Philharmonia Orchestra Audition Requirements

NOYO accepts Philharmonia Orchestra auditions on the following instruments:

Woodwinds: flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, clarinet, bassoon
Brass: F horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba
Percussion: timpani, drums, mallet, auxiliary percussion
Keyboard: piano, celesta
Strings: violin, viola, cello, bass, harp

Lessons

Philharmonia Orchestra musicians are required to take private lessons.

Scales

Scales for all instruments should be played evenly and smoothly. The scale should be played at approximately 80-120 scale tones per minute.

String, keyboard, harp players should be prepared to play two of the following major scales (player’s choice of two or three octaves): C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat

C instrument wind and melodic percussion players should be prepared to play two of the following scales in two octaves: C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat

F instrument wind players should be prepared to play two of the following scales in two octaves: C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat

B-flat instrument wind players should be prepared to play two of the following scales in two octaves: C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat

All wind and brass instruments should be prepared to play a two-octave chromatic scale starting on a note of their choice.

Non-melodic percussion should be prepare to play the following rudiments in Slow-Fast-Slow performance for 15-30 seconds:

Double stroke open roll
Single paradiddle

Solo

Prepare a solo piece of music of your choice that fully demonstrates your technical and lyrical musical abilities. Your solo piece will only be approximately three minutes of your audition, so choose the sections/movements that best display your ability. A movement of a work comparable to the Class A or B solos found on the OMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest List is highly recommended but is not required. Other acceptable pieces include works not listed on the OMEA Solo & Ensemble Contest List:

Concertos
Sonatas
Etudes
Partitas

Percussionists should select two contrasting excerpts to be performed on two different percussion instruments (one melodic and one non-melodic). School ensemble repertoire is acceptable. All percussionists are required to bring their own mallets.