Auditions
Welcome, prospective members! Thanks for your interest in joining the Wichita Falls Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Open auditions are typically held in January, May, and August. All successful auditions guarantee your chair for the remainder of the current school year. May auditions are the first opportunity to fill spots for the full school year and are considered the main audition time. August and January’s auditions are limited and subject to restrictions if any sections are previously filled.
How to Join
Step 1: fill out the audition form by clicking here. Upcoming auditions for the 2022-23 season will be held January 8th, 2023 at 1:00pm on MSU’s campus.
The YSO encourages all students to apply regardless of gender, school, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. You will be contacted with details and a specific audition time.
Step 2: if you require financial aid, fill out the form located here. Student fees are $100 per semester.
This application remains confidential to the administrators and will not impact your audition.
Step 3: download the music AND the scales for your instrument for the orchestra of your choice. Read instructions for bowing or for which measures to play.
Step 4: practice and show up ready to shine. Scales remain posted year-round and audition excerpts specific to your orchestra and instrument are available one month prior to the audition date.
Philharmonic Orchestra
Students are eligible to audition for the Philharmonic Orchestra if they are no younger than 3rd grade and have a teacher recommendation with their application. Students in 6th grade or older may audition without a recommendation.
This is a strings-only group. Please note any fingering, position, and/or bow markings. You will be asked to play the etudes and scales, and you may be asked to sight-read.
All sections are open for the 2022-23 auditions. New music is available here one month prior to the audition. Measures to play are marked on the music. You will only play the sections between the marks. The scales remain unchanged and available at all times.
Philharmonic Violin:
- Philharmonic violin etude – Tropical Serenade
- Philharmonic violin etude – Tangerine Rag
- Philharmonic violin etude – Petite Tango
- Philharmonic violin scales
Philharmonic Viola:
- Philharmonic viola etude – Tropical Serenade
- Philharmonic viola etude – Tangerine Rag
- Philharmonic viola etude – Petite Tango
- Philharmonic viola scales
Philharmonic Bass:
- Philharmonic bass etude – Tropical Serenade
- Philharmonic bass etude – Tangerine Rag
- Philharmonic bass etude – Petite Tango
- Philharmonic bass scales
Philharmonic Cello:
- Philharmonic cello etude – Tropical Serenade
- Philharmonic cello etude – Tangerine Rag
- Philharmonic cello etude – Petite Tango
- Philharmonic cello scales
Symphonic Orchestra
The Symphonic Orchestra will receive applications from students in 6th grade and up.
Members in 11th and 12th grade are also eligible to audition for the Apprenticeship program after being accepted to the orchestra. Seniors may apply for the Gail Key Scholarship for Music Excellence.
You will be asked to play a solo (one movement) OR etude of your choice and the following scales listed below for your instrument. You may also be asked to sightread. Strings, please note any fingering, position, and/or bow markings.
All sections are open for the 2022-23 auditions. The scales remain unchanged and available at all times.
** Please note that for the January 2023 auditions you will be required to perform a solo (one movement) OR etude of your choice in addition to the scales listed below for your instrument **
Symphonic Violin:
Symphonic Viola:
Symphonic Cello:
Symphonic Bass:
Symphonic Timpani:
Symphonic Percussion:
Symphonic Woodwinds:
Symphonic Brass:
Stringsemble Audition Music
There is currently no audition music for the 2022-23 advanced ensemble, Stringsemble, under the direction of Barbara Kavanaugh.