Audition

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Contact us to arrange an audition!

Hello Musicians,

We appreciate your interest in the San Luis Obispo Symphony Orchestra auditions! Since its founding in 1961, the SLO Symphony has been an artistic, economic, educational, and community-minded entity in the Central Coast of California. The orchestra’s season includes an annual performance of “Pops” at Avila Beach, a bi-annual New Year’s Eve Pops concert, and occasional chamber opportunities in more intimate venues. In addition, we perform five Classics in the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. 

We have the following openings:

Strings

Assistant Concert Master
Section Violin – 4 Firsts, 1 Second
Section Viola – 1
Principal Cello
Section Cello – 1
Section Bass – 2

Audition Date & Time
Monday, April 29, 2024
5-9pm

Application Deadline
April 4, 2024

Audition Location:
Community Baptist Church of SLO
51 Foothill Blvd
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405

Audition Repertoire: See below after FAQs

Harp

Principal Harp

 

Audition Date & Time
Friday, April 26, 2024
6-9pm

Application Deadline
April 4, 2024

Audition Location:
Community Baptist Church of SLO
51 Foothill Blvd
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 

Audition Repertoire: See below after FAQs

We do not have openings for other instruments at this time.
To apply for a posted audition, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page.

Be advised, the deadline for applications for this audition is April 4, 2024.

Audition FAQs and APPLICATION PROCESS

What materials do I need to submit to apply for an audition?

Please send a one-page resume (including email, address, and phone number) to [email protected] . To secure an audition time, you will need to complete and submit an online application and one-page resume and a non-refundable audition deposit of $25.00. Please use this direct link: https://slos.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F5G00000OSUieUAH

 

An application is only considered complete upon the arrival of all application components:

  • Deposit (pay via link or button above)
  • Form (at the bottom of this page)
  • Resume (email to [email protected])

Please note that audition materials must be filled out completely, and received by the application deadline, with the deposit, to secure an audition time.

What information needs to be on my resume?

Please limit your resume to one page. 

The following information must appear clearly on your one-page resume:

  • Name
  • Instrument
  • Email Address
  • Telephone Number (cell preferred)
  • Current Mailing Address

Please email your resume to Linda Sorensen, Personnel Manager, at [email protected]

 Do I need to submit a recording? Only if you’d like.

OPTION #1: You can submit a recording (audio only, no video) for the first round by April 4, 2024. You will receive notice whether you’re invited to audition in person (Mon, April 29 for strings or Fri, Apr 26 for harp) by April 15, 2024. The recording should be a single, unedited take of all audition repertoire (listed below the FAQs)

OPTION #2: Attend the first round live and in person on Monday, April 29, 2024 for strings or Friday April 26, 2024 for harp. Be prepared ot play all audition repertoire (listed below the FAQs)

Location:
Community Baptist Church,
51 Foothill BLVD,
San Luis Obispo, CA.

When will I receive further information?
Usually, you will receive correspondence within 48 hours. All correspondence is done via email. Audition information is posted on the SLOS website.

What if I need to cancel my audition?
Please get in touch with the Personnel Manager for any cancellations: [email protected]

What if I miss a deadline?
Be advised, the deadline for applications for this audition is April 4, 2024.
Likely, we will not accept your materials. If extenuating circumstances are at play, an exception may be made, but typically, this is not the case, and will discard your materials.
Auditions are planned months in advance, please adhere to the deadline

Can I request a specific audition time?
Please email the audition account [email protected] with your audition time request when you submit your complete application. This email should include your requested audition date and time and your reason for the request. If you need to ask for a specific time, I strongly encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. This increases the odds of getting the day and time you need, as requests are honored first come, first served.

If you receive an audition date or time that doesn’t work for you, you may request another time, but your request may not be granted, as it is much harder to change once we’ve set the audition times.

What is the compensation?
The openings we are currently hiring for earn $53-65 per service.
Further compensation such as cartage, travel and accommodations may also be provided.

Sincerely,

Linda Sorensen
Personnel Manager
San Luis Obispo Symphony
75 Higuera St., #160
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
[email protected]

 

REPERTOIRE LIST
(This list is outdated, but will be updated and PDFs made available by January 8, 2024)

Principal Harp

Solo:
Handel Harp Concerto Op.4 No.6  first mvt  (no repeats).

