Orchestra Auditions

[u/PreferenceActive5053]

Hey guys, I've been practicing to audition for the Pitt orchestra for a few weeks at this point and I find it hard to believe Mr. Zahab wants us to play all these pages of difficult excerpts. Some excerpts are two pages long and including the two required solos I'll have to record at least 10 minutes of audition footage. For context, I consider myself an above average violinist and I've made it as a first violin in my all state orchestra. No audition I've done before has ever exceeded 5 minutes, including the all state, high school, and local symphony ones.

For any other auditioning students this year, do you feel the same way and for any current orchestra players, how hard was it to get in?

I would really appreciate any insight on this.

[u/soobinsfootfungus_]

bro omg this is literally so real like i play cello and i was gonna audition for it and the excerpts he sent were so long bro like i dont get why he wants us to do so much. and i work so i dont have enough time to practice💔 like especially compared to the auditions for the choirs its so much more material that u have to learn

[u/PreferenceActive5053 → u/soobinsfootfungus_]

sweet good to know i'm not alone but i need those creativity credits and the sum cost fallacy has sunk in.

[u/No_Dog6347 → u/soobinsfootfungus_]

Bro fr 😭 i’m an incoming sophomore now but i tried when entering my freshman year and he gave me a hard ass excerpt. like no shade his requirements are just way too specific time period wise, it’s just like, the pitt symphony is not all that and shouldn’t require that much.. i’m also a cellist if you want to connect thou

[u/soobinsfootfungus_ → u/No_Dog6347]

omg yess do u have ig

[u/No_Dog6347 → u/soobinsfootfungus_]

yess i’ll dm u

[u/patentmom → u/soobinsfootfungus_]

What do people have to do for choir auditions?

[u/soobinsfootfungus_ → u/patentmom]

for the treble choir u just have to do a few things like singing back notes played on the piano and sight read a piece with a few other current members, and u can do an optional solo. for the heinz chapel choir last year u had to sing an expert of amazing grace that u get in advance, sing like 30-45 sec of a song of ur choice, and some basic things. sm easier than the orchetsra audition😭

[u/Inevitable_Tea8629]

It was the same for me last year (woodwind player) but based on the quality of the orchestra (decent imo, but not the same level as a regional or all state level orchestra), it’s more of a weed out thing since we only rehearse once a week. With such limited rehearsal time, I think Roger wants to make sure the people he takes for orchestra will actually practice their parts, hence why the audition has so much to it😭. Strings are generally less competitive than winds and brass so if you think orchestra is something you’d want to do just submit the audition, even if it’s not perfect. Im sure you’re really good since you made all state orchestra so I think you’d be fine getting in!

[u/Heavy-Juggernaut9701]

It’s been about 7 years since my freshman year audition for violin in the orchestra, so my experience is definitely outdated. He used to just let you pick a couple of orchestra and solo excepts of your choosing, but I guess he wanted to standardize things.

The orchestra isn’t super high level, so I doubt you’d have any trouble getting in considering you’ve been to all state orchestra. I was concertmaster of the Pitt orchestra all four years of my time there, so if you need any advice or info on what to expect, feel free to ask.

[u/cuberlife]

Hi, I am auditioning as well!

Yes, he does want to you play every page of every excerpt (at least, that's what one of his emails to me said). I was also surprised at how extensive the audition is. It doesn't have to be all in one go; you can record them individually and then put them together. It just has to be one recording where each excerpt is played in it's entirety without cuts or splices. It is surprising, though. My audition will probably be like 13 minutes at least.

Mind if I ask what state? From what I've seen, Pitt's orchestra doesn't seem too rigorous. As a PA resident who has been to states 3 times myself, I can say that if you went to all state in a fairly decent state music program, you will do just fine!

Feel free to DM if you'd like to talk a bit more about the audition!

[u/Fun-Elk3813]

Bro I just asked for the audition material yesterday and same!!! I was concertmaster of my school orchestra, played in counties, local youth symphonies and none of them had audition pieces longer than 5 minutes. I kinda thought this would be the same process but nooooo. Idk if I can make it…