Audition Registration
Youth Orchestras of Charlotte’s next season will be August 2025 through May 2026, and we are excited to welcome new and returning musicians!
Acceptance and placement is a competitive, merit-based process in which all musicians must meet the specified requirements for consideration. Requirements for all four programs are outlined below.
To apply for next season’s auditions, an audition registration form must be submitted by February 23rd, 2025, along with the non-refundable $35 audition fee.
Audition Dates
Auditions will be held in-person at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC. The scheduled dates for each instrument at as follows:
- Sunday, March 2: Violins (Preparatory Orchestra & Sinfonia Strings)
- Sunday, March 9: Brass/Percussion/Harps (Youth Orchestra & Preparatory Orchestra)
- Sunday, March 16: Violins (Youth Orchestra)
- Thursday, March 27: Cellos (All Programs)
- Friday, March 28: Cellos (All Programs)
- Sunday, March 30: All Woodwinds (Youth Orchestra & Preparatory Orchestra)
- Sunday, April 6: Violas/Basses (All Programs)
Note: Mid-year auditions are held for each ensemble, so if you are interested in joining the YOC in a time other than Fall 2025, please send a request for an audition to info@youthorchestrasofcharlotte.org
About YOC
The Youth Orchestras of Charlotte is dedicated to nurturing the musical talents of youth in the greater Charlotte area. We strive to instill lifelong values of teamwork, responsibility, commitment, community, problem-solving, creativity, and cultural appreciation in our students from all social and economic backgrounds. As a beacon of artistic excellence, we develop and inspire the next generation of leaders through the study and performance of chamber and symphonic music.
Benefits of Membership:
- Being part of a community of musicians that shares a passion for music making and challenging repertoire
- Masterclasses with nationally recognized guest artists, such as David Kim (Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra), Amadi Azikiwi and university professors
- Perform with guest soloists
- Guest performances by nationally recognized ensembles, such as Heifetz on Tour
- Our ensembles are led and coached by a team of musicians of the Charlotte Symphony and area music educators.
- Audition experiences
- Chamber music and community performance opportunities
- Travel opportunities in select years
- Opportunities to be a featured student soloist
- Advancement and leadership opportunities within the ensembles
- Retreats and social events throughout the season
Questions? Email info@youthorchestrasofcharlotte.org
Audition Requirements
Youth Orchestra
Our most advanced ensemble, the Youth Orchestra is a full symphony orchestra made up of experienced young musicians, performing masterpieces from the orchestral repertoire in a professional symphony setting.
Tuition fee: TBD – last season was $795 (financial aid is available to those eligible)
Rehearsals: Mondays, 5:45-8:15pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (August-May)
In addition to the requirements listed, all musicians will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Violin
Solo: Prepare a solo of your choice that best demonstrates your ability; level of at least a Beethoven Romance or Mozart Concerto.
Excerpt: Violin Audition Excerpt #1, Violin Audition Excerpt #2
Viola
Solo: Hoffmeister Concerto in D, or two contrasting movements from Bach’s Cello Suites, or a piece that demonstrates your best ability.
Excerpt: Viola Audition Excerpt
Cello
Solo: Prepare a solo of your choice that best demonstrates your ability; should include elements of thumb position.
Excerpt: Cello Audition Excerpt #1, Cello Audition Excerpt #2
Bass
Solo: Prepare a solo of your choice that best demonstrates your ability; should be of a technical level similar to that required for Western Regional auditions such as J.S. Bach – Gavotte or Franz Simandl – Etude #17
In addition to the requirements listed, all woodwind applicants will have the below requirements:
- Chromatic scale as specified
- Required solo – no substitutions accepted
- Required audition excerpts (play parts within the brackets)
FLUTES AND PICCOLO
– Three octave chromatic scale from low C
– Required solo: Joh. Joaquim Quantz Concerto in G Major for flute and piano mvmt. I: mm. 24-54 (letter A-B); mvmt. II: mm. 8-31.
– Flutes Audition Excerpt
OBOES AND ENGLISH HORN
– Chromatic scale from low C to high E-flat (three ledger lines above staff).
– Required solo: Benedetto Marcello Concerto in C Minor for Oboe and Piano mvmt. I: mm. 4-32 inclusive; mvmt. II: mm. 4-18
– Oboes Audition Excerpts
– English Horn Audition Excerpt
CLARINETS AND BASS CLARINET
– Chromatic scale from low E to high G (four ledger lines above staff)
– Required solos: Rose 32 Ėtudes for Clarinet No. 5: beginning-dnbt m. 28; No. 9: beginning-m. 30 inclusive
– Clarinet Audition Excerpt #1, Clarinet Audition Excerpt #2
– Bass Clarinet Audition Excerpt
BASSOONS
– Three octave chromatic scale from low B-flat
– Required solo: Antonio Vivaldi’s Concerto in A minor, F. VIII, no. 7, Pincherle 72 mvmt. II: mm. 195-211; mvmt. III: mm. 262-280 and 292-319.
– Bassoons Audition Excerpts
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Prepare the below excerpts for your instrument.
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Harp
Solo: A solo of candidate’s choice demonstrating their ability on the harp.