Orchestral Excerpts:
Bartok Concerto for Orchestra IV. Intermezzo interrotto m. 42 through m. 58
Berlioz Symphonie fantastique II. Un Ballo – beginning to m. 33
Mahler Symphony No. 5 Adagietto
Ravel Tzigane Quasi cadenza, Reh 4 to Reh 5
Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Waltz of the Flowers – beginning to a tempo before letter A
Moncayo Huapango 5 measures after reh 7 to reh 10
Rimsky Korsakov Capriccio espagnole IV. Cadenza after reh L & V. Reh S for 12 measures

 

Assistant Concertmaster

Solo:
Exposition of any standard concerto, AND
Any movement from Six Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin

Orchestra Solos:
Rimsky Korsakov-Sheherezade, All mvts.
Dvorak-Symphony No. 8, 2nd mvt., Violin Solo, Letter d (m. 55)–downbeat of 9 measures after D (m. 65)
Brahms- Symphony No.1  2nd  mvt. . Andante sostenuto.  First violin solo from pick up to letter E (m.91) to the end of the mvt (m. 128).

Orchestral Excerpts:
Brahms – Symphony No. 4, 4th mvt. , 8 measures before B–D
Mendelssohn – Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo , Beginning–17 measures after K
Mozart – Symphony No. 39, 2nd mvt. , Beginning–2nd beat of m. 37 (with repeat)
Mozart – Symphony No. 39, 4th mvt. , Beginning–downbeat of m. 41
Strauss – Don Juan , 1st page

 

Section Violin (all first violin parts)

Solo:
Exposition of any standard concerto, OR exposition of Mozart 3, 4, or 5

Orchestral Excerpts:
Brahms – Symphony No. 4, 4th mvt. ,8 measures before B–D
Mendelssohn – Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo, Beginning–17 measures after K
Mozart – Symphony No. 39, 2nd mvt. , Beginning–2nd beat of m. 37 (with repeat)
Mozart – Symphony No. 39, 4th mvt. , Beginning–downbeat of m. 41
Strauss – Don Juan  1st page

 

Section Viola

Solo:
Exposition of any standard concerto

Orchestral Excerpts:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd Mvt, beginning to m. 106
Mozart Symphony No. 35, 1st Mvt., beginning to Letter B
Strauss, Don Juan, beginning to 6 measures after D
Shostakovich Symphony No.5, 1st Mvt., rehearsal numbers 15-17

 

Principal Cello

Solo:
First movement exposition of any concerto in the standard repertoire. 

Orchestral solo excerpts from the following:
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite Op. 20a 4th movement Scene (three measures before figure 31 to the end.)
Rossini William Tell Overture from the beginning to m.48 (Opening Andante to downbeat of Allegro)
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 3rd movement, solo cello from letter D to the end
Strauss Don Quixote Variation I 

Orchestral Excerpts:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd Mvt., beginning to m.10; mm. 98-106; mm. 114-124
Mozart Symphony 40, 1st. Mvt., mm. 114-138 (20 measures before C to 5 measures after C)
Brahms Symphony No., 2nd Mvt., beginning to m. 15; mm. 46-55
Strauss Don Juan, beginning to Letter D

Section Cello

Solo:
First movement exposition of any concerto in the standard repertoire. 

Orchestral Excerpts:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd Mvt., beginning to m.10; mm. 98-106; mm. 114-124
Mozart Symphony 40, 1st. Mvt., mm. 114-138 (20 measures before C to 5 measures after C)
Brahms Symphony No., 2nd Mvt., beginning to m. 15; mm. 46-55
Strauss Don Juan, beginning to Letter D

Section Bass

Solo:
Exposition of any standard concerto

Orchestral Excerpts:
Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 3rd. Mvt., mm. 141-219 (Trio) w/o repeat
Mozart Symphony No.40, 1st Mvt., mm. 114-138
Stravinsky Pulcinella, Suite VII. Vivo (Figure 85-6 measures after 93 w/o repeat)
Bach Violin Concerto in E Major, MWV 1042, Adagio, mm. 1-15

AUDITION FORM