Audition Requirements
2021 YOLA National Festival
Important! In order to access links for your audition excerpts below, you need to first fill out this form to receive the password.
Download a PDF version of this page:
Personal Statement & Musical Audition Requirements PDF
Declaración Personal y Requisitos de Audición Musical PDF
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.
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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?
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 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, and Chamber Orchestra applicants should perform at a minimum tempo of ♩= 90
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.
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.”
Violin / Violín
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 3 octaves |
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G Melodic Minor, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Rossini: William Tell (pick-up to m. 300 - first note of 343) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
G Major, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Bizet: Carmen Suite No. 1, Intermezzo (6 before B - end of mvt) |
Viola
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major, 3 octaves |
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A Melodic Minor, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2, mvt. 1 (pickup to the Molto meno mosso after K to 4m. after L) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 2 octaves |
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G Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Cello / Violinchelo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
D Major, 3 octaves |
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C Melodic Minor, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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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) |
Bass / Bajo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E major 3 octaves |
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G harmonic minor 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
G Major, 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, separated up, slurred down |
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Ab Major, 2 octaves, separated up, slurred down |
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Required Excerpts: |
Mendelssohn: Midsummer Night's Dream (Scherzo: 12 mm. before Reh.P to End) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
B flat major, 2 octaves, tongued up, slurred down |
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D major, 2 octaves, tongued up, slurred down |
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Required Excerpts: |
Bizet: Menuet from L'Arlesienne Suite No.2(beginning to rehearsal A) |
Oboe
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Eb Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.2 1st Movement (Letter E to 12th bar after E.) |
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: |
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Clarinet / Clarinete
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major (Eb concert) |
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C Natural Minor (Bb concert) |
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E Chromatic (D concert) |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: William Tell Overture (Measure 243-259 (don't play last two notes of N. 259) |
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Marquez: Conga del Fuego Nuevo (M. 59-74; M. 226-228; M. 234-236) |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major (C concert) |
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F Major (Eb concert) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Bassoon / Fagot
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major, 3 octaves, slurred |
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A Melodic Minor, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts (Choose 2 excerpts): |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 4 (17 before Reh. A to Reh. A -AND- Reh. P for 24 bars) |
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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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Trumpet / Trompeta
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Ab Major (Gb concert) |
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B Major (A concert) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Dvorak: New World Symphony (1st trumpet: Mvm't 4, Opening Call, m.8-25) |
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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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French Horn / Corno
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Chromatic (Bb concert) |
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Bb Major (Eb concert), 3 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: William Tell Overture (Horn III, in E ms. 230 to ms. 300 (reh K) |
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Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel, op. 28 (Horn I, in F): beginning to reh 1 |
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, 1919 version (Finale, rehearsal 11 to rehearsal 12) |
Trombone / Trombón
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
Bb Major, 2 octave, legato |
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G Major, 2 octaves, legato |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: William Tell Overture (1st trombone: Letter P to the end) |
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Marquez: Conga del Fuego Nuevo (1st trombone: Mm. 250 to the end) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales |
D Major, 1 octave, slurred OR B-flat Major, 1 octave, 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 ((2nd Trombone): Letter [M] Solo) |
Bass Trombone / Trombón bajo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 2 octaves, legato |
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C Major, 2 octaves, legato |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tuba
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Bb Major, 2 octaves, separated |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2 (4th Movement): Letter Q to downbeat of Letter R |
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: |
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.
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare (choose 2): Buzz Roll from pp to FF to pp (slow) Mallets: Ab Major AND B Harmonic Minor (1 octave) Timpani: Long roll from pp to FF ending on a staccato accented note (muffling) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Required Excerpt: |
Ginastera: Estancia (Xylophone: Mov. IV Malambo 16 to the end.) |
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Copland: An Outdoor Overture (both Xylophone and Bell (originally celesta) parts: m.52 to 76 |
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Required Excerpt: |
Marquez: Conga del Fuego Nuevo (4 Timpani tuned: G - C - D - E: m.250 to the End) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare: Long roll from pp to FF to pp Mallets: Ab major(1 octave) Timpani: Long roll from pp to FF ending on a staccato accented note (muffling) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Tchaikovsky: March Slav (From Andante Molto Maestoso to End) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Saint-Saens: Carnival of the Animals (The Fossils: Xylophone solo) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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