Excerpt: Harp Audition Excerpt – Waltz of the Flowers cadenza
Percussion
All percussionists need to prepare:
- Solo: 1 Snare AND 1 Timpani solo of your choice. You must bring copies of your solos for the judges.
- Scales: Ab and G major scales (2 octaves), C and G natural minor scales (2 octaves)
- In addition: a 30 second roll going from ppp – fff – ppp on snare drum and timpani, tuning exercise on timpani (be prepared to tune pitches by ear – may use a tuning fork or pitch pipe)
Preparatory Orchestra
The Preparatory Orchestra is our training ensemble for the Youth Orchestra, a full symphony orchestra that performs both actual symphonic literature and arrangements of the repertoire geared to advanced younger players.
Tuition fee: TBD – last season was $725 (financial aid is available to those eligible)
Rehearsals: Saturdays, 2:00-4:00pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (September-May)
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Violin
Solo: A solo of the applicant’s choice demonstrating their ability on the instrument; difficulty level of at least Vivaldi a minor Concerto, 1st movement, or higher.
Scales: D Major, a minor. (2 octaves required. 3 preferred)
Excerpt: Violin Audition Excerpt
Viola
Solo: A piece of your choice that best represents your ability; difficulty level of at least Suzuki books 3 or higher.
Scales: C,D, and E flat major; C and D minor
Excerpt: Viola Audition Excerpt
Cello
Solo: A solo of the applicant’s choice demonstrating their ability on the instrument; similar in difficulty to Marcello Sonata in e minor, or at least Suzuki book 3 or higher.
Scales: D major (2 octaves required, 3 preferred); G melodic minor scale (2 octaves)
Excerpt: Cello Audition Excerpt
Bass
Solo: A movement or section from a Vivaldi or Marcelo Sonata or a piece similar in difficulty to at least Suzuki book 2 or higher.
Scales: E and G major 2 octaves
Excerpt: Bass Audition Excerpt
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Scales: D major and Chromatic
Solo: Prepare a solo of your choice that best demonstrates your ability
Excerpt: Prepare the excerpt below for your instrument
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Scales: see scale sheet links
French Horn – D (1 octave) F (2 octave), chromatic
Trumpet – G (2 octave), F (1 octave), chromatic
Trombone – G (1 octave), F (2 octave), chromatic
Tuba – G (1 octave), F (2 octave), chromatic
Solo: Prepare a short solo of your choice that best demonstrates your ability.
Excerpts: Prepare the excerpt below for your instrument.
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Harp
Solo: Prepare a solo of your choice that demonstrates your ability.
Excerpt: Intermezzo from Bizet Carmen Suite No. 1 (beginning to downbeat of A)
Percussion
All percussionists need to prepare:
- Solo: Snare solo of your choice. You must bring a copy of your solo for the judges.
- Scales: A & Eb major (1 octave)
- Play a 30 second roll going from ppp – fff – ppp on snare drum and timpani, tuning exercise on timpani (be prepared to tune pitches by ear – may use a tuning fork or pitch pipe)
-
Play the following fundamentals 6-8 times each at a moderate tempo—8th or 16th note paradiddles—6-8 closed 9 stroke and 5 stroke rolls—6-8 quarter note flams
Sinfonia Strings
Sinfonia Strings is our string ensemble that prepares young musicians in the art of orchestral performance.
Tuition fee: TBD – last season was $695 (financial aid is available to those eligible)
Rehearsals: Saturdays, 11:45-1:45pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (September-May)
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Scales: A and D Major 2 Octaves (slur 4, no arpeggios)
Solo: A solo of candidate’s choice demonstrating their ability on the instrument; difficulty level of at least books 2-3 of Suzuki books, showing shifting into positions
Excerpt: Violin Sinfonia Excerpt
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Scales: D and G major 2 Octave (slur 4, no arpeggios)
Solo: solo of choice that demonstrates your ability on the instrument but a level of at least Suzuki 2-3.
Excerpt: Viola Sinfonia Excerpt
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Scales: D and G Major 2 Octaves (slur 4, no arpeggios)
Solo: solo of choice that demonstrates your ability on the instrument but a level of at least Suzuki 2-3.
Excerpt: Cello Sinfonia Excerpt
In addition to the requirements listed, all applicants will be asked to do sightreading as part of their audition.
Scales: D Major 1 octaves, G Major 1 Octave (slur 4, no arpeggios)
Solo: solo of choice that demonstrates your ability on the instrument but a level of at least Suzuki 2-3.
Excerpt: Bass Sinfonia Excerpt
Flute Choir
Our Flute Choir is an ensemble of experienced young musicians that performs flute choir repertoire and explores a wide variety of musical genres.
Tuition fee: TBD – last season was $695 (financial aid is available to those eligible)
Rehearsals: Mondays, 4:15-5:45pm at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church (September – May)
Musicians interested in joining the Flute Choir will audition using the Youth Orchestra flute/piccolo requirements.
Note About Auditions
Auditions are not meant to stress you out! They are a necessary part of learning to become an accomplished musician. The judges want you to demonstrate what you can do. Prepare all of the requirements listed for your instrument/ensemble. The judges are listening for rhythmic accuracy, appropriate tempos, intonation, pitch accuracy, tone, musicality, and technical fluency.
Results will be posted online and notified via email within 3 weeks of the audition date.
