Philharmonic Audition Requirements
Open to students grades 6 and up
---------------------------
All Woodwind, Brass & Strings should prepare:
Two Major Scales with Arpeggios
One Prepared Solo Excerpt (see specific guidance for strings)
A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition
---------------------------
All Woodwind, Brass & Strings should prepare:
Two Major Scales with Arpeggios
One Prepared Solo Excerpt (see specific guidance for strings)
A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition
STRINGS
New For Spring 2025 Auditions
All string candidates must prepare the Jr. District Audition Solo Excerpt from either the 2024, 2025 or 2026 Festivals from any MMEA district such as Central or Eastern. If your private teacher has been working with you on a comparable work to the Jr. District Audition Excerpt, please email us as we will accept an alternative with prior permission. This is in addition to one solo excerpt of their choice, see below. Questions? Email us
General Guidance
- Violins & Violas readily shift to third position
- Cello knowledge of shifting up to fourth position.
- Bass comfortably shift between basic positions on the neck, like open strings to first and second position, with a focus on smooth, accurate transitions while maintaining good finger placement and posture
- For the solo excerpt, a good frame of reference is Suzuki End of Book 2 to Early Book 4
Required Audition Components
Scales:
2 Major Scales of your choice plus the accompanying arpeggios.
Solo Excerpts:
1) One excerpt of your choice such as a concerto, sonata or etude which you feel shows your best playing. We advise you consult with your teacher.
AND
4) The Jr. District Audition Excerpt* from either 2024, 2025 or 2026 from any MMEA district. Please email us if you have any questions or need help finding it. If your private teacher has been working with you on a comparable work to the Jr. District Audition Excerpt, please email us as we will accept an alternative with prior permission.
Note:
All Concertmaster & Principal Chairs are determined in August when accepted students are sent a string hearing excerpt to prepare.
------------------------------
WOODWINDS & BRASS
General Requirements
- Have been playing for at least two years in private lessons and/or school ensemble.
Scales:
2 Major Scales with Arpeggios
Solo Excerpt:
Solo piece of your choice
We strongly suggest you use Jr. Central District audition excerpt or piece at similar level as your solo excerpt. Etudes from your method book are also appropriate. Popular songs or excerpts from musicals are not accepted. Please email us if you have any questions or need suggestions.
Principal Chairs are determined in August when accepted students are sent a hearing excerpt to prepare.
PERCUSSION
General Guidance:
1) Candidates must bring their own sticks appropriate for Snare, Mallets & Timpani
2) Candidates must bring their own snare drum.
Please Prepare:
1) 1 Snare Excerpt from a rudiments or method book. Please bring your own snare with you.
Optional:
2) 1 Mallets Excerpt for either Glock, Xylophone, Marimba or Vibes from a rudiments or method book.
3) 1 Timpani Excerpt from a rudiments or method book.
Percussion Policy:
WYO provides all major instruments such as timpani, bass drum, crash, suspended cymbal, mallets (Vibes, Xylo, Glock & Chimes) and auxiliary percussion. All students are expected to provide their own snare with sticks, as well as sticks for mallet instruments, timpani and suspended cymbal. WYO will provide sticks for bass drum and gong.
WYSO Percussionists are assigned their parts by the Director and Percussion Ensemble Coach on a rotating basis.
PIANO/KEYBOARD
On a case by case basis, we accept one orchestral pianist each season. Please email us prior to signing up for audition specifics and if there is an opening. Keyboardists are expected to play in the percussion section when the repertoire does not call for keyboard.
HARP
One solo works of your choice
------------------------------
RESOURCES
Scale Sheets (these do not include arpeggios, remember your audition requires them)
Oboe Scale Sheet
Bassoon Scale Sheet
Flute Scale Sheet
Clarinet Scale Sheet
Bass Clar. Scale Sheet
Trumpet Scale Sheet
Trombone Scale Sheet
Bass Tbne Scale Sheet
Fr. Horn Scale Sheet
Tuba Scale Sheet
Violin Scale Sheet
Viola Scale Sheet
'Cello Scale Sheet
String Bass Scale Sheet
------------
MMEA Central Districts Senior Festival Information
MMEA Western Districts Senior Festival Information
MMEA Eastern District Senior Festival Information
MMEA North Eastern District Senior Festival Information
New For Spring 2025 Auditions
All string candidates must prepare the Jr. District Audition Solo Excerpt from either the 2024, 2025 or 2026 Festivals from any MMEA district such as Central or Eastern. If your private teacher has been working with you on a comparable work to the Jr. District Audition Excerpt, please email us as we will accept an alternative with prior permission. This is in addition to one solo excerpt of their choice, see below. Questions? Email us
General Guidance
- Violins & Violas readily shift to third position
- Cello knowledge of shifting up to fourth position.
