For All Auditions, Regardless of Ensemble
Each String Audition Should Include:
- Strings Audition Registration Form (Students fill out this form for sponsoring teachers to enter information into Opus)
- A video recording of each component below. All three components must be a separate file, and each file must be recorded in one continuous take. The audition components are:
- Scales
- Orchestral Excerpt
- Solo
- Solo piece selected by sponsoring teacher and student
- The solo portion of the audition is the best way for our judges to really hear you. Through a solo selected to highlight strengths in your technique and artistry, you show what you can contribute to the ensemble and demonstrate your readiness for selection to All-State. Your solo, played unaccompanied, must be a minimum of 2 minutes long, with a maximum length of 5 minutes (we recommend a video length of around 3 minutes for the best uploading experience). If your piece is longer than 5 minutes, select a 2-5 minute excerpt from it that best captures your technique and artistry. The file you submit cannot be trimmed or spliced in the middle (that is, the excerpt must be contiguous).
- Solos are evaluated for consistency and accuracy across the following categories: rhythm and tempo, intonation and pitch accuracy, tone, articulation (bowing), left hand technique (facility, fingerings), and artistry (dynamics, interpretation, musicianship). Any repertoire that successfully demonstrates a student’s skill in these areas is acceptable. The technical and musical concepts required of typical All-State Orchestra repertoire include: agility in complex passagework, fluency through 7th position (violin and cello) or 5th position (viola and bass), proficiency with a variety of articulations, the production of both characteristic and varied tone color, and engagement with musical phrasing.
- It is important to note that your audition solo need not be limited to repertoire in the classical tradition. Students and their teachers are encouraged to select and prepare a solo that considers the student’s strengths, interests, goals, and access to materials and instruction.
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