Audition preparation for the senior level County Enembles

Congratulations on being invited to an audition for the senior-level City & County Ensembles. Please give the advice on this page a read to best prepare you for what we will ask you to play in your audition.

Audition piece

In your audition, you’ll be asked to perform a piece or study (or a selection) that demonstrates the range of your instrument, with a variety of moods, dynamics and tempos. We are looking for a performance that shows good articulation, dynamic contrast, and strong overall musicianship.

• Length: Players have a maximum of 6 minutes for their performance. The piece does not need to last this long, but we will ask players to stop at the 6-minute mark.
• Accompaniment: We ask all players to perform without accompaniment. 
• Music: Please bring a photocopy of the music for the audition panel to follow. This will be returned to you after your audition.

What grade level do I need to prepare?

This depends on a few factors, including which ensemble you are hoping to be in, and what instrument you play. 

• String players – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass: All string players will audition for the City & County Youth Orchestra (CCYO) and should prepare a piece of grade 6+ level.
• Woodwind and brass players for Wind Band – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxes, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet/Cornet, Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba: Those who only want to be considered for City & County Youth Wind Band (CCYWB) should prepare a piece of grade 6+ level. 
• Woodwind and brass players for Orchestra – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba: Those players wanting to be considered for City & County Youth Orchestra should prepare a piece of grade 7+, but successful players are often grade 8 standard.

Sight reading

You’ll be given a short extract of ensemble music to prepare for 10 minutes before your audition as a piece of sight-reading. 

• Woodwind and brass players for Orchestra – Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba: You will be given a harder orchestral extract which may include alternative clefs (bassoon and trombone), or transposition (horn, trumpet, trombone).

Scales and arpeggios

You’ll also be asked to play a selection of scales and arpeggios in your audition.

• String players:
  Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass
• Woodwind players:
  Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophones
• Brass players:
  Horn, Trumpet/Cornet, Euphonium, Trombone, Tuba

Violin

You should be ready to be prepared for both slurred and legato bowing.

• Scales and arpeggios − F# major and minor (2 octaves); Bb major and minor (3 octaves) [Guide tempos − Scales: crotchet = 92, Arpeggios: dotted crotchet = 46]

• Chromatic − starting on C (2 octaves) [Guide tempo − dotted crotchet = 60]

• Dominant/diminished 7ths − Dominant 7th in the key of F (2 octaves); Diminished 7th starting on C (2 octaves) [Guide tempo − crotchet = 69]

• Double stops (broken steps) − Bb major in 6ths [Guide tempo − crotchet = 92]

Viola

You should be ready to be prepared for both slurred and legato bowing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Ab major and minor (2 octaves); D major and minor (3 octaves) [Guide tempos − Scales: crotchet = 84, Arpeggios: dotted crotchet = 42]

• Chromatic − starting on C# (2 octaves) [Guided tempo − dotted crotchet = 56]

• Dominant/diminished 7ths − Dominant 7th in the key of G (2 octaves); Diminished 7th starting on D (2 octaves) [Guide tempo − crotchet = 63]

• Double stops (broken steps) − Eb major in 6ths [Guide tempo − crotchet = 72]

Cello

You should be ready to be prepared for both slurred and legato bowing.

• Scales and arpeggios − B major and minor (2 octaves); D major and minor (3 octaves)  [Guide tempos − Scales: crotchet = 72, Arpeggios: quaver = 116]

• Chromatic − starting on D (2 octaves)  [Guide tempo − dotted crotchet = 48]

• Dominant/diminished 7ths − Dominant 7th in the key of G (2 octaves); Diminished 7th starting on F (2 octaves)  [Guide tempo − crotchet = 58]

• Double stops (broken steps) − C major in 6ths [Guide tempo − crotchet = 72]

Double Bass

You should be ready to be prepared for both slurred and legato bowing.

• Scales and arpeggios − F major and minor (2 octaves); Thumb position D major (1 octave); Broken thirds G major (1 octave)  [Guide tempos − Scales: crotchet = 56, Arpeggios: quaver = 104, Broken thirds: crotchet = 56]

• Chromatic − starting on E  [Guide tempo − crotchet = 56]

• Dominant/Diminished 7ths − Dominant 7th in the key of A (2 octaves); Diminished 7th starting on G (2 octaves)  [Guide tempo − crotchet = 52]

Flute

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Db major, Bb major and F minor (2 octaves) 
  Chromatic − starting on Bb (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on D (2 octaves)

Oboe

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Ab major (12th); Bb major and C minor (2 octaves) 
  Chromatic − starting on Bb (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on D (2 octaves)

Clarinet

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − E major (3 octaves); Ab major and C# minor 
  Chromatic − starting on E (3 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on A (2 octaves)

Bassoon

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Bb major (3 octaves); G major and F minor (2 octaves) 
  Chromatic − starting on Bb (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on G (2 octaves)

Saxophones

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Ab major, B minor and E major (2 octaves) 
  Chromatic − starting on D (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on E (2 octaves)

French Horn

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − A major, D minor and Ab major (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on D (2 octaves)

Trumpet/Cornet

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − A minor and Bb major (2 octaves) 
  Chromatic − starting on G (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on Ab (2 octaves)

Euphonium (treble)

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Bb major and G# minor (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on Ab (2 octaves)

Euphonium (bass)

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Ab major and F# minor (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on Gb (2 octaves)

Trombone

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Bb major and G# minor (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on Ab (2 octaves)

Bass Trombone

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − Low Eb major and F# minor (2 octaves) 
  Whole tone − starting on D (2 octaves)

Tuba

You should be prepared for slurred, legato-tongued, and staccato playing.

• Scales and arpeggios − C major and B minor (2 octaves) − can be any two-octave pitch  
  Whole tone − starting on B (2 octaves)