- Bass comfortably shift between basic positions on the neck, like open strings to first and second position, with a focus on smooth, accurate transitions while maintaining good finger placement and posture
- For the solo excerpt, a good frame of reference is Suzuki End of Book 2 to Early Book 4
Required Audition Components
Scales:
2 Major Scales of your choice plus the accompanying arpeggios.
Solo Excerpts:
1) One excerpt of your choice such as a concerto, sonata or etude which you feel shows your best playing. We advise you consult with your teacher.
AND
4) The Jr. District Audition Excerpt* from either 2024, 2025 or 2026 from any MMEA district. Please email us if you have any questions or need help finding it. If your private teacher has been working with you on a comparable work to the Jr. District Audition Excerpt, please email us as we will accept an alternative with prior permission.
Note:
All Concertmaster & Principal Chairs are determined in August when accepted students are sent a string hearing excerpt to prepare.
------------------------------
WOODWINDS & BRASS
General Requirements
- Have been playing for at least two years in private lessons and/or school ensemble.
Scales:
2 Major Scales with Arpeggios
Solo Excerpt:
Solo piece of your choice
We strongly suggest you use Jr. Central District audition excerpt or piece at similar level as your solo excerpt. Etudes from your method book are also appropriate. Popular songs or excerpts from musicals are not accepted. Please email us if you have any questions or need suggestions.
Principal Chairs are determined in August when accepted students are sent a hearing excerpt to prepare.
PERCUSSION
General Guidance:
1) Candidates must bring their own sticks appropriate for Snare, Mallets & Timpani
2) Candidates must bring their own snare drum.
Please Prepare:
1) 1 Snare Excerpt from a rudiments or method book. Please bring your own snare with you.
Optional:
2) 1 Mallets Excerpt for either Glock, Xylophone, Marimba or Vibes from a rudiments or method book.
3) 1 Timpani Excerpt from a rudiments or method book.
Percussion Policy:
WYO provides all major instruments such as timpani, bass drum, crash, suspended cymbal, mallets (Vibes, Xylo, Glock & Chimes) and auxiliary percussion. All students are expected to provide their own snare with sticks, as well as sticks for mallet instruments, timpani and suspended cymbal. WYO will provide sticks for bass drum and gong.
WYSO Percussionists are assigned their parts by the Director and Percussion Ensemble Coach on a rotating basis.
PIANO/KEYBOARD
On a case by case basis, we accept one orchestral pianist each season. Please email us prior to signing up for audition specifics and if there is an opening. Keyboardists are expected to play in the percussion section when the repertoire does not call for keyboard.
HARP
One solo works of your choice
------------------------------
RESOURCES
Scale Sheets (these do not include arpeggios, remember your audition requires them)
Oboe Scale Sheet
Bassoon Scale Sheet
Flute Scale Sheet
Clarinet Scale Sheet
Bass Clar. Scale Sheet
Trumpet Scale Sheet
Trombone Scale Sheet
Bass Tbne Scale Sheet
Fr. Horn Scale Sheet
Tuba Scale Sheet
Violin Scale Sheet
Viola Scale Sheet
'Cello Scale Sheet
String Bass Scale Sheet
------------
MMEA Central Districts Senior Festival Information
MMEA Western Districts Senior Festival Information
MMEA Eastern District Senior Festival Information
MMEA North Eastern District Senior Festival Information
School Participation Policy:
WYO ensemble and performance opportunities are intended to compliment school music programs. It is the policy of the Worcester Youth Orchestras that each student musician participates in his/her/their school music program, if offered at the musician’s school as part of the school day curriculum and/or as an after/before school activity or club.
WYO ensemble and performance opportunities are intended to compliment school music programs. It is the policy of the Worcester Youth Orchestras that each student musician participates in his/her/their school music program, if offered at the musician’s school as part of the school day curriculum and/or as an after/before school activity or club.
