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Cornell Symphony Orchestra

Audition Information

Auditions for the 2008-2009 Season

For the 2008-2009 season the following positions will be available in the Symphony Orchestra:

Strings
  • 32 violin (2 alternate)
  • 12 viola (1 alternate)
  • 10 cello (1 alternate)
  • 8 bass
Winds
  • 3 flute
  • 3 oboe
  • 3 clarinet
  • 2 bassoon
Brass
  • 5 horn
  • 3 trumpet
  • 3 trombone
  • 1 tuba
Percussion
  • 4 percussionists
Keyboard
  • 1 piano
  • 1 harp

Audition Schedule

Fall 2008 auditions for the Chamber Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra will be held during the dates shown below:

Audition Dates: Monday, August 25 - Saturday, August 30, 2008
Audition Location: Lincoln Hall, Room 332

Day Time/Instrument
Monday
August 25
10 AM - 12 PM

Woodwinds (flutes), with Liz Shuhan

2 PM - 5 PM

Woodwinds (flutes), with Liz Shuhan

7 PM - 10 PM

Woodwinds (clarinets)

Tuesday
August 26
10 AM - 12 PM

Woodwinds (double reeds)

1 PM - 5 PM

Violas, with Wendy Richman

7 PM - 10 PM

Brass, with Ryan Zawel

Wednesday
August 27
10 AM - 12 PM

Cellos and basses, with Nicholas Walker

1 PM - 5 PM

Cellos and basses, with John Haines Eitzen

7 PM - 9 PM

Percussion, with tim Feeney

Thursday
August 28
10 AM - 12 PM

Violins, with Joseph Lin

1 PM - 5 PM

Violins, with Joseph Lin

7 PM - 10 PM

Violins, with Joseph Lin

Friday
August 29
10 AM - 12 PM

Violins, with Joseph Lin

1 PM - 5 PM

Violins, with Joseph Lin

7 PM - 10 PM

Violins, with Joseph Lin

Results will be posted online and on the orchestra board in Lincoln Hall after 6 PM on Sunday, August 31, 2008.

Audition Guidelines

For the fall semester, all members are required to audition.

Before Auditioning

  • Sign up for your 10 minute audition time slot via email, starting August 1, 2008.
  • Print and fill out the audition form (download pdf).
  • Bring the audition form to the audition. Do not email the audition form.
  • In the audition form, indicate a preference for an ensemble. Although the slot is not guaranteed, the student's preference will be given much consideration.
  • Thoroughly prepare your audition repertoire.
  • Be sure to warm up before the audition. Practice rooms on the basement floor of Lincoln Hall will be available during the entire audition period.

During the Audition

  • Be on time for the appointment. If you are late, you will have a shortened audition.
  • Each audition will last 10 minutes and will be held in Lincoln Hall, Room 332.
  • Prepare 6 to 7 minutes of music to play at the audition. Constrating excerpts from solo or orchestra literature are recommended: for example, a fast and technically demanding excerpt accompanied with a slow and lyrical excerpt.
  • You will also be asked to sight-read several passage from the standard orchestral repertoire and also to play some scales. Transposing instrumentalists may be asked to demonstrate facility with transposition skills.
  • Hint: sight-reading will include excerpts from the 2008-2009 repertoire:
    CSO: The Planets, Op. 32 (Holst)
    CCO: Requiem (Mozart)

After the Audition

  • Results will be posted online and on the orchestra board in Lincoln Hall after 6 PM on Sunday, August 31, 2008.
  • The first rehearsal for each ensemble is as follows:
    CSO: Monday, September 1, 6:30 PM in B20 of Lincoln Hall
    CCO: Tuesday, September 2, 4:45 PM in Barnes Hall
  • All musicians accepted for membership are expected to attend the organization's first rehearsal, as announced on the posted lists. Be sure to check all of the acceptance lists carefully, as you may not be placed in your first-choice ensemble.
  • All orchestra members must be available for all rehearsals and concerts. Please check the schedule of rehearsals and concert dates posted online.

To sign up for and schedule your audition time, e-mail Chris Younghoon Kim (cyk8@cornell.edu) starting August 1, 2008.

Audition Results

The most up-to-date orchestra roster can be found on the members page, which is also updated to reflect the results of auditions.

Audition Form

All auditioning musicians must print and fill out an audition form to bring to the audition (download pdf).