Audition Requirements

Musicians ages 6 to 18 are invited to make an audition appointment with GSYO. Individual audition appointments are made year-round, based upon openings in the program. Candidates must study with a private teacher, and have had at least one year of lessons to be considered for placement.

Explore our current openings and requirements for your specific interests

Requirements At A Glance

Explore the tabs above for detailed requirements of each Program

  Senior Symphony Sinfonietta Orchestra Wind Orchestra Galbraith Honor Strings Camerata Orchestra Chamber Players Orchestra
Type of Orchestra Full Full Wind and Percussion Instruments Only String Instruments Only Full Full
     Strings ✔ ✔ — ✔ ✔ ✔
     Winds ✔ ✔ ✔ — ✔ ✔
     Percussion ✔ — ✔ — ✔ ✔
Skill Level Most Advanced Advanced Intermediate Intermediate Beginning Beginning
# of Concerts per Year 5+ 4 3 3 3 3
Commitment Level Very High High Moderate-High Moderate-High Moderate-High Moderate
Practice Days Sunday Tuesday Tuesday Monday Monday Monday
Years of Private Lessons 4+ 4+ 3-4+ 3-4+ 2-3 1+
Audition Expectations Previous ensemble experience. Prepared solo and/or étude. Sight-reading.
       Strings Prepared solo showing position work with fast and slow sections. No specific piece required. Three-octave major scale, slurred, and related arpeggios of your choice, slow to fast tempos.
       Winds Chromatic scale for the complete range of your instrument. All major scales memorized, minor scales are bonus points. Prepared solo and étude with contrasting styles and tempos.
       Percussion Solo or étude on two of the following: Timpani, Snare Drum, Xylophone
       Harp Three-octave scale. Prepared solo and etude of your choice with contrasting styles/tempos. The cadenza from Tchaikovsky Swan Lake. A harp is not provided for auditions; please plan to bring your own instrument.
Current Instrument Openings* Bassoon, Double Bass, Trumpet, Viola, Oboe, Harp
Type of Orchestra
Full
# of Concerts a Year
5+
Commitment Level
Very High
Practice Schedule
Sunday | 3:00-6:00pm JCC, Palo Alto
Skill Level
Most Advanced
Years of Private Lessons
4+
Audition Expectations Previous ensemble experience. Prepared solo and/or étude. Sight-reading.
       Strings Prepared solo showing position work with fast and slow sections. No specific piece required. Three-octave major scale, slurred, and related arpeggios of your choice, slow to fast tempos.
       Winds Chromatic scale for the complete range of your instrument. All major scales memorized, minor scales are bonus points. Prepared solo and étude with contrasting styles and tempos.
       Percussion N/A
Current Instrument Openings* Bassoon, Double Bass, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Viola, Violin
Type of Orchestra
Full
# of Concerts a Year
4
Commitment Level
High
Practice Schedule
Tuesday | 6:00-8:45pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto
Skill Level
Advanced
Years of Private Lessons
4+
Audition Expectations Previous ensemble experience. Prepared solo étude of contrasting styles and tempos. All major scales memorized, minor scales are bonus points. Chromatic scale for the complete range of your instrument memorized. Sight reading.
       Strings N/A
       Winds Previous ensemble experience. Prepared solo étude of contrasting styles and tempos. All major scales memorized, minor scales are bonus points. Chromatic scale for the complete range of your instrument memorized. Sight reading.
       Percussion Solo or étude on two of the following: Timpani, Snare Drum, Xylophone
Current Instrument Openings* Bassoon, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, French Horn, Euphonium
Type of Orchestra
Wind and Percussion Instruments Only
# of Concerts a Year
3
Commitment Level
Moderate-High
Practice Schedule
Tuesday | 6:15-8:15pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto
Skill Level
Intermediate
Years of Private Lessons
3-4+
Audition Expectations Previous ensemble experience. Prepared solo or étude of contrasting styles and tempos. Three-octave major scale, slurred (three to twelve notes per bow) with related arpeggios. Sight-reading.
       Strings See above.
       Winds N/A
       Percussion N/A
Current Instrument Openings* Cello, Double Bass, Viola
Type of Orchestra
String Instruments Only
# of Concerts a Year
3
Commitment Level
Moderate-High
Practice Schedule
Monday | 6:00-8:00pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto
Skill Level
Intermediate
Years of Private Lessons
3-4+
Audition Expectations Previous ensemble experience preferred. Prepared solo or étude. Sight-reading.
       Strings Violin: 2 or 3-octave A major scale with related arpeggio. Viola/Cello:  2 or 3-octave D major scale with related arpeggio. Double Bass: 2 or 3-octave scale of your choice with related arpeggio.
       Winds Prepared major scale through 4 sharps and 4 flats memorized. Chromatic scale for the complete range of your instrument memorized.
       Percussion May audition on one or more of the following: Timpani, Snare Drum, Mallet Skills (Bells and Xylophone)
Current Instrument Openings* Cello, Clarinet, Double Bass, Flute, Oboe, Percussion, Trumpet, Viola
Type of Orchestra
Full
# of Concerts a Year
3
Commitment Level
Moderate-High
Practice Schedule
Monday | 6:15-8:15pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto
Skill Level
Beginning
Years of Private Lessons
2-3
Audition Expectations Prepared solo or étude. Sight-reading.
       Strings Violin: one or two-octave A major scale with related arpeggio. Viola/Cello: one or two-octave D major scale with related arpeggio. Double Bass: one or two-octave scale of your choice with related arpeggio.
       Winds one octave major scale.
       Percussion May audition on one or more of the following: Timpani, Snare Drum, Mallet Skills (Bells and Xylophone)
Current Instrument Openings* Cello, Double Bass, Alto Sax, Oboe, Trumpet, Trombone, Viola
Type of Orchestra
Full
# of Concerts a Year
3
Commitment Level
Moderate
Practice Schedule
Monday | 4:30-6:15pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto
Skill Level
Beginning
Years of Private Lessons
1+
Apply Now

To download the PDF version of the audition requirements please click here.

Pin It on Pinterest