prelude Strings

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

All instruments are required to prepare the following:

G and D Major Scales

2026 audition excerpts: will be announced in February

Sight reading (will be disclosed at the time of the audition)

Concert Band

Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion

All instruments are required to prepare the following:

  • F, Bb, and Eb Major Scales

  • 2-minute excerpt from a solo or etude of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability.

  • Sight reading (will be disclosed at the time of the audition)