Audition Requirements
2023 YOLA National Festival
Before you begin:
In order to access links for your audition excerpts below, you need to first fill out this form to receive the password:
En Español:
Requisitos de la Audición Musical
Personal Statement Video
Required for all students
In a single, unedited video, please record yourself answering one of the three personal statement questions below in 90 seconds or less. Please begin your video by stating which question number you are answering. If you applied last year, do not reuse your video. Answer specifically and express your unique perspective.
1. How have you used, or how do you believe you can use your musical experience to shape the world around you? Give us a specific example of this and explain how it has or could impact the people that surround you.
2. What are some of the skills, lessons, and values you’ve learned from studying music that will help you be successful in the life you envision?
3. Who is someone that inspires you, musically or as a person? Tell us about why this musician/person inspires you, and what you have learned about this person’s ability to create inspiration through their work.
Musical Audition
Required for all students
The musical audition is comprised of two sections:
1. Assigned scales:
• String Players must perform each assigned scale twice with the following articulations:
1. Slurred articulation
2. Detaché
• Winds, Brass, & Percussion Players must perform each assigned scale with the articulations specified in the following pages.
Note: All instruments should perform their assigned scale using the scale pattern: Symphony Orchestra applicants should perform at a minimum tempo of ♩= 120, and Chamber Orchestra applicants should perform at a minimum tempo of ♩= 90
**Please only follow the above articulation and scale pattern if one is not already specified for your instrument.
2. Required music excerpts
The following will provide information on Required Scales and Excerpts specifically for your instrument. You will be prompted to upload your videos on the online application platform.
If you have specific questions about these requirements, please email us at YOLA@laphil.org.
Audition Scales & Excerpt Requirements
In the final submission of scales and excerpts, please introduce the scale/excerpt before performing. Each student should submit only one application.
Symphony Orchestra
Musicians aged 14-18 may apply to the 100 member symphony orchestra. This is a highly competitive ensemble, open to the most advanced players from El Sistema-inspired and aligned programs from across the country.
*Applicants aged 14 who are not selected for the Symphony Orchestra will automatically be considered for the Chamber Orchestra.
Chamber Orchestra
Musicians aged 12-14 are eligible for the Chamber Orchestra. Though students aged 14 can apply for the Symphony Orchestra, they may also choose to apply only for the Chamber Orchestra by submitting the excerpts labelled “Chamber Orchestra.”
Violin / Violín
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E flat Major, 3 octaves (Separate bows, detache) |
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C minor, 3 octaves (Slurred by 3) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
C Major, 3 octaves (separate & slurred by 3) |
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A Harmonic minor, 3 octaves (separate & slurred by 3) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Viola
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
G Major, 3 octaves (separate bows, detache) |
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C minor, 3 octaves (slurred in groups of 3) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major scale and arpeggio, 3 octaves (tempo 70 = slurred eighth note triplets) |
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E melodic minor scale, 2 octaves (tempo 70 = 2 eighth notes slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture (mm. 1-62) tempo dotted quarter = 140-150 |
Cello / Violinchelo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
Eb Major 3 octaves (Separate bows, detache) |
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G melodic minor 3 octaves (Slurred in groups of 3) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
D Major scale and arpeggio, 3 octaves: Separate bowings and slurred by 3 |
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C melodic minor scale, 3 octaves: tempo 70= 2 eighth notes slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Bass / Bajo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major 2 Octaves (separate, Detaché) |
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A harmonic minor 2 octaves (slur 2) |
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Required Excerpts: |
Mozart: Symphony 39 Movement. 1 (mm. 40 - 82 (14 before A to 12th of B)) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 2 octaves |
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Bb Major scale, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Flute / Flauta
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major, 2 octaves- quarter equals 132 in eighth notes tongue up, slur down |
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D minor harmonic, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 4 (A-downbeat mm. 42 AND mm. 86-90) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major, 2 octaves |
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D harmonic minor, 2 octaves Quarter equals 104 in eighth notes tongue up, slur down |
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Required Excerpts: |
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*Piccolo (Optional)
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major, 2 octaves |
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D minor harmonic, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: Overture to Semiramide (5 after G to 1 after H (mm. 132-143)) |
Oboe
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Bb harmonic minor, 2 octaves, articulated |
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Required Excerpts: |
Ravel: LeTombeau de Couperin, Movement 1 (Opening solo – 2) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Db Major, 2 octaves |
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C melodic minor, 2t octaves Scales - Tempo: quarter note = 92; the scale pattern is 2 eighth notes slurred followed by 2 eight notes staccato, repeating the pattern through the scale (do not repeat top note but descend immediately after top note is reached). Arpeggios - the same tempo, but all slurred. |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movement 2 (Solo from A to B) |
Clarinet / Clarinete
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Ab major (3 octaves) |
