Phil/SL Auditions

 

Philharmonic/Section Leader

All members who wish to join the CSO Philharmonic Ensemble must audition at the start of the semester. Visit our ensemble descriptions page to learn more about Philharmonic. If you’re interested in being a Section Leader, check out our Section Leader information page.

If you want to audition to be a Section Leader (SL), you must also audition for Philharmonic and answer a few brief questions regarding your experience. SLs are chosen at the beginning of the Fall semester and will remain the same through the entirety of the school year, unless challenged at the start of the Spring semester. Any member of the Philharmonic or anyone who wishes to join the Philharmonic can challenge the current SL. In the event of a challenge, both the challenger and the current SL will audition and answer questions regarding the position. The score of the audition and responses to the questions will be used to determine the SL.

 

Audition Dates, Times, Location:

  • Saturday 9/10, Times announced at 9/4 rehearsal

    • Practice room: Newcomb 177

    • Audition room: Newcomb 182

Please arrive to the audition room 5 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time.

You may use the practice room to warm-up for the 15 minutes prior to your audition time.

Auditions will be judged by our Performance Directors, and results will be announced via email.

All members of the Philharmonic are also required to perform in and rehearse with the Main Ensemble, unless discussed and approved by the Performance Directors.

 

Philharmonic Audition Materials & FormaT

Fall 2022 audition materials are available now!

Strings

Winds

  • Flute

  • All interested wind instruments EXCEPT flute will be granted admission to the Philharmonic ensemble. If you play a wind instrument and would like to be considered for a section leader position, please sign up for an audition time. This will consist only of the interview component.

Brass

  • All interested brass musicians will be granted admission to the Philharmonic orchestra. Please sign up for an audition time if you are interested in being a section leader. This will consist only of the interview component.

Section leader audition excerpts

 
 

The Philharmonic auditions will consist of a major scale or a chromatic scale, a prepared excerpts, and a short sight-reading excerpt. Please come with a copy of your prepared excerpts. If you also wish to audition for Section Leader, there is an additional excerpt to play and a few brief interview questions will follow the playing portion of the audition.

  • Major Scale: The judges will choose one major scale at random for you to play. Play whatever rhythmic pattern is comfortable, and as many octaves as you can comfortably play.

  • Chromatic Scale: Play whatever rhythmic pattern is comfortable, and as many octaves as you can comfortably play.

  • Prepared Excerpts: These will differ from instrument to instrument and are listed below.

  • Section Leader Questions: Should you wish to audition to be a Section Leader, you will be asked a few brief questions following the playing portion of the audition. These are likely to cover music and leadership experience, and what you hope to accomplish as Section Leader.

Please contact Performance Directors, Sarah Phommachanthone (tvc2zm@virginia.edu) & Andrew Kim (avu5vh@virginia.edu), with any questions or concerns regarding auditions, CSO’s ensembles, or the role of Section Leader.