Skip Navigation

Strings

Skip Side Navigation

String Auditions

The Fall 2023 string audition schedule is as follows:

Monday, August 21:
1:30 - 3:20 pm, Violas

Tuesday, August 22:
10:30 - 11:30 am, Cellos
11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Basses

Wednesday, August 23:
1:30 - 3:20 pm, Violins

All auditions take place in the orchestra rehearsal room, CMC 124. Make sure to present yourself to the proctor, who will be at the door closest to the lockers and orchestra bulletin board, at least 10 minutes before your audition.

Sign-up sheets for audition times will be posted on the orchestra bulletin board outside of CMC 124 on Tuesday, August 15. Sign up using your name and cell number. 

Spacer

Audition Excerpts

See below for the excerpts and solo requirements for your instrument (a solo is not required for violists).

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.

Spacer

1. Solo work of your choice (1-2 minutes)

2. Brahms Symphony No.4 1st movement m.392-end

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt is found on pages 6-7
  • Metronome range: 76-80 to the half-note

3. Tchaikovsky Nutcracker- Overture, rehearsal 8 to end of overture

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt is found on pages 6-7
  • Metronome mark: quarter-note= 116-120
  • Note: play upper part

4. Beethoven Symphony No.9 3rd movement mm.99-114

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt is on page 16
  • Metronome range: eighth-note=122-128

5. Bartok Concerto for Orchestra 5th movement (second violin) mm.265-325

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt is found on pages 14-15
  • Metronome mark: appx. 96 to the quarter-note

Spacer

1. Bach - Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, Viola I part, last movement, mm. 20-48

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt can be found on pages 4-5
  • Metronome range: 76-82 to the dotted-quarter

2. Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite, Mvt. I, "Morning", A to 4th bar of D

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt can be found on pages 1-2
  • Metronome mark: appx. dotted quarter=52

3. Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4, Mvt. II, 3rd bar of B through C

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt can be found on page 8
  • Metronome mark: quarter-note=appx. 72

4. Rachmaninoff - Symphony No. 2, Mvt. II, two excerpts: 33-34 and 4 before 35-36

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt can be found on pages 12-13
  • Metronome mark: half-note=104

Spacer

1. Short Solo of Choice

2. Strauss Death and Transfiguration- two excerpts: 1) Rehearsal H – 5 After Rehearsal K (downbeat); 2) Rehearsal Q – 7 After Rehearsal R (downbeat)

  • PDF link
  • Metronome mark for both excerpts: quarter-note=144-152

3. Mozart Symphony No. 25, Movement 4: mm. 1-16

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt can be found on page 6
  • Metronome mark: half-note=112

4. Dvorak Slavonic Dance No. 1, Top of Page 3: J-K

  • PDF link
  • Excerpt can be found on page 3
  • Metronome mark: dotted-quarter=82

Spacer

1. Solo of choice (1 minute)

2. Tchaikovsky Nutcracker – Trepak, B-C (top of page 34, m. 6 to rehearsal 35)

  • PDF link
  • Metronome mark: quarter-note=148

3. Strauss – Death and Transfiguration, 10 before E to E

  • PDF link
  • Metronome mark: quarter-note=132

4. Haydn – Symphony No. 82, 1st mvmt. mm. 203-238

  • PDF link
  • Metronome mark: quarter-note=144