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F# melodic or harmonic minor (3 octaves) Scales should be played on B-flat clarinet at quarter note = 120 in a one 8th + two 16ths + four 16ths rhythmic pattern repeated up and down the scale. Scales indicated are starting pitch NOT concert pitch. [Concert pitch = E harmonic or melodic minor (3 octaves) and F# Major (3 octaves)]. If an A clarinet is not available excerpts may be played on B-flat clarinet |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Movement 3 (6 mm. before reh 46 to downbeat of bar 1 before reh 47) |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Movement 4 (Reh. A to one bar before B) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E major (3 octaves) |
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A melodic or harmonic minor (3 octaves) Scales should be played on B-flat clarinet at quarter note = 120 in a one 8th + two 16ths + four 16ths rhythmic pattern repeated up and down the scale. Scales indicated are starting pitch NOT concert pitch. [Concert pitch = G harmonic or melodic minor (3 octaves) and D Major (3 octaves)]. If an A clarinet is not available excerpts may be played on B-flat clarinet |
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Required Excerpts: |
Beethoven: Symphony 8, Movement 3 (mm. 48-78 (with repeats)) |
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Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 Movement 3 (6 mm. before reh 46 to downbeat of bar 1 before reh 47.) |
*Bass Clarinet (Optional)
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Same as SO Clarinet |
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Required Excerpts: |
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (first suite) reh. 26 to 2 before reh 28 and reh. 61 to one before reh. 66 |
Bassoon / Fagot
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Harmonic Minor (3 octaves) |
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A major (2 octaves) Scales: tongued legato, for each octave - quarter note (tonic) followed by eighths ascending and repeat the same rhythmic pattern descending. Tempo for scales is Quarter Note = 100 |
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Required Excerpts: |
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Movement 4 (Reh 52 to downbeat of reh 53) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb** major scale |
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E** harmonic or melodic scale, 2** octaves Scales: tongued legato, for each octave - quarter note (tonic) followed by eighths ascending and repeat the same rhythmic pattern descending |
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Required Excerpts: |
Beethoven: Symphony No.7, Movement 2 (mm.149-183) |
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Rossini: William Tell Overture (mm. 377 to 407) |
Trumpet / Trompeta
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major, 2 octaves |
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E minor 1 octave |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 4 (9 bars after A to the downbeat of B) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
G Major, 2 octaves |
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F# minor, 2 octaves starting on low F# |
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Required Excerpts: |
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French Horn / Corno
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Concert Db Major & Arpeggio - Three Octaves |
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Concert Ab minor & Arpeggio - Two Octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 4 ( mm. 100 to 111, mm. 189 to 245, and mm. 257 to 259) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Eb Major, 2 Octaves |
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G Major, 2 Octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture (7[G] to downbeat of [G]) |
*Note that a transposed version for the Chamber Orchestra excerpts was updated on 1/18.
Trombone / Trombón
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major, 2 octaves (legato) |
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C minor, 2 octaves (detached) Play each note as an eighth note. Quater note = 72 bpm, ascending and descending |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales |
F Major 2 octaves (legato) |
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G minor 2 octaves (detached) |
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Required Excerpts |
Rossini: William Tell Overture (Rehearsal P to 6 measures before Q) |
*Bass Trombone / Trombón bajo (Optional)
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Db Major 2 octaves (legato) |
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Ab minor 2 octaves (detached) Play each note as an eighth note. Quater note = 72 bpm, ascending and descending |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tuba
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major 2 octaves (legato) |
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C minor 2 octaves (detached) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major 2 octaves (staccato) |
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G minor 2 Octaves (detached) |
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Required Excerpt: |
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Movement 5 ([68] to 14 measures before [69]) |
Percussion / Percusión
We understand that access to percussion instruments may be limited due to the pandemic. Please contact yola@laphil.org if you are unable to access specific instruments for the excerpts listed below.
**Note that if you looked at these requirements before 12/1 there have been some edits to the scale requirements.
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare: Snare drum long roll See Attached Mallets (choose 2): A flat major scale with arpeggio (2 octaves) F harmonic minor scale (2 octaves) Chromatic scale starts C (2 octaves) Scale Pattern—HERE** Timpani: Roll from pp to FF to pp |
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Required Excerpt: |
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movement 3 (rehearsal D- 8 before K) |
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Rossini: Overture to the Opera "LA Gazza Ladra" (Beginning to 2 mm. before rehearsal B) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Mozart: From the Magic Flute, K. 620 (Act 1 Finale. 1.1 page) |
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Required Excerpt: |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare: Snare drum long roll See Attached Mallets: E major scale (2 octaves**) C# harmonic scale (2 octaves)** Scale Pattern—HERE** Timpani: Roll from pp to FF pp |
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Required Excerpt: |
Rossini: Overture to the Opera "LA Gazza Ladra" (Beginning to 3 bars before rehearsal A) |
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Philip Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever (Beginning to 1st beat of the 1st ending) |
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| Required Excerpt: Mallets |
Saint-Saens: XII Fossile from Carnival of the Animals (Beginning to rehearsal 4) |
| Required Excerpt: Timpani |
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, KV.620 Overture Allegro (m.m 186- end) |