Auditions are requested of all students interested in performing in Houghton’s large instrumental ensembles. Both the Symphonic Winds and Philharmonia generally have openings in several sections, and membership is open to students of all academic majors.

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 to form a musical and personal acquaintance, rather than as a barrier of any sort. Hearing each student play allows for making helpful decisions about placement and seating. The seating audition is currently optional for string players who are not music majors or minors.

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 Arts. Students should sign up for a time slot and also complete an audition form in advance. Generally, auditions will be held from the Saturday before classes begin through the first two days of classes. The auditions last approximately 4-5 minutes. Callbacks sometimes occur, and results are typically announced within three days.

As a general rule, all string players are accepted into the Philharmonia. Players may be seated on a rotating basis. Harpists and pianists do not need to audition and are accepted in conference with studio teachers. Non-student community members are not asked to audition and are typically not asked to play principal parts.

Instrumental ensembles meet during the first week as follows:

• Symphonic Winds — Monday, 4:10

• Philharmonia—Tuesday, 4:00 (Monday Strings Lab will meet with Dr. Lorenzo)

First-week activities include information-sharing sessions, reading rehearsals, and officer elections for freshman representatives.

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.

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

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING STUDENT TEACHING

Each fall at Houghton, several instrumentalists are involved in semester-long student teaching activities and are generally unavailable for ensemble participation during this period. According to the musical requirements of the ensemble, when the student teachers return in the spring, they may be seated alongside, or may replace, fall-semester players. Student teachers are encouraged to take an audition in the fall semester with other students, 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. 2-3 min.)
*Something a bit faster and more technically challenging (approx. 1-2 min.)

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.

Students should also be prepared to play major and minor scales, through four sharps and four flats. Sightreading may be requested, as well.

SCHOLARSHIPS—AUDITION INFORMATION FOR PERFORMANCE GRANTS

Scholarship (Performance Grant) funding is sometimes available and is not limited to music majors. Decisions on these grants are typically made by the end of March, for the following academic year. At Houghton, a student who receives an academic scholarship or a grant from another area of the College may also be considered for a Performance Grant.

To set up an audition along with your campus visit (arranged through the Visit Office), e-mail music@houghton.edu.

For additional information on string auditions, e-mail Dr. Donna Lorenzo.

For specific musical or other information on wind and percussion scholarship auditions, e-mail Dr. Paul DeBoer (Professor of Brass Instruments—trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba), Dr. Brian Casey (Assistant Professor of Conducting and Horn, director of Philharmonia and Symphonic Winds), and/or Prof. Gary Stith (Percussion Methods instructor, Coordinator of Music Education, and previous director of Symphonic Winds).

Philharmonia Home Philharmonia History