Auditions for NYSO!

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AUDITION for the 2025-2026 Season! 

Membership in the Naperville Youth Symphony Orchestra is determined by audition. Current members of the organization do not need to re-audition to maintain membership in their current orchestra. All current musicians will be required to do a seating audition in the fall and spring. 

Auditions are for: 

• Students who are new to NYSO
• Philharmonia students who want to audition for Encore
• Flute Choir and Brass Choir students who want to audition for orchestra

In Person Auditions

• In person auditions are only for students new to NYSO. Auditions will be held on the evening of May 2, 2025 at the Naperville Community Concert Center (104 E. Benton in Naperville). 
• Complete the Audition Application Form. 
• After you submit your application to audition, you will receive an email with more information regarding your audition time. 

Virtual Auditions

• For all virtual audition please record all the required materials for your instrument.  
• Complete the Audition Application Form
• Send the link to your audition video either in the form, or email the link to nyso.info@napervilleyouthsymphony.org
• ***Each section of the video must be recorded start to stop and should NOT be edited. However, all of the video clips of the different parts of the audition should be combined into one comprehensive audition video and uploaded as one YouTube link. 
• Upload ONE unlisted YouTube link. (See instructions below). Ensure privacy settings are set so that the judges can view your video. Here is a link that can walk you through how to make an unpublished YouTube video if you haven't done that before.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnvlfKY300k 

Audition Fees

There is a non-refundable fee per student fee due at the time of application payable by Cash, Card or Zelle via nyso.treasurer@gmail.com

• $35 for students who are new to NYSO
• $20 for current NYSO members in Philharmonia who want to audition for Encore
• $20 for current NYSO members in a chamber group only, but want to audition for orchestra

Audition Application Form

PART I - SCALES:

• Strings - Three Octave  - one major , one minor of your choice
• Winds/Brass - Two Octave - one major, one minor of your choice
• Percussion - Two octave - one major, one minor of your choice
• Piano - 4 octave scales, one major one minor of your choice

PART II - SOLO PIECE:

• Two contrasting movements or solo pieces (one technical and one lyrical)
• (ILMEA etudes accepted)
• Memorization not required
• Accompanist not required
• Percussionists should choose a mallet solo that shows technical ability with either two, three, or four mallets.  If a mallet instrument is not available during stay-at-home ordinance, substitute an additional snare solo.
• Piano - 1 classical style movement, 1 romantic style movement, Memorization not required
• Harp - Two contrasting pieces

PART III - ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS

• Strings - All string players MUST play the Glinka excerpt.  Please choose one additional excerpt if your packet includes multiple
  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass
• Woodwind/Brass - Choose TWO excerpts
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • French Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Tuba
• Percussion 
  • Percussion Excerpts 
    • Mallets - Copland
    • Timpani - optional (you can substitute 3 tom toms if you have no access to timpani at this time)
• Piano 
  • https://www.petruccilibrary.us/files/imglnks/music_files/PMLUS04000-sh-s1-piano.pdf
  • (3 after 17-22)
• Harp 
  • https://vmirror.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/4/41/IMSLP41026-PMLP06266-Rimsky-Op34.Harp.pdf
  • (Mvmnt 3, “H-end”)
  • https://vmirror.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/7/79/IMSLP40843-PMLP26902-Tchaikovsky-Op66.Harp.pdf
  • Andante beginning “Andante-double bar of adagio maestoso” (13 measures total)

 PART I - SCALES

• Two Octave - one major, one minor of your choice
• Piano - 4 octave scales, one major one minor of your choice

PART II - SOLO PIECE

• Two contrasting movements or solo pieces (one technical and one lyrical
  • (ILMEA etudes accepted)
  • Memorization not required
  • Accompanist not required
• Piano - 1 classical style movement, 1 romantic style movement - Memorization not required 
• Harp - 2 Contrasting pieces, 5-8 minutes total

All flutists auditioning for Encore and Philharmonia Orchestra are automatically considered for Flute Choir. Applicants who want to be considered ONLY for Flute Choir should check only the Flute Choir option in the application, and submit a video recording following the guidelines below. Please complete the Audition Application, found at the top of the page. Auditions will be accepted until May 4, 2025. 

PART I - SCALES (to be recorded in one continuous video)

• Two Octave D Major and A flat Major Scales
• Chromatic Scale from low C to your highest note (not to exceed high C)

PART II - SOLO PIECE

• One or two solo pieces or movements showing both technical and lyrical playing
  • ILMEA etudes accepted
  • Accompanist not required
  • 4-6 minutes total 
  • separate recordings for each solo piece are permitted

This year, video auditions will be due Saturday, August 31st by 11:59pm.

• Send a 2–3-minute video including 1 minute of an introduction explaining why you want to be a part of Una Corda and 1-2min of playing. 
• The playing portion should showcase your unique style and flashy section of any current music you are working on. 
•  Please email your video to unacorda@napervilleyouthsymphony.org.
•  Students will be alerted to acceptance on 9/1.
•  Our first rehearsal will be on 9/8.

All brass and clarinet players auditioning for Encore and Philharmonia Orchestra are automatically considered for Brass Choir and Clarinet Choir. Applicants who want to be considered ONLY for Brass Choir or Clarinet Choir should check that option in the application, and submit a video recording following the audition requirements for orchestra.