The Audition: How We Are Different

The unique premise of this orchestral program means that students and parents will experience a different focus from their very first interaction with the organization – the audition. Prelude provides feedback from the audition to all students, regardless of acceptance, giving participants a sense of their strengths, and areas in which they could improve.

Additionally, the audition itself will differ from others because the audition panel is able to interact with students to uncover skills that may be hard to identify as a result of the limitations of a standard audition format or simple nerves on the part of young player. Judges look for a student’s ability to take instruction and to quickly assimilate new information. Such skills weigh equally in the decision making process as a student’s playing and/or sight-reading abilities.

Audition Requirements

Any student in fifth through tenth grade is eligible to audition for Prelude.

Prepared Solo (one movement from a multiple movement piece is acceptable): Candidates should be prepared to perform their solo selection in its entirety, however, because of time constraints, judges may ask candidates to start or end anywhere within the piece. Candidates should provide an original copy of the music to the judges (which will be returned at the end of the audition) and should play the audition using a separate copy of their music.
Sight-Reading: Candidates will be asked to sight-read two excerpts: one for rhythmic purposes; the other for lyrical purposes. Shifting may be involved in either excerpt.
Judge/Candidate Interaction: Judges will interact with each candidate to assess his or her ability to take instruction, assimilate new information, and recall musical direction. The candidate’s solo selection will provide material to serve this portion of the audition.
Scales will not be required at audition.

Audition Process

For the 2010 – 2011 season, auditions will be held by appointment on Saturday, May 22, 2010, and Saturday, September 25, 2010. Candidates should request an audition date using the online application form. Within a week of the audition date, Prelude will contact applicants regarding your assigned audition time. An Audition Fee of $20 will be due at the audition (payable by cash or check).

Audition Notification

Notification letters will be mailed within two weeks of a candidate’s audition date. Written feedback from the audition panel will be included in the mailing. Information regarding further details of a candidate’s individual audition beyond that provided in the mailing will not be available.