Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies 2021–22 Audition Guidelines: VIOLIN

Register for your audition at gtcys.org/auditions. Questions: info@gtcys.org

• GTCYS auditions are opportunities to play your instrument so we can get to know you and match you with oneof our ten incredible orchestras!

• To audition for GTCYS, students will register online, record a video, and submit their audition online.• Please contact us if you have any questions about the audition process or requirements.

AUDITION STEPS (NEW details for 2021-22!)

1. Register for an audition at gtcys.org/auditions.2. Read this document and decide which page of requirements to prepare. Pick only ONE based on your abilities

and experience (click on orchestra names to learn more about each group):• Philharmonia East & West (beginning strings – no winds)• Sinfonia East & West / Concertino East & West (developing strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion)• Camerata / Concert Orchestra (advanced strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion)• Philharmonic / Symphony (most advanced strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion)

3. Practice, practice, practice!4. Record your audition video and submit it online.5. See the GTCYS audition website for audition deadlines, video submission instructions, audition tips, frequently

asked questions, information about available tuition assistance, and more.

WHAT DO I PRACTICE FOR MY AUDITION?

1. SCALES• Prepare the required scales listed in your selected requirements – use the given tempos as your goal.• Music for scales is provided for Philharmonia and Sinfonia/Concertino levels.• Minor scales can be performed in any form (natural, harmonic, or melodic).

2. SOLO• Prepare one piece of music that demonstrates your best abilities. Selections can include solos, studies, school

music, or other pieces.• Your solo selection should not be more than 5 minutes in length. If your solo is longer than 5 minutes, please

make appropriate cuts within the music.

3. EXCERPTS (All auditions include excerpts for 2021-22)• Excerpts are short sections of music taken from larger pieces.• Prepare all the excerpts included on your requirements page and follow all markings.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER MY AUDITION?

• You will be placed in an appropriate orchestra based on your audition performance. Other factors such asinstrumentation needs may be considered as well.

• The orchestra level you choose to audition for does not ensure placement in those orchestras; audition judgesand conductors will make placement decisions based on the overall quality of your performance.

• GTCYS makes every effort to offer all students placement in one of our orchestras. There are limits on specificinstruments in each orchestra (most often flute and clarinet) which would result in a waitlist for that instrument.

• Tuition assistance and support for private lessons is available. GTCYS is committed to serving young musiciansregardless of financial constraints. Interested families can find more information at gtcys.org/auditions.

• Previous participation in GTCYS does not guarantee placement and all placements are final.

Philharmonia East and West - ViolinMusic is primarily in first position, and musicians should know detaché and staccato bow strokes. To audition for one of these orchestras, please prepare and record the following:

2. Solo (your choice - 5 minutes or less)

3. Excerpt:

1. Required Scales:

% ∀∀ œ œ œ œq = 66

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙D major - 1 octave

% œ œ œ œq = 66 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙A minor - 1 octave

2021-22 GTCYS Auditions - Violin - Page 2

Susan Day - Coronation of the Queen

1. Required scales:

2. Solo (your choice - 5 minutes or less)

3. Excerpt:

Sinfonia / Concertino East and West - Violin Music includes shifting to third position and keys through three sharps and flats. Violinists should have beginning use of vibrato. To audition for one of these orchestras, please prepare and record the following:

Susan Christiansen - Spirit of the Pioneer

% œ œ œ œq = 88

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

% œ œ œ œœ œ œ

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ϖ

C major - 2 octaves

% α œ œ œ œq = 88

œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ

% α œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ϖ

D minor - 2 octaves

2021-22 GTCYS Auditions - Violin - Page 3

Sergei Prokofiev, arr. Merle Isaac - Romeo & Juliet: Montagues and Capulets

Camerata / Concert Orchestra - Violin Musicians should be comfortable in higher positions, have the use of vibrato and varied articulations, have good sight-reading skills, and experience in advanced key signatures. To audition for one of these orchestras, please prepare and record the following:

1. Required scales:• E-flat major - 3 octaves, separate bows in quarter notes (quarter note = 108)• B minor - 3 octaves, separate bows in quarter notes (quarter note = 108)

2. Solo (your choice - 5 minutes or less)

3. Excerpts:

J.S. Bach, arr. Claude Demarest - Fugue in G minor

2021-22 GTCYS Auditions - Violin - Page 4

1. Required scales• E major - 3 octaves, separate bows in eighth notes (quarter note = 76)• C minor - 3 octaves, separate bows in eighth notes (quarter note = 76)

2. Solo (your choice - 5 minutes or less)

3. Excerpts:

Philharmonic / Symphony - ViolinMusicians should be skilled in all major and minor keys as well as advanced positions and bow technique. To audition for one of these orchestras, please prepare and record the following:

Johannes Brahms - Symphony No. 2, Mvt. I

EXCERPT #2 ON FOLLOWING PAGE

2021-22 GTCYS Auditions - Violin - Page 5

Gioachino Rossini - Overture to La scala di seta

2021-22 GTCYS Auditions - Violin - Page 6