Audition Requirements
2020 YOLA National Festival
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Audition Requirements PDF
Requisitos de la audición musical PDF
REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS
Personal Statement Video
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.
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What helps a group of orchestral musicians collaborate well? Talk about a specific example of a time when you helped a group communicate and collaborate well with each other and how that helped the group become more successful.
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How have you used music to deal with challenges in your life? Give a specific example of when listening to or playing music helped improve a moment in your life. What was it about the music that helped?
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Who is someone that inspires you, musically or as a person? What is it about them that has motivated you? What are some specific ways that you express what you learned from that person in your own way as a musician, mentor, or ensemble member?
REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS
Musical Audition
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 under their instrument.
Note: All instruments should perform their assigned scale using the scale pattern:
Symphony Orchestra applicants should perform at a minimum tempo of ♩= 120
Chamber Orchestra applicants should perform at a minimum tempo of ♩= 90
2. Two assigned music excerpts
Note: Flutists, oboists, and percussionists are required to submit 3 assigned excerpts.
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.
Note: 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.”
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.
In your submission of scales and excerpts, please introduce the scale/excerpt before performing. Each student should submit only one application.
If you have specific questions about these requirements, please email us at YOLA@laphil.org.
Assigned Scales & Excerpts per instrument
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
D Major, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
RACHMANINOV: Symphony No. 2 (Mvmt. 1, 7 mm. before rehearsal 33 to 4 mm. before rehearsal 35) |
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VERDI: La Forza del Destino Overture (9 mm. after rehearsal C to rehearsal letter F) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
G Major, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
BIZET: Carmen Suite No. 1 (Intermezzo, 6 before rehearsal B to end) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
Ab Major, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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MOZART: Symphony No. 35 (Mvmt. 4, 10 after rehearsal D to rehearsal E) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 2 octaves + G Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
D Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scherzo Mvmt., rehearsal N through rehearsal O) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
D Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 (Mvmt. 4, rehearsal D through 12 mm. after rehearsal D) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major, 2 octaves (*Optional: 3 octaves) |
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Required Excerpts: |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Romeo and Juliet (Mvmt. 1, 10 mm. before rehearsal D to 3 mm. after rehearsal E) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
G Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 3 octaves, separated up, slurred down + |
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Required Excerpts: (Play all 3) |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major, 2 octaves, separated up, slurred down + |
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Required Excerpts: |
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BIZET: L’Arlesienne Suite No. 2 (III. Menuet, beginning to rehearsal A) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major, 2 octaves, separated up, slurred down + |
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Required Excerpts: |
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ROSSINI: Semiramide Overture (14 mm. after rehearsal T through rehearsal U) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Db Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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D Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
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RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade (Mvmt. 3, pickup to rehearsal A to 17 mm. before rehearsal B) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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D Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
ROSSINI: Italian in Algiers (rehearsal F to 4 mm. before rehearsal G) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major (D concert), 3 octaves, separated |
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Bb Major (Ab concert), 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
BERLIOZ: Symphony Fantastique (Mvmt. 3, 3 mm. after rehearsal 43 through rehearsal 44) |
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MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mvmt. 1, beginning to m. 33) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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F Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major (D concert), 3 octaves, slurred |
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Ab Major (Gb concert), 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1 (Mvmt. 2, rehearsal 23 to 4 mm. before rehearsal 25) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 3 octaves, slurred |
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A Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: (Choose 2 excerpts) |
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PROKOFIEV: Peter and the Wolf (Pickup to rehearsal 15 to 4 mm. after rehearsal 16) |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
G Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Ab Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F# Major (E concert), 2 octaves, slurred |
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Bb Major (Ab concert), 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
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MUSSORGSKY: Pictures At An Exhibition (Beginning to rehearsal 2) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major (G concert), 2 octaves, slurred |
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D Major (C concert), 1 octave, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C# Major (F# concert), 2 octaves, slurred |
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Bb Major (Eb concert), 3 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
MENDELSSOHN: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Mvmt. 7, beginning to m. 34) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major (Eb concert), 2 octaves, slurred |
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F Major (Bb concert), 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
MUSSORGSKY: Pictures at an Exhibition (Mvmt. 1, 7 mm. after rehearsal 18 to rehearsal 19) |
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STRAVINSKY: Firebird Suite (Finale, rehearsal 11 to rehearsal 12) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 1 octave, slurred OR B-flat Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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G Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
BERLIOZ: Hungarian March (1 m. before rehearsal 4 to 3 mm. after rehearsal 5) |
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WAGNER: Tannhäuser (rehearsal A to 27 mm. before rehearsal B) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales |
D Major, 1 octave, slurred OR B-flat Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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G Major, 2 octaves, separated OR F Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts |
RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Russian Easter Overture (Solo at rehearsal M) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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A Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
BERLIOZ: Hungarian March (1 m. before rehearsal 4 to 3 mm. after rehearsal 5) |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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C Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
MUSSORGSKY Night on Bald Mountain (m. 14 to 11 measures before rehearsal A) |
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TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4 (Mvmt. 4, 4 mm. after rehearsal A to rehearsal C) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales |
B-flat Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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B-flat Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpt |
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare: Long roll from pp to FF to pp Mallets: Db Major AND F# Harmonic Minor Timpani: Long roll from pp to FF ending on a 4 staccato accented notes (muffling) |
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Required Excerpt: |
PROKOFIEV: Lieutenant Kije (Mvmt. 1, rehearsal 1 to rehearsal 2) |
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RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Scheherazade (Mvmt. 4, rehearsal P through rehearsal R) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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KABALEVSKY: Comedians (rehearsal 15 to rehearsal 16), Xylophone |
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Required Excerpt: |
TCHAIKOVSKY: Symphony No. 4 (Mvmt. 1, rehearsal T to 2 before rehearsal U) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare: Long roll from pp to FF to pp Mallets: Ab major Timpani: Long roll from pp to FF ending on a staccato accented note (muffling) |
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Required Excerpt: |
KABALEVSKY: The Comedians (Mvmt. 2, rehearsal 10 to 1 m. before rehearsal 15) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Required Excerpt: |
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