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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

Required Scales:

E flat Major, 3 octaves (Separate bows, detache)

C minor, 3 octaves (Slurred by 3)

Required Excerpts:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 4, Movement 4 (Letter A - B)

Beethoven: Symphony No 9, Movement 3 (mm. 99 – 114)

 
Chamber Orchestra

Required Scale:

C Major, 3 octaves (separate & slurred by 3)

A Harmonic minor, 3 octaves (separate & slurred by 3)

Required Excerpts:

Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture (mm. 76-93)

Brahms: Symphony No. 1 (mm. 185-203)

 

Viola

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

G Major, 3 octaves (separate bows, detache)

C minor, 3 octaves (slurred in groups of 3)

Required Excerpts:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 4, Movement 4 (Letter A – B)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No 4, Movement 2 (mm. 77 – 97)

 
Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

D Major scale and arpeggio, 3 octaves (tempo 70 = slurred eighth note triplets)

E melodic minor scale, 2 octaves (tempo 70 = 2 eighth notes slurred

Required Excerpts:

Kalinnikov: Serenade for Strings Movement 1 (mm. 26-51)

Glinka: Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture (mm. 1-62) tempo dotted quarter = 140-150

Cello / Violinchelo

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scale:

Eb Major 3 octaves (Separate bows, detache)

G melodic minor 3 octaves (Slurred in groups of 3)

Required Excerpts:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 1 (H-I)

Beethoven: Symphony 5, Movement 2 (mm. 1-10, 49-59, 98-106)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scale:

D Major scale and arpeggio, 3 octaves: Separate bowings and slurred by 3

C melodic minor scale, 3 octaves: tempo 70= 2 eighth notes slurred

Required Excerpts:

Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Movement 3 (mm. 1-39)

Dvorak: Symphony No. 8, Movement 1 (mm. D to E)

 

Bass / Bajo

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

Bb Major 2 Octaves (separate, Detaché)

A harmonic minor 2 octaves (slur 2)

Required Excerpts:

Mozart: Symphony 39 Movement. 1 (mm. 40 - 82 (14 before A to 12th of B))

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 4 (A to downbeat of B)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

D Major, 2 octaves

Bb Major scale, 2 octaves

Required Excerpts:

Wagner: Die Meistersinger Overture (K to first note of L)

Sibelius: Symphony no 2, Movement 2 (mm. 2-29)

Flute / Flauta

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

E Major, 2 octaves- quarter equals 132 in eighth notes tongue up, slur down

D minor harmonic, 2 octaves

Required Excerpts:

Brahms: Symphony 4, Movement 4 (Pickup to m. 94-105)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 4 (A-downbeat mm. 42 AND mm. 86-90)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

A Major, 2 octaves

D harmonic minor, 2 octaves

Quarter equals 104 in eighth notes tongue up, slur down

Required Excerpts:

Beethoven: Leonore Overture 3 (mm. 328-380)

Bizet: Carmen, "Entr'acte" (beginning to 5 before B)

 

*Piccolo (Optional)

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

E Major, 2 octaves

D minor harmonic, 2 octaves

Required Excerpts:

Rossini: Overture to Semiramide (5 after G to 1 after H (mm. 132-143))

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4 Movement 4 (mm. 127-146)

Oboe

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

F Major, 2 octaves, slurred

Bb harmonic minor, 2 octaves, articulated

Required Excerpts:

Ravel: LeTombeau de Couperin, Movement 1 (Opening solo – 2)
Tempo: dotted quarter = 70-80

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 2 (mm.1-21)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

Db Major, 2 octaves

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.

