Auditions & Program Info

The Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras hold new auditions on an ongoing basis throughout the year and invite all young musicians aged 21 and under to audition for membership. To schedule an audition time, please contact SEMAYO. All SEMAYO musicians must be participating members in good standing in their school instrumental music programs.  If your district does not have an instrumental program for your instrument then the participation requirement is waived.

• Membership in each of the orchestras is decided through a placement audition - all students are accepted. 
• Students who were part of the SEMAYO during the previous season will remain in that same ensemble at the start of the next season. 
• Students wishing to move up to the next highest ensemble must audition in May or September. 
• Placement in any SEMAYO ensemble is dependent upon availability of open seats within that ensemble. 
• The auditions are private and are conducted by the music directors. 
• Applicants will be informed of their placement at the conclusion of their audition.

Audition Requirements

Students auditioning should prepare a solo piece or two excerpts that demonstrate both technical proficiency and expressive playing. Scale requirements for each ensemble are listed below. All auditions will include scales and a short sight reading piece.

Symphony Orchestra

Scale requirements:

All scales are to be played without vibrato

Strings C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab. (3 octaves in 8th note triplets, slur 3 notes per bow, 80 bpm)

Woodwinds & Brass C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab (played 2 octaves where possible, in 8th notes, slurred while ascending, articulated while descending, 100 bpm)

Mallet Percussion C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab (1 or 2 octaves in 8th notes, with arpeggios also, if possible, 100 bpm). Chromatic Scale (ascending and descending)

Percussion Long roll (ff > pp < ff), 5 & 9 stroke rolls, single and double paradiddles, flam accents 1 & 2 [flam taps], ruff, triple ratamacue, flamacue. Basic auxiliary percussion playing techniques (crash cymbals, triangle, tambourine). Students should bring their own drum and sticks.

Suggested String Audition Pieces:

Any solo from Suzuki Book 5 and up (all strings)

Violin concertos by Haydn, Accolay, Rode, Beriot, Airs by Dancla

Viola concertos by Telemann

Cello Solo Suite No. 1 in G by Bach, Sonatas in C and G by Rombert, Concerto No. 4 by Golterman, Sonata in D by Telemann, Six Sonatas by Vivaldi

Bass Marcello Sonata in G Minor, last movement

Demonstrate the ability to play expressively, with fluid knowledge of all positions.

Repertory Orchestra

Scale requirements:

All scales are to be played without vibrato

Violin

• G, A, Bb (3 octaves in 8th note triplets, slur 3 notes per bow, 80 bpm)
• C, D, E, F, Eb, Ab (2 octaves in 8th notes, slur 2 per bow, 80 bpm)

Viola & Cello

• C, D, Eb (3 octaves in 8th note triplets, slur 3 notes per bow, 80 bpm)
• G, A, E, F, Bb, Ab (2 octaves in 8th notes, slur 2 per bow, 80 bpm)

Double Bass

• G, F (2 octaves in 8th notes, slur 2 per bow, 80 bpm)
• C, D, A, Bb, Eb (1 octave in 8th notes, slur 2 per bow, 80 bpm)

Woodwinds & Brass C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb (1 octave, in 8th notes, slurred while ascending, articulated while descending, 88 bpm)

Mallet Percussion C, G, D, F, Bb, Eb (1 octave, in 8th notes, 88 bpm).

Percussion Long roll (ff > pp < ff), 5 & 9 stroke rolls, single and double paradiddles, flam accents 1 & 2 [flam taps]. Basic auxiliary percussion playing techniques (crash cymbals, triangle, tambourine). Students should bring their own drum and sticks.

Suggested String Pieces:

Any solo from Suzuki book 4 or 5, or a solo piece at a comparable level (all strings)

Demonstrate expressive use of vibrato and the ability to play with good tone quality and intonation. Demonstrate fluid knowledge of 3rd position and developing use of other positions.

Debut Orchestra

Scale requirements:

All scales are to be played without vibrato

Strings C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb (2 octaves in 8th notes, slur 2 per bow, 70 bpm)

Woodwinds & Brass

• C Instruments - F, Bb, Eb (1 octave)
• Bb Instruments - C, F, G (1 octave)
• F Instruments - C, F (1 octave)

Percussion Long roll, 5 & 9 stroke rolls, single and double paradiddles. Basic auxiliary percussion playing techniques (crash cymbals, triangle, tambourine). Students should bring their own drum and sticks.

Suggested String Pieces:

Any solo from Suzuki book 2 or 3 (all strings)

Demonstrate good quality of sound, solid knowledge of 1st position, and developing knowledge of 3rd position.

Preparatory String Ensemble

Scale requirements:

Violins D, C (1 octave), G, A (2 octaves, if possible)

Violas & Cellos G (1 octave), C & D (2 octaves, if possible)

Suggested String Pieces:

Selected from Suzuki book 1 (or equivalent)

Violin Nos. 12 - 17

Viola Nos. 15 - 19

Cello Nos. 14 - 17

Bass Nos. 8 - 18

Demonstrate good quality of sound, solid knowledge of first position, and the ability to read notes on the D and A strings without fingerings or letters written in the music.