Audition Requirements

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, and BASS

Auditions for strings are in-person on January 10, 2026 at Grays Creek High School. Students are responsible for the following components for a total of 120 points.  Audition Rubrics for Strings

• Solo - 60 points

• Scales - 30 points

• Sight Reading - 30 points

2025-26 Solos-  Audition excerpts will be posted by 5pm on January 8th, 2026

Students are responsible for learning the entire solo for their instrument linked below.  An excerpt from the solo will be chosen the day of auditions by the judges. The solo does not need to be memorized and students may bring a copy of their music into the audition. 

PLEASE NOTE: Students may use their choice of fingerings, but will be expected to follow the printed bowings in the solos linked below. 

• Concerto No. 23 in G Major, 1st mvt, solo entrance to first tutti, Viotti

• Viola Concerto, 1st and 2nd mvts, Telemann 

• Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1, Courante, J. S. Bach 

• Etude No. 17, from 30 Etudes for the String Bass Player, Simandl 

*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.

Sightreading examples:

North Star March

Violin example

Viola Example 

Cello Example 

Bass Example 

Scales and arpeggios 

Students will play 2 scales with arpeggio: one will be chosen from the list below on the day of auditions by the judges, and the second is any melodic minor of the student's choice. Students should perform all scales as sixteenth notes and arpeggios as triplets at a minimum tempo of quarter note = 50. Scales must be performed by memory. The tonic may be repeated in each octave. See below for acceptable bowing variations 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 PM on Tuesday,  January 6, 2026. 

• The required scales and solos for each instrument are the same as the 11/12 All State Band audition requirements found here: 11/12 Scales and Solos. Look for the 11/12 Rotation(2025-2026) and click the link for your instrument.  The required solo cuts for the NCMEA Eastern Regional Orchestra for each instrument are: 

Flute

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Oboe

Bassoon

Horn

Trumpet

Trombone

Tuba

Timpani

Snare Drum

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

We are auditioning for 2 piano players for ERO this year.

Piano auditions are due via video submission by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. 

• Students auditioning on piano should submit both of the following ERO repertoire selections:

Firebird Suite Excerpt and Across the Calm Waters of Heaven excerpt

• Videos must be unedited and continuous.

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

HARP

We are auditioning for 1 harp player for ERO this year.

Piano auditions are due via video submission by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. 

• Students auditioning on harp should submit both of the following ERO repertoire selections:

Harp Excerpt 1 and Harp Excerpt 2

• Videos must be unedited and continuous.

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