Musicians ages 6 to 20 are invited to make an audition appointment with ECYS. Individual audition appointments are made year-round, based upon openings in the program. The majority of auditions are held annually, in the spring.  

2012 - 2013 Season Applications
(and 2012 Summer Workshop Auditions for non-members)

Note: Please contact the office at 650-213-7111 if you wish to be considered for the current season, 2011-12.

Fill-in and send the form below. Applicants will receive their appointment notification via the mail beginning in late February. 

Fill out and submit the form at the end of this page. Read carefully the requirements that are posted for each orchestra and ensemble, and prepare the audition accordingly.

There is a $25.00 audition fee
Please bring a check to the audition, payable to “ECYS”.

Candidates must be 6 to 20 years old, study with a private teacher, and have had at least one year of lessons to be considered for placement. Ten ECYS ensembles from beginning through advanced levels rehearse weekly and perform several times during the school year.

Audition requirements are listed separately for each ensemble on this page, and the conductors hearing each student at each level will be listening for:

• overall music impression
• clarity of intonation
• preciseness of rhythm
• scale & arpeggio preparation (arpeggios are strings only):
  – intonation
  – execution of slow to fast
  – tempos
  – preciseness of upper
  – position shifts (strings)
• tone
• demonstration of various bowings and wind articulations such as:
  – legato
  – detache
  – staccato
  – spiccato
  – marcato
• sight reading

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Requirements for each level

Senior Symphony, Sinfonietta, Galbraith Honor Strings

Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky, Music Director & Conductor
(*Note: Musicians accepted to the Symphony Orchestra must attend the mandatory Annual Retreat from August 5 to August 10, 2012, at the University of California, Santa Cruz AND the International Tour 2013 in June and early July of 2013.)

Strings (Senior Symphony & Sinfonietta only)

• a prepared 3 octave major & related minor scale single & slurred (3 or 4 up to 24) notes per bow violin/viola; 16 and if possible 32 for cello), and related arpeggio (3 to 9) notes per bow, slow to fast tempos
• solo & etude showing position work with fast & slow sections, detache & spiccato bowings
• sight-reading

Woodwinds & Brass (Senior Symphony & Sinfonietta only)

• chromatic scale for the complete range of your instrument
• all major scales (must be memorized), minor scales are bonus points!
• solo & etude - preferably with contrasting styles & tempos
• sight-reading
  (*Note: It is strongly encouraged that flutists apply for both orchestra and flute ensemble, as flute positions in orchestra are limited).

Senior Percussion/Percussion Ensemble (Percussion Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra)

May audition on one or more of the following:

• tympani or snare drum
• mallet skills (bells & xylophone)
• prepared solo or etude on any of the above instruments
• includes sight-reading, on any of the above instruments

Galbraith Honor Strings

• 3-4 or more years of lessons
• previous ensemble experience
• solo or etude of contrasting styles and tempos
• prepared major scale with related arpeggio (3 octaves)
• sight-reading

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Preparatory Orchestras

Chamber Players Orchestra (entry level)
Camerata Orchestra (intermediate)

Michail Gelfandbein, Conductor

El Camino Wind Orchestra (advanced)

Christopher Florio, Conductor

(*Note: It is strongly encouraged that flutists apply for both orchestra and flute ensemble, as flute positions in orchestra are limited).

Chamber Players Orchestra (entry level)

Students perform full orchestra and string or woodwind/brass ensemble:

• minimum of 1 year of lessons
• solo or etude
• one octave major scale with arpeggio (arpeggios are strings only)
• sight-reading

Camerata Orchestra (Intermediate)

Students perform full orchestra and string or woodwind/brass ensemble:

• 2-3 or more years of lessons
• previous ensemble experience
• solo or etude
• prepared major and minor scale with arpeggios (strings-at least two octaves with arpeggio)(winds-through four sharps and four flats, memorized, no arpeggios required for winds)
• sight-reading

El Camino Wind Orchestra (advanced)

For all woodwinds, brass and percussion

• 3-4 or more years of lessons
• previous ensemble experience
• solo or etude of contrasting styles and tempos
• all major scales, memorized (minor scales are bonus points, but not required)
• sight-reading

Percussion for Preparatory Orchestras

May audition on one or more of the following:

• tympani or snare drum
• mallet skills (bells & xylophone)
• prepared solo or etude on any of the above instruments
• includes sight-reading, on any of the above instruments

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Flute Ensembles

Melody Holmes, Conductor

Intermezzo Flute Ensemble

• Any two contrasting pieces should feature sections from slow and fast movements or etudes in the level of:
  – Melodious and Progressive Studies for Flute
  –Handel or Telemann Sonatas
• All Major scales 2 octaves. Full chromatic scales. Scale memorization is recommended.
  Sight-reading.
  

El Camino Flute Ensemble

• Any two contrasting pieces should feature selections from slow and fast movements or etudes in the level of:
  – Music by French Composers (Schirmer)
  – Mozart Concerti
  – Sonata La Flute de Pan by Mouquet (International)
  – Soir de Montagne by Eugene Bozza
  –Sonatas by JS Bach
  –Suite Modale by Bloch
  
  All major scales 2 and 3 octaves with arpeggios. Chromatic scale from C1 - C4. Optional B1 - D4. Scale memorization is recommended.
  Chromatic scale from B1-D4. Sight-reading.

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Audition Application Form for 2012-2013

If the form does not submit, please send the application information to ecys@ecys.org

*All fields are required unless noted.

Requirements

Senior Symphony, Sinfonietta, Galbraith Honor Strings

Advanced Strings
Woodwinds & Brass
Senior Percussion/Percussion Ensemble
Galbraith Honor Strings

Preparatory Orchestras/Ensembles

Chamber Players Orchestra Camerata Orchestra
El Camino Wind Orchestra
Entry Level
Intermediate Level
Percussion for Preparatory Orchestras

Flute Ensembles

Intermezzo Flute Ensemble
El Camino Flute Ensemble

Audition Application Form

The El Camino Youth Symphony Association shall provide equal opportunities in all areas and assure that there will be no discrimination against any person on the grounds of race, religion, age, sex, national origin, color, disability, political belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or veteran’s status.