Audition Requirements

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, and BASS

Auditions for all strings are in-person on January 16, 2027 at Hough High School. Students are responsible for learning the complete solo and scales listed below for their instrument. Students will visit three audition rooms to complete the three components for this audition. 

Students will be score on following components for a total of 120 points using the NCMEA Audition Rubrics for Strings

• Solo - 60 points

• Scales - 30 points

• Sight Reading - 30 points

Please note: The solo excerpt and major scale for each instrument will be shared on this website and via email to registered directors and teachers on January 14, 2027 (two days before the audition).

2026 - 27 Solos  

Students are responsible for learning the entire solo for their instrument (linked below). The solo does not need to be memorized and students may bring their own printed copy of the music into the audition. Students may use their choice of fingerings, but will be expected to follow the printed bowings in the solos below. 

Students will perform an excerpt of the solo for their instrument for the audition. The excerpt will be announced 2 days before the audition. 

• Sonata No. 4, Mvt. 2 - George Frederic Handel

• Courante and Minuetto I & II  from Bach Cello Suites - J.S. Bach 

• Mvt. 2 from Cello Sonata No. 3 - Antonio Vivaldi

• Gavotte - J.S. Bach

*Solos are on a 4 year rotation: Please see: Solo Rotation Document. 

Sight Reading

The sight-reading selections will be 8 measures in length and grade IV in difficulty.  New selections will be composed for auditions each year. Each student will be allowed a 30 second preview period to finger or air-bow but may not play their instrument. The judges will use a metronome to provide the correct tempo before the preparatory period begins, and again before the student begins to play. The metronome will not be used during the preparatory period or during the sight-reading performance. To view samples of past sight reading, visit this link: Past Sight Reading Samples 

Scales and arpeggios 

Students are responsible for learning all major scales and arpeggios listed below plus one melodic minor scale and arpeggio of their choosing. 

Students will play 1 major scale with arpeggio and 1 melodic minor scale with arpeggio for the audition. Scales must be memorized and students will not be allowed to use a printed scale sheet at the audition.

The major scale for each instrument will be announced 2 days before the audition. Students may pick any melodic minor in addition to the two melodic minor examples shown on the scale sheets below. Students should perform all scales as sixteenth notes and arpeggios as triplets at a minimum tempo of quarter note = 50. The tonic may be repeated in each octave. See below for acceptable bowing variations, octave requirements, and scale sheets.

Violin: C, G, D, A, B-flat Major 3 octaves; F Major 2 octaves; any melodic minor of the student’s choice 3 octaves. Slur scales 4 notes per bow and arpeggios 3 notes per bow. Violin Scale Sheet

Viola: C, G, D, F Major 3 octaves; A, B-flat Major 2 octaves; any melodic minor of the student’s choice 3 octaves. Slur scales 4 notes per bow and arpeggios 3 notes per bow. Viola Scale Sheet

Cello: C, G, D, F Major 3 octaves; A, B-flat Major 2 octaves; any melodic minor of the student’s choice 3 octaves. Slur scales 4 notes per bow and arpeggios 3 notes per bow. Cello Scale Sheet

Bass: C, G, A, F, Bb Major 2 octaves; D Major 1 octave; any melodic minor of the student’s choice 2 octaves. Slur scales 4 notes per bow and arpeggios played with separate bows. Bass Scale Sheet

WINDS, BRASS, and PERCUSSION 

Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion auditions are due via video submission by 11:59 on Wednesday January 6, 2027

The required scales and solos for each instrument are the same as the 11/12 All State Band audition requirements found here: 2026 - 27 Band Requirements. 

A list of reference videos for practie can be found here: All-State Reference Videos.

The required solo excerpts for the 2026-27 NCMEA Western Regional Orchestra for each instrument are:

Flute 

Clarinet 

Bass Clarinet 

Oboe (two excerpts, play both without stopping the video)

Bassoon 

French Horn 

Trumpet 

Trombone

Tuba 

Timpani 

Snare Drum Solo  and Auxillary Percussion Etude  

Mallets  

•  Videos must be unedited and continuous.

• The first major scale should be slurred, the second should be tongued and alternate in this manner for the remainder of the major scales. The chromatic scales must be slurred except for trombones which are legato. 

• There will not be sight reading for this audition.

• Student scripts and instructions for submitting audition videos can be found here: Director Responsibilities

PIANO AND HARP

Piano and harp auditions, if needed, will be announced by October 1st, 2026

Piano auditions are due via video submission by 11:59 on Wednesday January 6, 2027

• Students auditioning on piano should submit both of the following selections from the WRO Honors repertoire:

• Videos must be unedited and continuous.

• There will not be sight reading for this audition.

• Professional recordings of the solos can be found here: 11-12 Honors Reference Videos 

• Audition videos should be submitted by the student's sponsoring director and can be found here: Director Responsibilities