2008 - 2009 Season Applications are Open

Audition appointments will be scheduled for throughout April  and early May 2008. Applicants will receive their appointment via the mail.

To Apply for 2008-2009: 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.

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.

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 3 to August 8, 2008, at the University of California, Santa Cruz)

Strings (Senior Symphony & Sinfonietta only)

• a prepared 3 octave major & related minor scale and arpeggio single & slurred (4,8,16,24 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 & minor scales (must be memorized)
• 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 & minor scale with arpeggios (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)

Tony Clements, 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 & minor scales, memorized
• 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

Areon Flutes, Conductors

Overture Flute Ensemble

• One prepared solo piece/etude that demonstrates level. All Major scales 2 octaves and chromatic scale from low C1 to C4. Sight-reading.
  

Intermezzo Flute Ensemble

• Any two contrasting pieces should feature sections from slow and fast movements or etudes in the level of:
  – Etudes by J. Anderson
  – Soir de Montagne by Eugene Bozza
  –Sonatas by JS Bach
  –Suite Antique by John Rutter
• All Major scales and arpeggios 2 octaves. C Major  3 octaves. Chromatic scale from C1 to C4. All scales and arpeggios should be memorized. 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)
  – Ibert Concerto
  – Sonata by Prokofiev (International Edition)
  
  All major scales 2 and 3 octaves (where applicable: C, C#, and D) with arpeggios.
  Chromatic scale from B1-D4. Sight-reading.

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Audition Application Form for 2008-2009

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

*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

Overture Flute Ensemble
Preparatory Flute Ensemble
El Camino Flute Ensemble

Audition Application Form