Philharmonia Audition Information

What should I prepare for my ensemble audition?

Information on Performance Grants (separate scholarship auditions)

First of all, please don’t be anxious about the audition! It is held in a relatively relaxed environment and is hosted by friendly faculty members who are “on your side,” so to speak, wanting you to do your best. Try to view the audition as an opportunity for us to get to know each other—rather than as a barrier of any sort.

Instrumental ensemble auditions are held at the beginning of each fall semester, and seating assignments are made based on these auditions. This seating audition is required of string music majors but is optional for non-music-major string players. Auditions are required of all wind and percussion players.

In the fall of 2008, the ensemble auditions will be heard by the following panels:

AUDITION PROCEDURES

When you arrive on campus in the fall, an Instrumental Ensemble Audition Schedule will be posted in the Atrium of the Center for the Fine Arts. This year, students will not only sign up for a time slot but will also complete audition forms in advance, preparing three copies to bring to the audition. Generally, auditions will be held from the day classes begin (this year, that date is Monday, September 1), and ten-minute time slots are available through Tuesday or Wednesday. Results are typically announced within a day or two of the final audition. Instrumental ensembles typically do meet on the first scheduled class day; for the Philharmonia, Day One will include an information-sharing session and an abbreviated rehearsal.

AVAILABILITY AND PLACEMENT

Music majors who play orchestral wind and percussion instruments are assumed to be available for both the Philharmonia and Symphonic Winds ensembles and will be placed in one or both ensembles, based on audition results and repertoire requirements for the season. Before assigning students to two major ensembles, the directors make every effort to consider students’ course loads and will confer with students, as appropriate.

Except in the case of students registered for off-campus programs in the spring semester (please disclose this on your audition form), students are assumed to be participating for the entire academic year. Students, please communicate with the appropriate director(s) in advance about any possible exceptions.

As a general rule, all string players are accepted into the Philharmonia. Players may be seated on a rotating basis. Non-student community members who play string instruments are not asked to audition and are typically not seated on the front row. Wind and percussion players are selected in conference with the Director of Symphonic Winds. Harpists and pianists are accepted in conference with studio teachers.

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING STUDENT TEACHING

Each fall at Houghton, several instrumentalists are involved in their semester-long student teaching activities and are generally unavailable for ensemble participation during this period. When the student teachers return in the spring, they may replace fall-semester players. Student teachers should take an audition in the fall semester, with a view toward the spring.

AUDITION MATERIAL

For your audition, please prepare two brief excerpts of your choice:

    *Something slow and expressive in a sensitive, lyrical vein (approx. 3-4 min.)
    *Something a bit faster and more technically challenging (approx. 2-3 min.)

In addition, one major and one minor scale will be required of string music majors this year. (Scales are optional for non-majors.) Please prepare scales up to four sharps and four flats, including all forms of minor, for this purpose.

It is acceptable to play excerpts from solo literature, etudes in collections, or even from ensemble literature, where appropriate. Choose passages that help you feel comfortable as you play. The order in which you play the excerpts is up to you.

SCHOLARSHIPS—AUDITION INFORMATION FOR PERFORMANCE GRANTS