PYS Auditions

Training Programs Produce Excellence

 

May 12-16, 2008

Phoenix Youth Symphony

All Brass & Woodwinds

Flutes/Piccolo

Flute Call Backs

 

May 19-21, 2008

Symphonette Orchestra (strings)

String Orchestra

Percussion

 

Phoenix Youth Symphony provides for talented, dedicated young musicians, one of the finest and most comprehensive Orchestral Training Programs in the nation, through the Phoenix Youth Symphony, Symphonette Orchestra, Symphonic Winds,  and String Orchestra.  Conducted by young, professional musicians, renowned for their expertise in conducting and developing orchestral skills, these groups rehearse Wednesday evenings at Central High School, offering select students outstanding learning and performance opportunities in a professional orchestral setting.  To be accepted by PYS’s Orchestral Training Program, a student must be a member in good standing of his/her school’s instrumental group if one exists in the school curriculum.   PYS has need-based scholarships available to PYS orchestral training program students.

 

Sandy Rutledge, Auditions Chairman

(623) 825-4334

 

Stacey Page, Orchestral Training Manager

(602) 242-1077

 

 

Audition Requirements

 

All Groups

 

AUDITION FEE: $20 non-refundable

 

ENSEMBLE PREFERENCE: Must meet ensemble music level of difficulty and scale requirements for the first ensemble listed that you check on your application.

 

ALL GROUPS  MAY BE ASKED TO SIGHT-READ.

 

SCALES: All groups will be required to play scales as specified below.  Scales need to be memorized and played in eighth notes (quarter note = 60).

 

EXCERPTS:  Phoenix Youth Symphony will audition on an excerpt.  Excerpts will be mailed on April 17, 2008.

 

PREPARED SOLO:  Symphonette Orchestra, Symphonic Winds and String orchestras MUST include on your application the name of the piece and composer.

> Symphonette Orchestra and Symphonic Winds: Piece is student’s choice (2 minutes), includes both fast and slow passages and show advanced techniques.

> String Orchestra: Piece is student’s choice (2 minutes), should be comparable to Suzuki Book 3 or beyond, and demonstrate student’s technical ability and musicality.

Specific Group Requirements

 

PHOENIX YOUTH SYMPHONY (PYS)

(Rehearse on Wednesdays, 6:30-9:15pm)

Membership Fee: $395

Recognized as one of the finest youth orchestras in the country,  this group is composed of experienced, exceptionally talented, dedicated high school students.  The Phoenix Youth Symphony performs professional orchestral repertoire for 11,000 students annually through Music Memory at Phoenix Symphony Hall and in Northern Arizona.  In addition to ensemble skills, individual preparation and accomplishments are expected and recognized through ongoing chair auditions and Principal solos.  A unique opportunity for its members is rehearsing and performing side by side with The Phoenix Symphony.  Among the planned activities for the Phoenix Youth Symphony is a required weekend retreat in September.

 

Ensemble Music Level of Difficulty

Performs literature from the main body of orchestral repertory such as:  Mahler Symphony #1, Brahms Symphony #1, Wagner Meistersinger Prelude, and Respighi Pines of Rome

 

> Scales, Strings - All major and melodic minor, 3 octaves.  Be prepared to demonstrate your spiccato by playing four 16ths per note at quarter = 80.

> Scales, Woodwinds & Brass - All major scales (2 octaves when possible) and chromatic scale covering entire range of instrument.  Also melodic minor scales up to 4 flats and 4 sharps. 

SYMPHONETTE ORCHESTRA (SYM)

 (Rehearse on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm)

Membership Fee: $350

Symphonette is a full symphonic orchestra composed primarily  of high school and  junior high school instrumentalists.  This orchestra provides a concentrated learning and performing experience, with emphasis on musicality.  Symphonette performs increasingly challenging classical repertoire throughout the year.  Individual progress is expected and recognized through chair auditions and Principal solos.  Among activities planned for Symphonette are a weekend retreat in early October, and other performances. 

 

Ensemble Music Level of Difficulty

Performs literature primarily from levels 4-6 from the standard classical repertoire.

 

> Scales, Strings - Up through 4 flats and 4     sharps, major & melodic minor, 3 octaves.

> Scales, Woodwinds & Brass - All major scales (2 octaves when possible) and chromatic scale covering entire range of instrument.

 Prepared Solo: The piece, Student’s choice (2 minutes), must include both slow and fast passages.  You must show advanced techniques. 

 

SYMPHONIC WINDS (SW)

(Rehearse on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm)

Membership Fee: $340

The Symphonic Winds,  composed of Jr. and Sr. High talented, young woodwind, brass and percussion students, helps students develop solo and ensemble skills and tone quality necessary for symphonic band or orchestra, such as Phoenix Youth Symphony and Symphonette Orchestra.  Limited enrollment allows for individualized training as well as performance opportunities.  Among the planned activities for this group is a weekend retreat in mid-September and other performances.

 

Ensemble Music Level of Difficulty

Performs literature from levels 4-6. Music includes works by composers such as: McBeth, Reed, Grainger, Holst,  Sousa, Shostakovich, Fillmore, RW Smith, Melillo, Persichetti, Tichelli, Vaughan Williams, and Van der Roost.

 

> Scales, Woodwinds & Brass - All major scales (2 octaves when possible) and chromatic scale covering entire range of instrument. 

 

STRING ORCHESTRA (SO)

(Rehearse on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm)

Membership Fee: $320

The String Orchestra accepts string players of primarily 5th-9th grade who show through audition that they are ready to develop rehearsal and orchestral performance skills.  Individual progress may be recognized through periodic chair auditions and Principal solos.  These students also learn the orchestral skills needed to advance within the PYS Orchestral Training Program.  Members will attend a Fall Retreat in northern Arizona in September.

 

Ensemble Music Level of Difficulty

Performs literature mainly at levels 3-5.

> Scales - up to 3 flats and 3 sharps.  Major (2 or 3 octaves)

 

HARP

All major scales and their natural minors, 2 octaves.

 

PERCUSSION

Show competency on snare drum, timpani, and xylophone.

PROVIDED:  Timpani, Xylophone and Snare

YOU NEED TO BRING:  Mallets and Sticks

 

FLUTE/PICCOLO

Students who have indicated PYS as their first preference, should your audition results place you in the top 6 flutes, you will be notified the evening of your audition to return on another day for a second audition between.

 

If you are auditioning on both Flute and Piccolo, your audition will be at the same time - bring your piccolo solo piece.

 

PLEASE NOTE

 

Groups and instrumental sections vary each afternoon/evening.

You will be assigned a specific audition time which will be mailed to you after May 1st.

 

NO AUDITION TIMES WILL BE CHANGED AFTER MAY 7th

NO EXCEPTIONS

 

Please know that every effort will be made to accommodate your request.

If we cannot, you may be asked to audition in August if there are openings at that time.

 

Instructions for Completed Application

 

     SANDY RUTLEDGE

   7071 West Antelope Drive

    Peoria, AZ  85383

               

             Mail to above address:

Ø      COMPLETED Application

Ø      $20 non-refundable Audition Fee (payable to PYS) for each different instrument to be scheduled

Ø      Include a note of any known conflicts                                              

Please indicate any known conflicts that would prevent you from attending your audition in May.

Ø      Questions? Call Sandy: 623-825-4334

 

APPLICATION MUST BE POST MARKED BY APRIL 16, 2008

     APPLICATIONS POSTED AFTER 4/16/2008

WILL REQUIRE A $5.00 LATE FEE

 

(Click here for application for hard-copy form    (here for online form)