New students
If you are interested in the LRYO please consider participating in one of our Friday rehearsals at 4:00 at the Castleton College Fine Arts Center. You are welcome to sit and watch, or bring your instrument and join in.
If you choose to join LRYO, auditions arrangements and times can be discussed after the rehearsal.
As a new student: Please contact the LRYO office by calling 802-773-4689
You can also e-mail us.
Returning Students
Returning students may be recommended by their present conductor to audition for the purpose of advancing to the next group.
Also, after discussion with their current conductor, returning students may request an audition. No one who requests an audition will be denied the opportunity.
Seating is not fixed in the lower groups and, therefore, no seating auditions are necessary.
Returning students: Please contact your conductor or parent manager.
Audition Guidelines
Musicians will be asked to play a prepared piece, play two scales and sight-read. Auditions are informal and generally 10 minutes long.
Music teachers can explain NYSSMA Grades for music.
Senior Orchestras & Wind Ensemble
Solo equivalent of grade IV to V. Grade V or higher for first chairs.
All major scales through 4 sharps & 4 flats, 2 octaves or 3 depending
on key and instrument.
Violins/violas - through 5 positions, cellists &
basses-4 positions.
Cellists - read tenor clef, violists-treble.
Percussion, woodwind and brass - chromatic scale.
Trombone - tenor/alto clef helpful, but not required.
Percussion -perform on snare drum, timpani and mallet
instruments.
General Level of Achievement for strings, Audition pieces:
Minimum of Level IV for 2nd violin, viola, cello and bass; Level V for
1st violin. Play at least three 3 octave scales- 2 octave for bass,
and know scales of up to 5 sharps and 5 flats. Solid mature tone
with vibrato.
Violin (Level IV) Concerto in A minor 3rd
mvt [Suzuki Vol. IV]
Violin (Level V) Concerto in A minor 1st
mvt by Bach [Suzuki Vol. V]
Viola Concerto in D minor 3rd mvt by Vivaldi [Suzuki Vol.
IV]
Cello Sonata in C by Breval [Suzuki Vol IV]
, Danse Rustique by Squire [Suzuki Vol V]
Bass Sonata in e minor 1st or 3rd mvt by Marcello
[IMC-publisher]
or any District audition piece is acceptable, as well
as others of an equivalent grade level.
Sight reading required for all. Senior Strings selected from within
senior orchestra.
Baroque Strings
(5th grade or 2nd year and up)
Grade III minimum to Grade IV.
All major scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats for 2 octaves.
Strings-Through first 3 positions.
Strings may be invited to perform with senior orchestra. Sight
reading should be adequate.
General Level of Achievement, Audition pieces:
Play at level III (minimum); include above plus add advanced rhythms
of dotted eighth and sixteenth and triplets, plus scales in 2 octaves
including E and E flat. Vibrato desired.
Violin: Concerto #5, 3rd mvt. by Seitz, Concerto #2,
1st mvt. by Seitz [Suzuki Vol. IV.]
Viola: Bouree by Bach [Suzuki Vol.III], Concerto #2,
lst mvt by Seitz [Suzuki Vol. IV]
Cello: Witches Dance by Paganini [Suzuki Vol II],
Minuetby Beethoven [Suzuki Vol III]
Bass: Adagio & Allegro by Gilliard [Applebaum String
Festival, Vol. II]
or any District audition piece is acceptable, as well
as others of an equivalent grade level.
Repertory Orchestra & Concert Band
(5th grade or 2nd year and up)
Solo equivalent to Grade II.
All major scales through 3 sharps and one flat for one octave or two
depending on key and instrument.
Violins/violas-familiar with 3rd position.
Cello/bass-first 3 positions.
Percussion, woodwinds and brass-chromatic scale.
Percussion perform solo on snare drum and either timpani
or mallet instrument.
All - Be able to play syncopation and compound meter
(6/8 time). Sight reading should be adequate.
General Level of Achievement, Audition pieces:
Play at grade II level, (2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 6/8 time in the keys of C, G,
D, A, F & B flat) Also be able to play 1 octave scales
in those keys. Know the difference between half and whole steps. Audition
pieces for strings can be found
in Suzuki Vol. II or other standard publications. These or their
equivalent are as follows:
Violin: Gavotteby Lully, Gavotte by Martini (Suzuki
Vol. III)
Viola : Minuet in G by Beethoven, Bouree by Handel
Cello : Minuet #3 by Bach, Bouree by Handel
Bass : March by Bach ( Solo Time for Strings
by Etling
or any District audition piece is acceptable, as well
as others of an equivalent grade level.
Making Beautiful Music Since 1990!
Last modified: 02/02/10