Auditions

2023-2024 Audition Requirements

Ensemble Auditions (MUSC 0070)

Please download and complete the form(s) that apply to the Ensemble you would like to audition for and submit to the Music Director of the ensemble you are auditioning for, either in-person or by email. See below for more information. 

 

Penn Symphony Orchestra

ALL INTERESTED MUSICIANS:  Please fill out the Instrumental Audition Form found at the top of this page and bring it to your audition.

Audition Requirements

You will be asked to play 6-8 minutes of music of your choosing. Please prepare selections (which can be from the same piece) that contain at least two contrasting styles - i.e. both lyrical and technical. Memorization is not required. Also, for the orchestra you are asked to prepare excerpts from the current repertoire for the ensemble this year. The repertoire for the FALL semester will be either Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5 OR Strauss, Ein Heldenleben depending on which ensemble you are placed in as there are two rotating/interchangeable ensembles. Please be listening to BOTH works in preparation for the semester. Please contact Mr. Hong (hongthom@sas.upenn.edu) directly for those specific excerpts and links to parts. Thanks to those who have already contacted him!

IMPORTANT NOTES
  • Returning string players of the PENN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA are NOT required to re-audition UNLESS you would like to be considered for the concertmaster chair or a section principal position.
  • All new or returning Wind/Brass players of the PENN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA are required to sign up for an audition.
Audition Schedule (all auditions will take place in Amado Recital Hall in Irvine Auditorium)
 

Tuesday, August 29

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)

August 29 sign up (link)
 

Wednesday, August 30

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)

August 30 sign up (link)
 

Thursday, August 31

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)
3:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Students interested in Penn Symphony Orchestra AND Baroque Ensemble, Penn Chamber

August 31 sign up (link)
 

Friday, September 1

1:00 PM to 7:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)

September 1 sign up (link)
 

If you have any questions or difficulty with the sign up sheets, please email Isaac Shalit.

***

Penn Wind Ensemble

ALL INTERESTED MUSICIANS:  Please fill out the Instrumental Audition Form found at the top of this page and bring it to your audition.

Auditions for new AND returning students will take place on Sunday, September 3 beginning at 3pm in Amado Recital Hall in Irvine Auditorium.


Audition Requirements

This year, you will be asked to prepare excerpts from Variations on America by Charles Ives. Below are the specific passages by instrument:

Flute 1 – Beginning-E; Q-R

Oboe 1 – Beginning-F; G-H

Clarinet 1 – Beginning-F; G-H

Bass Clarinet – Beginning-5 bars after B; G-8 bars before H

Bassoon 1 – G-I; J-K

ASax 1 – G-H; K-4 bars before L

TSax – Beginning-E; K-4 bars before L

BSax – Beginning-E; Q-R

Horn 1 – Beginning-F; H-I

Trumpet 1 – F-G (not muted); I-J; O-P (play top line)

Trombone 1 – F-G (not muted); 7 bars after H-I; Q-R

Baritone – G-4 bars before I; 5 bars after S-5 bars before the end

Tuba – G-H (play bottom line); 3 bars after L-M; Q-R

Percussion – From Percussion 1 Part (snare): F-G; Pick-up to two bars before M-N; From Percussion 3 Part (mallet instruments): 8 bars after G-H; Q-R

The music for all excerpts can be found here (link)

(download the specific part and prepare the passages listed above)

Audition Schedule

Sunday, September 3 – 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Penn Wind Ensemble sign up (link)


If you have any questions or difficulty with the sign up sheets, please email Isaac Shalit.


***

Penn Baroque and Recorder Ensembles & Penn Chamber

ALL INTERESTED MUSICIANS:  Please fill out the Small Ensembles Audition Sign-up Form found at the top of this page - DO NOT fill out the Instrumental Audition Form. If you participated in a Baroque Ensemble or Penn Chamber group last year and would like to continue, you do not need to re-audition.

Audition Requirements

You will be asked to play 3-5 minutes of music of your choosing. Please prepare selections (which can be from the same piece) that contain at least two contrasting styles - i.e. both lyrical and technical. Memorization is not required. You may also be asked to sightread a short excerpt.

Please listen to at least three minutes of each video (links below) and rank them in order of most to least appealing. Don’t worry if the instruments in the video aren’t the instrument you play; just consider if the music is interesting to you.

Audition Schedule

Thursday, August 31 – 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM – For students interested in Baroque Ensemble, Penn Chamber AND Penn Symphony Orchestra

PSO/Chamber/Baroque sign up (link)

Friday, September 1 – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM – For students ONLY interested in Baroque Ensembles and Penn Chamber 

Baroque/Penn Chamber sign up (link)

If you have any questions or difficulty with the sign up sheets, please email Isaac Shalit.


