All students in the university are invited to audition for the OU Symphony. All musicians audition at the beginning of the fall semester, and wind and percussion players audition again before the start of the spring semester.
The OU Civic Orchestra is a non-audition ensemble which rehearses once a week and performs one concert each semester. For more information, see the Civic Orchestra Webpage.
Winds and Percussion take one audition each semester that determines placement in all Concert Bands and Symphony Orchestra. Winds and Percussion should visit the OU Bands Audition Page to register and download audition materials. Audition materials and registration for winds and percussion will be available in mid July.
String auditions are held once per academic year, during the first three days of the fall semester. Sign-up sheets will be posted outside the orchestra room during the week before the semester begins. Audition materials for strings will be available mid July. String players entering the university in a Spring semester may contact Dr. Jonathan Shames at jshames@ou.edu to arrange an audition.
String auditions for Fall 2025 / Spring 2026 will take place at the following times and locations:
Monday, August 25:
CMC 124 (Orchestra room)
Violas
1:30-3:20 pm
Tuesday, August 26:
Sharp Hall stage
Cellos
9:30-11:30 am
Basses
12 noon-1 pm
Wednesday, August 27:
CMC 124 (Orchestra room)
Violins
1:30-3:20 pm
Sign-up sheets will be posted on the orchestra bulletin board outside CMC 124.
Make sure to present yourself to the proctor at least 10 minutes before your audition. On Monday and Wednesday, this person will be next to the orchestra bulletin board outside CMC 124; on Tuesday, outside the stage right door in the backstage area of Sharp Hall.
See below for the excerpts and solo requirements for your instrument.
A word about preparing these excerpts: The metronome markings represent common performance practice, and are given to help you get to know the works they come from, but you should not feel compelled to adhere to them. You can certainly modify them within a range of 10-15 metronome marks in either direction. The important things to focus on are not exact metronome adherence but rather a vivid sense of the music and (this is part of that vivid sense) strong rhythm - no rushing or dragging, and a vital feeling of pulse.
If the excerpt is unfamiliar to you (and even if it isn’t) find a recording and a full score to supplement your orchestral part, so that you can study and understand what else is going on in the orchestra at the moment of the excerpt. Scores are available online on the IMSLP website, and YouTube will provide many recordings to choose from.
A useful way to practice would be to arrange a certain number of mock auditions for yourself after you’ve learned the excerpts. Ask friends or family to listen to you as judges, or record yourself playing. This sort of work will help you a great deal in getting ready for your audition.
Please remember that the auditions are our way of getting to know you. We understand the challenges they bring your way, but try to prepare and play them with joy and beauty. We’re looking forward very much to hearing you.
If you have any questions about the excerpts or how to prepare for your audition, please contact Dr. Shames at jshames@ou.edu.
1. Solo work (it is likely that the judges will stop you after 2-3 minutes)
2. Mozart Symphony No. 39, 4th movement: beginning to m. 79 (Rehearsal B)
3. Elgar Enigma Variations: Variation 2 from Rehearsal 5 to end of variation
4. Strauss Don Juan: Beginning to 13 bars after Rehearsal C (this encompasses the first page of the part)
A note from Dr. Neumann: At a later point I will convey directly to the violists a few helpful or needed bowings, fingerings and style tips.
No solo work required
1. ELGAR - ENIGMA VARIATIONS
2. BEETHOVEN - EGMONT OVERTURE
3. DVORAK - THE NOONDAY WITCH
4. GRIEG - "MORNING" from PEER GYNT SUITE
1. Solo work (it is likely that the judges will stop you after 2-3 minutes)
2. Elgar, Enigma Variations
3. Beethoven, Symphony No. 8
1. Solo work (it is likely that the judges will stop you after 2-3 minutes)
2. Beethoven Egmont Overture
3. Elgar Enigma Variations
4. Beethoven Symphony No. 8