Required Excerpts:

Coleridge-Taylor: Petite Suite (No.4 / Coda, top line)

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movement 2 (Solo from A to B)

 

Clarinet / Clarinete

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

Ab major (3 octaves)

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

Required Excerpts:

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, Movement 3 (6 mm. before reh 46 to downbeat of bar 1 before reh 47)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Movement 4 (Reh. A to one bar before B)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

E major (3 octaves)

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

Required Excerpts:

Beethoven: Symphony 8, Movement 3 (mm. 48-78 (with repeats))

Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2 Movement 3 (6 mm. before reh 46 to downbeat of bar 1 before reh 47.)
Clarinet 1. Quarter note = 60 (A clarinet)

 

Bassoon / Fagot

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

Bb Harmonic Minor (3 octaves)

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

Required Excerpts: 

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Movement 4 (Reh 52 to downbeat of reh 53)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Movement 2 (274 – end)

 
Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

Bb** major scale

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

Required Excerpts:

Beethoven: Symphony No.7, Movement 2 (mm.149-183)
Bassoon 1: Quarter note = 60

Rossini: William Tell Overture (mm. 377 to 407)
Bassoon 1: Quarter = 252

 

French Horn / Corno

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

Concert Db Major & Arpeggio - Three Octaves

Concert Ab minor & Arpeggio - Two Octaves

Required Excerpts:

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 4 ( mm. 100 to 111, mm. 189 to 245, and mm. 257 to 259)
All short passages as part of this one excerpt

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 (Mov. 3 Horn 2: Trio 171 – 200)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

Eb Major, 2 Octaves

G Major, 2 Octaves

Required Excerpts:

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture (7[G] to downbeat of [G])

Brahms: Symphony No. 3, Movement 3 (Horn 1, F - 12 after F)


*Note that a transposed version for the Chamber Orchestra excerpts was updated on 1/18.

Trombone / Trombón

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

Bb Major, 2 octaves (legato)

C minor, 2 octaves (detached)

Play each note as an eighth note. Quater note = 72 bpm, ascending and descending

Required Excerpts:

Rossini: William Tell Overture (C to 9 after D)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Movement 4 (mm 38-59)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales

F Major 2 octaves (legato)

G minor 2 octaves (detached)

Required Excerpts

Rossini: William Tell Overture (Rehearsal P to 6 measures before Q)

Saint-Saëns: Symphony No. 3, Movement 1 (Q to 2mm. after S)

 

*Bass Trombone / Trombón bajo (Optional)

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

Db Major 2 octaves (legato)

Ab minor 2 octaves (detached)

Play each note as an eighth note. Quater note = 72 bpm, ascending and descending

Required Excerpts:

Haydn: The Creation (No. 26: beginning to Rehearsal A) 

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Movement 4 (mm. 38-59 [B])

 

Tuba

Symphony Orchestra

Required Scales:

D Major 2 octaves (legato)

C minor 2 octaves (detached)

Required Excerpts:

Mahler: Symphony No. 1, Movement 3 (mm. 15-24)

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.4 (Movement 4 (mm. 38-51)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales:

Bb Major 2 octaves (staccato)

G minor 2 Octaves (detached)

Required Excerpt:

Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique, Movement 5 ([68] to 14 measures before [69])

Verdi: Overture to Nabucco (Beginning – 17)

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

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 PatternHERE**

Timpani: Roll from pp to FF to pp

Required Excerpt:
Snare

Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade, Movement 3 (rehearsal D- 8 before K)

Rossini: Overture to the Opera "LA Gazza Ladra" (Beginning to 2 mm. before rehearsal B)

Required Excerpt:
Mallets

Stravinsky: FireBird 1910 (Letter 126 to end)

Mozart: From the Magic Flute, K. 620 (Act 1 Finale. 1.1 page)

Required Excerpt:
Timpani

Tchaikovsky: Symphony 4, Movement 1 (2 before T-U)


Chamber Orchestra

Required Scales and Rudiments:

Snare: Snare drum long roll See Attached

Mallets: E major scale (2 octaves**)

C# harmonic scale (2 octaves)**

Scale PatternHERE**

Timpani: Roll from pp to FF pp

Required Excerpt:
Snare

Rossini: Overture to the Opera "LA Gazza Ladra" (Beginning to 3 bars before rehearsal A)

Philip Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever (Beginning to 1st beat of the 1st ending)

Required Excerpt:
Mallets

Saint-Saens: XII Fossile from Carnival of the Animals (Beginning to rehearsal 4)

Tchaikovsky: Valse from Sleeping Beauty (m.m 108 to 140)

Required Excerpt:
Timpani
Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, KV.620 Overture Allegro (m.m 186- end)