***

Penn Arab Music Ensemble (Instrumental)

The instrumental section of the Penn Arab Music Ensemble will be formed by video submission. Please visit the ensemble page for details about this exciting addition to the ensemble. For students who want to participate in the instrumental section for credit, please send in videos by September 6. For students who want to participate without receiving credit, you may submit a video after September 6. Please contact the music director, Hanna Khuri: hkhuri@sas.upenn.edu

Audition Requirements

With the exception of Drummers (see below), students interested should email the music director with a 2-4 min. video recording of a composition that demonstrates their technical skills:

Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass

An etude, an exposition from a concerto, or a movement from a sonata. Students can also submit a recording of a composition from the Arab musical tradition or another tradition depending on the area of expertise.

Qanun, Oud, and Ney

A traditional Arab Music composition: Longa, Samai, Bashraf, or an interpretation of a short song.

Riq, Durbakke, Bandeer

Pre-requisite: Beginning Arabic Percussion, Advanced Arabic Percussion.
The pre-requisite requirement can be waived for students of intermediate mastery level on the Riq, Durbakke, or Bandeer.


***

Penn Flutes

Students interested in the Penn Flutes Ensemble should contact the music director, Michele Kelly: michelerelache@gmail.com. In your email, please describe your playing and performance experience. Auditions will be held on Thursday, Aug. 31 and Friday, Sept. 1 from 10am - 2pm. Please contact Michele to arrange a time.


***

Penn Jazz Ensembles

All Jazz Ensemble auditions will be by video submission. The deadline to submit is September 6. Rehearsals begin the week of September 11. The purpose of the audition is to group you with musicians with a similar level of experience. Don’t worry about playing 6 takes of your tune to achieve the “perfect take”.  Jazz isn’t about perfection, it’s about expression. Please contact the music director, Dan Paul: dan@danpaulmusic.com

Jazz Ensembles Audition Requirements (PDF download)


***

Penn Chorale

New students interested in auditioning for Penn Chorale may do so in person on Thursday, August 31 between 2-5 PM or may submit a video audition.  Requests for in-person auditions or video audition submissions should be emailed to Elizabeth Braden (Penn Chorale Conductor): ebraden@sas.upenn.edu.  Please fill out the Vocal Arts Audition Form found at the top of this page and bring it to your audition or submit by email with your video audition.  Video auditions are due by Friday, September 1. Returning students do not need to audition but should email Liz to confirm your interest in returning. 

Audition Requirements

One memorized song of your choice; you can sing a cappella or sing to recorded accompaniment.  In person auditions will also have a little bit of sight-reading. 

Audition Schedule

Thursday, August 31 – 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM


***

Penn Collegium Musicum & Opera and Musical Theater Workshop 

New students interested in auditioning for the Collegium Musicum and/or Opera and Musical Theater Workshop may do so in person on Wednesday, August 30 between 6:30-9 PM in Rose Recital Hall (419 Fisher-Bennett) or may submit a video audition.  Requests for in-person auditions or video audition submissions should be emailed to Meg Bragle: mbragle@upenn.edu.  Please fill out the Vocal Arts Audition Form found at the top of this page and bring it to your audition or submit by email with your video audition.  Video auditions are due by Friday, September 1. Returning students do not need to audition for either ensemble, but please email with your intent to participate again this year.

Audition Requirements

One memorized song of your choice; you can sing a cappella, or with recorded accompaniment. 

Audition Schedule

Wednesday, August 30 – 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM


***

Marian Anderson Performance Program (MUSC 0100A, B)

The auditions for the Marian Anderson Performance Program will be held on Thursday, September 7, from 9am - 12pm. You may sign up for a time on the sheet on the door of room 227 Lerner Center. Tuesday, September 5 will be the final day to sign up.

This program is open to music majors and minors only. For more details on the program, please visit this site.

Please contact Dr. Ketner if you have any questions.


***

Ensembles Without Auditions (MUSC 0070)

Brazilian Samba Ensemble

No audition is required.  Students interested in the Brazilian Samba Ensemble are to attend the first session. For questions, contact Music Director, Michael Stevens by email: sambafreak13@gmail.com

 

Penn Arab Music Ensemble (Voice & Percussion)

No audition is required for the voice and percussion sections of the Penn Arab Music Ensemble. Students interested should contact either the Music Director, Hanna Khuri: hkhuri@sas.upenn.edu; or the Percussion Director, Hafez Kotain: hafez.kotain@gmail.com. The first session will be held on Thursday, September 1, 2022 at 6pm in the Lerner Center (Music Dept.), 201 S. 34th Street.