Audition Requirements
2022 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:
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.
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 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: |
D Major, 3 octaves (8th notes, 4 slurred at Quarter = 60, then separate bows twice as fast - 16th notes) |
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A Melodic Minor, 3 octaves (8th notes, 4 slurred at Quarter = 60, then separate bows twice as fast - 16th notes) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Mozart, W.A: Symphony No. 39 (Mvm't 2: Beginning to downbeat of mm.38 (no repeat) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
B flat Major, 3 octaves |
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A Melodic Minor, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Suk: Serenade for Strings (Mvm’t 1: mm. 1 to 35 (downbeat only) |
Viola
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 3 octaves (any bowing and tempo that is comfortable for you) |
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A Melodic Minor, 3 octaves (any bowing and tempo that is comfortable for you) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 3 octaves |
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D Melodic Major, 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No.3 ( Mvm’t 3 - Viola 1 part: mm. 1 to 12) (Dotted Q = 66) |
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Kalinnikov: Serenade for Strings (Mvm’t 1: mm. B to D) (Q = 60-64) |
Cello / Violinchelo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
C Major, 3 octaves (Separate bows) |
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E Melodic Minor, 3 octaves (Separate bows) |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scale: |
E flat Major, 2 octaves |
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A Melodic Minor, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
Grieg Holberg Suite (Mvm’t 4: Q to the end (play top line of the divisi) |
Bass / Bajo
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E major 3 octaves |
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D Minor, 2 octaves (Melodic or Harmonic - musicians choice) |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: William Tell Overture (C to downbeat of 13 after D) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
G Major, 2 octaves |
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F Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Beethoven: Symphany No. 6 (Mvmt 1 – mm 13 to mm 28 & mm 83 to mm 104) |
Flute / Flauta
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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D flat Major, 2 or 3 octaves (musicians' choice), tongued |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: William Tell (6 mm after the Andante to the Allegro) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
B flat major, 2 octaves |
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D major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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*Piccolo (Optional)
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major, 2 octaves |
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B flat Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Oboe
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D flat Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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E Major, 2 octaves, articulated |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 2 octaves, articulated |
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D Minor, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Clarinet / Clarinete
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major, 3 octaves, articulated |
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B flat Minor, 2 octaves, slurred |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 2. (1) Mvmt 2, mm 3 to 10; (2) Mvmt 2, Reh. F to four before G) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major, 3 octaves |
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Chromatic Scale low E to E above 3 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Rossini: William Tell (mm. 243 to 259 – don't play last two notes of mm. 259) |
*Bass Clarinet (Optional)
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E Major, 2 octaves |
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Chromatic scale low E to high C |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Bassoon / Fagot
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major, 3 octaves, slurred |
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F# Harmonic Minor, 2 octaves, tongued |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A Major, 2 octaves, slurred |
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G Harmonic Minor, 2 octaves, tongued |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Trumpet / Trompeta
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
A flat Major, 2 octaves |
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B Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
E flat Major, 1 octave |
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G Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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French Horn / Corno
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
C Major written (F concert) 3 octaves, slurred |
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G Chromatic scale, 2 octaves, tongued |
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Required Excerpts: |
Rossini: William Tell Overture (Horn III in E - mm. 230 to mm. 300 (reh K) |
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Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 (Horn in E-flat – Mvmt 3 mm 171 to 202) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major (B flat concert), 2 octaves, slurred |
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G Major (D concert), 2 octaves, tongued |
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Required Excerpts: |
Stravinsky: Firebird, Finale: Lento maestoso (Horn I in F - Reh. 11 to 12) |
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Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4, Op. 3 (Horn II in F - mm. 1 to 20 (beginning – 7 after A) |
Trombone / Trombón
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
B flat Major, 2 octaves |
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G Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Rossini: William Tell Overture (1st Trombone: Reh P to 6 before Q) |
Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales |
F Major, 2 octaves |
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B flat Major, 1 octave |
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Required Excerpts |
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*Bass Trombone / Trombón bajo (Optional)
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
D Major, 2 octaves |
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C Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Tuba
Symphony Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
G Major, 2 octaves |
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B flat Major, 2 octaves |
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Required Excerpts: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales: |
F Major, 1 octave |
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B flat Major, 1 octave |
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Required Excerpt: |
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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: Roll from pp to FF to pp |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Required Excerpt: |
Dukas: Sorcerer's Apprentice (4 after Reh. 17 to 3 before Reh. 20) |
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Required Excerpt: |
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Chamber Orchestra
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Required Scales and Rudiments: |
Snare: Roll from pp to FF to pp Mallets: A major AND B flat Major (2 octaves) Timpani: Roll from pp to FF pp |
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Required Excerpt: |
Ravel: Bolero (mm 1 to 4 – play twice: first time pp, second time FF) |
| Required Excerpt: Mallets |
Rachmaninoff: Symphonic Dances (Mvmt 3 - 3 before 65 to 1 before 66) |
| Required Excerpt: Timpani |
Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 (Mvmt. 1, 17 after the Allegro con Brio to A) |
| Holst: The Planets (Beginning to Reh 1) |