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Orchestra Audition Requirements

Orchestra Audition Modality:

Orchestra auditions will be held on February 13, 2026 at Garrison School for the Arts.

Overview

The orchestra audition consists of three parts. Part 1 is the candidate playing two scales and arpeggios (see information below). Scales and Arpeggios must be memorized. Part 2 consists of the candidate playing a prepared solo of their choice or etude (8th grade).  Part 3 consists of the student sight-reading an unknown excerpt. The student will be provided with 30 seconds to silently study the excerpt. The student will then be allowed up to 45 seconds to perform the excerpt. Students should prepare for sight-reading prior to the audition by having a system to count rhythms, read notation, and understand basic key signatures/ finger patterns.

Please carefully read each part of these requirements, as the completion of each part will affect your score. If you have questions, please call Garrison for clarification. Please note: repertoire may not include pieces from movies, popular music, video games or the like.  You must bring two printed copies of the solo to the audition for the judges to view.

6th and 7th Grade Audition Repertoire
Category Music

Scales and Arpeggios – memorized
  • Violin: G Major 2-octaves; A Major 2-octaves
  • Viola: C Major, 2-octaves; D Major 2-octaves
  • Cello: C Major, 2-octaves; D Major 2-octaves
  • Double Bass: G Major, 1-octave; F Major, 1-octave
Prepared solo Solo of Choice
 
8th Grade Audition Repertoire
Category Music

Scales and Arpeggios – memorized
  • Violin: G Major, 3-octaves; A Major, 3-octaves
  • Viola: C Major, 3-octaves; D Major, 3-octaves
  • Cello: C Major, 3-octaves; D Major 3-octaves 
  • Double Bass: F Major, 2-octaves and G Major, 2-octaves
Prepared Etude See below
Prepared Solo  8th graders must perform an etude and a solo)

ETUDES:

VIOLIN

Wohlfahrt: Foundation Studies for the Violin, Carl Fischer, Rachel Barton Pine Edition Book 2, #13. QN=92 (#13 in Merle J. Isaac edition)

VIOLA

Wohlfahrt: Foundation Studies for the Viola, Carl Fischer, Rachel Barton Pine Edition Book 2, #13. QN=92 (#38 in Merle J. Isaac edition)

CELLO

Schroeder: 170 Foundation Studies, Carl Fischer, Volume 1, #54. QN=92

DOUBLE BASS

Sturm: 110 Studies op. 20, International, Volume I, No. 54. QN=92