School of Music School of Music
Site search

Auditioning for Orchestra and Chorale

  1. Home
  2. Student Support

The School of Music recognises the importance of ensemble training for music students and encourages vigorous and enthusiastic participation. Any UQ student can audition every semester in Orientation Week for:

  • UQ Symphony Orchestra
  • UQ Chorale

Experience gained through participation in ensemble rehearsals and performances is a required part of the weekly learning program of all Bachelor of Music (Honours) students:

  • All students enrolled in MUSC1250 and MUSC1260 (Performance and Ensemble Studies 1 and 2) are guaranteed a position in the Chorale, but must still audition to determine your placement within the Chorale.
  • All Bachelor of Music (Honours) string players enrolled in a Chamber Ensemble Studies course are guaranteed a position in the Symphony Orchestra, but must still audition to determine your seat allocation (Violin I, Violin II, and so on).

Other students who successfully audition must either:

Both ensembles work towards developing excellence in rhythmic accuracy, pitch discrimination, acquiring a full dynamic range, and developing musical style and vitality. The ensemble directors choose repertoire and devise a rehearsal schedule and roster, taking into account the skills of the ensemble members and the performance venue, orchestration and concert format. There may be additional rehearsals during the semester including sectional rehearsals, depending on performance commitments.

Semester One 2020 Auditions

Please email the ensemble director by Monday 17 February 2020 if you intend to audition this semester. In your email, please include your full name, student number, and instrument (for Orchestra) or SATB voice type (for Chorale).

Auditions will take place on Friday 21 February 2020.

Chorale auditions will take place in Mr Morton's office (Zelman Cowen building, room 411). A sign-up sheet will be available outside his office from Monday 17 February: please register for a particular time, or just arrive on Friday and take any available time slot remaining. You must perform an unaccompanied 1-2 minute piece of your own choice that best demonstrates your vocal capability.

Orchestral auditions will take place in the Nickson Room (Zelman Cowen building, room 434). Students will audition behind a screen, and must attend 15 minutes before the start time for their instrument. You will be shown to a practice room for your warm-up period by the UQSO administration team.

  • 9am Violins
  • 11am Violas
  • 12pm Celli
  • 12.30pm Double Basses
  • 1pm Flutes
  • 2pm Oboes
  • 2.15pm Clarinets
  • 3pm Bassoons
  • 3.15pm Trumpets
  • 3.45pm French Horns
  • 4.15pm Trombones
  • 4.45pm Tubas
  • 5pm Percussion

The auditions take place behind screens to ensure anonymity and equality. Please do not talk to the audition panel or wear shoes that may indicate your gender.

Excerpts

Audition excerpts for string, woodwind, trumpet, and french horn are all drawn from Symphony No. 7 in A, Opus 92 by Beethoven.

Download your relevant part and cross reference from the list below. Scroll down and click on the “Parts” tab, use the first set of parts available (Breitkopf und Hartel edition), download the relevant part and cross reference accordingly.

Please prepare all excerpts appropriate to your instrument, and be aware of any transposition details pertaining to that part. String players should select the highest divisi line (if required). You are strongly advised to fully research the excerpts from which these are drawn: please pay attention to tempo selection, rhythm, dynamics, and style.

 

Orchestral parts for auditions
 

Flute: 1st flute part

  1. 1st movement – bars 41 to 47
  2. 1st movement – bars 63 to 84
  3. 2nd movement – bars 150 to 183

Oboe: 1st oboe part

  1. 1st movement – bars 1 to 10
  2. 1st movement – bars 300 (after the pause) to 310
  3. 2nd movement – bars 150 to 183

Clarinet: 1st clarinet part

  1. 2nd movement – bars 224 to 248
  2. 3rd movement – bars 150 to 179
  3. 1st movement – bars 164 to 178

Bassoon: 1st bassoon part

  1. 1st movement – bars 63 to 88
  2. 2nd movement – bars 150 to 183
  3. 3rd movement – bars 1 to 24

Trumpet: 1st trumpet part

  1. 1st movement – bars 254 to 264
  2. 4th movement – bars 1 to 36

French Horn – 1st and 2nd horn parts

  1. 1st movement – bars 89 to 110 (1st horn  part)
  2. 1st movement – bars 438 to the end of the movement (1st horn part)
  3. 2nd movement – bars 119 to 129 (2nd horn part)

Violin – 1st violin part

  1. 1st movement – bars 88 to 116
  2. 3rd movement – bars 1 to 24
  3. 4th movement – bars 1 to 20 (including all repeats)

Viola

  1. 1st movement – bars 190 to 211
  2. 1st movement – bars 319 to 336
  3. 3rd movement – bars 1 to 24

Cello

  1. 1st movement – bars 190 to 211
  2. 1st movement – bars 358 to 386
  3. 2nd movement – bars 27 to 50

Double Bass

  1. 1st movement – bars 190 to 211
  2. 1st movement – bars 358 to 386
  3. 1st movement – bars 401 to the end of the movement

Trombone and Tuba

Please select three advanced and contrasting orchestral excerpts that best show off your playing. Please give details of your choices to the UQSO administration team prior to the audition day.

Percussion and Timpani

Please select one advanced orchestral excerpt that best show off your playing for each of the following disciplines:

  1. Side drum
  2. Marimba
  3. Glockenspiel
  4. Timpani

Please give details of your choices to the UQSO administration team prior to the audition day.