Auditions

HPYS welcomes all traditional orchestral instruments including:

  • Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon.
  • Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass.
  • Brass (senior only): French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, and Tuba.
  • Percussion (senior only): Timpani, mallet percussion, and other instruments.

As piano, saxophone and classical guitar are occasionally part of our ensembles, students of these instruments are also encouraged to contact the Symphony.

Download a copy of our application (pdf). Print it out, complete it and bring it with you to your scheduled audition.

Audition Requirements

1. A prepared piece of the student’s choice

All students should prepare a short work or excerpt of a work (1-2 minutes) that they feel demonstrates their ability on their instruments. This selection can be a concerto or solo work, an etude, or an excerpt from ensemble music (chamber music, orchestral music, etc). For any student that does not have music available, listed below are short excerpts for the most commonly auditioned instruments. The excerpts below are NOT REQUIRED, but may be used if appropriate solo material is unavailable.

The purpose of the solo work is for the student to showcase what they feel are their strengths on their instrument. What they play is not nearly as important as how they play it.

2. Scales

Students should prepare the following scales:

Junior strings:
D Major, G Major

Intermediate strings:
D Major, G Major, C Major, F Major

Intermediate winds: (all scales are concert pitch)
B-flat Major, E-flat Major, C Major, D Major

Senior strings:
D Major, G Major, C Major, F Major, B-flat Major

Senior winds: (all scales are concert pitch)
B-flat Major, E-flat Major, C Major, D Major, F Major, G Major

3. Sightreading

Students will be asked to sightread a short excerpt that will be provided at the audition. This excerpt will be dependent on the student’s ability and the ensemble for which they are auditioning.

Audition Music

The excerpts below are NOT REQUIRED, but may be used if appropriate solo material is unavailable. Please disregard the 2006 date on the sheets—they are still suitable for the current auditions.