Open Auditions

Choose a solo piece that best demonstrates your ability and musicianship. Keep in mind that the level of your solo piece will determine for which ensemble(s) you will be considered based on your audition. The level indicated next to each ensemble below represents the minimum level required to be considered for that particular ensemble. For example, if you are a rising 10^th grade violinist and play a level 5 solo piece, you are eligible to be considered for Youth Orchestra, Philharmonia and Sinfonia. If your solo piece is not listed on the solo list, please submit your Solo Level Request Form located on the solo list, for the artistic team to designate a level, and the NJYS office will contact you shortly.

Ensembles by Level and Grades

If your solo requires multiple movements please choose 2 contrasting movements (ex. fast and slow) and include excerpts from both in your audition video. For higher level pieces, both excerpts together should be 3-4 minutes total (no more than 4 minutes). Fast movement excerpts should be about 2 ½-3 minutes of the solo time, and slow movement excerpts should be the other 1-1 ½ minutes of the solo time.

SOLO LISTS 

Please note: Jazz Students do no need to prepare a solo below. Jazz Students, please scroll down for Jazz Requirements.

VIOLIN
VIOLA
CELLO
BASS
HARP
PIANO
FLUTE
OBOE
CLARINET
BASS CLARINET
ALTO SAX, classical
TENOR SAX, classical
BARI SAX, classical
BASSOON
HORN
TRUMPET
TENOR TROMBONE
BASS TROMBONE
TUBA
BARITONE
PERCUSSION

Auditions are by video submission due on:
May 19 Wind & Brass Videos Due
May 20 Viola, Cello & Bass Videos Due
May 23 Violin, Piano & Harp Videos Due

Video Order

• Scales, based on solo level (by memory)
• Solo, 3 minutes. Please refer to the Select your Solo Section (memorization not required)
• Excerpts, based on solo level

AUDITION VIDEO RECORDING

• Your full video should not exceed 10 minutes.
• The entirety of your audition should be recorded in one single, unedited video without an accompanist. You may not use a previously recorded performance.
• Be sure to record your audition in the order listed above: Scales, Solo, Excerpts. You may not edit, cut, splice, or otherwise alter your performance. Picture must remain stationary: no panning, zooming, multiple cameras, fading in/out.
• Please state your name and the Level Audition, and scales you will be presenting. For example: My name is Stacy Square and I will be presenting a Level 4 Violin Audition…
• Your scales and Excerpts must coincide with your solo level. Please refer back to the requirements.

Be sure to follow our guidelines for the best video: Video Audition Guidelines

AUDITION VIDEO SUBMISSION
After your registration, you will receive an email receipt with the Google Form for your audition video submission. Please upload your video to YouTube and title it NJYS2122.[instrument][level].[name]. Then mark it as “Unlisted” and submit the URL using the form in your email. Do not mark as “Private”. Once you have the link to your video, submit your video by the deadline.

CLICK BELOW AND PRINT:

Scales: In your audition video, announce the name of your scales before playing. Click below for instructions and scale requirements by level.

Excerpts: Click on the solo level of your instrument for the required excerpts. You must play all the excerpts provided.

Violin Scale Requirements (Final updated 4/5/21 at 6 pm)
Violin Excerpts:
VIOLIN Level 1
VIOLIN Level 2
VIOLIN Level 3
VIOLIN Level 4
VIOLIN Level 5
VIOLIN Level 6

Viola Scale Requirements (UPDATED 4/2/21, 11:10am)
Viola Excerpts:
VIOLA Level 1
VIOLA Level 2
VIOLA Level 3
VIOLA Level 4
VIOLA Level 5
VIOLA Level 6

Cello Scale Requirements (UPDATED 4/2/21, 11:10am)
Cello Excerpts:
CELLO Level 1
CELLO Level 2
CELLO Level 3
CELLO Level 4
CELLO Level 5
CELLO Level 6

Bass Scale Requirements (UPDATED 4/5/21, 6:22pm)
Bass Excerpts:
BASS Level 1
BASS Level 2
BASS Level 3
BASS Level 4
BASS Level 5
BASS Level 6

Piano Scale Requirements
PIANO Level 5 & 6 only

Harp Scale Requirements
HARP Level 6 Only

CLICK BELOW AND PRINT:

Scales: In your audition video, announce the name of your scales before playing. Click here for: Winds and Brass Scale Requirements (UPDATED 4/2/21, 11:10am)

Excerpts: Click on the solo level of your instrument for the required excerpts. You must play all the excerpts provided.

Flute Excerpts:
FLUTE Level 1
FLUTE Level 2
FLUTE Level 3
FLUTE Level 4

Oboe Excerpts:
OBOE Level 1
OBOE Level 2
OBOE Level 3
OBOE Level 4

Clarinet Excerpts:
CLARINET Level 1
CLARINET Level 2
CLARINET Level 3
CLARINET Level 4

BASS CLARINET Excerpt, Level 4 only

Bassoon Excerpts:
BASSOON Level 1
BASSOON Level 2
BASSOON Level 3
BASSOON Level 4

CONTRABASSOON Excerpt, Level 4 only

French Horn Excerpts:
HORN Level 1
HORN Level 2
HORN Level 3
HORN Level 4

Trumpet Excerpts:
TRUMPET Level 1
TRUMPET Level 2
TRUMPET Level 3
TRUMPET Level 4

Trombone Excerpts:
TROMBONE Level 1
TROMBONE Level 2
TROMBONE Level 3
TROMBONE Level 4

BASS TROMBONE Excerpt, Level 4 Only

Tuba Excerpts:
TUBA Level 1
TUBA Level 2
TUBA Level 3
TUBA Level 4

Percussion Requirements and Excerpts
Percussion auditions video submission due: May 22

Percussion Solo List 21-22

Percussion Requirements
& Excerpts:
PERCUSSION Level 1
PERCUSSION Level 2
PERCUSSION Level 3

VIDEO REQUIREMENTS

The order of your video should be as listed in the requirements.

PERC VIDEO RECORDING

• The entirety of your audition should be recorded in one single, unedited video. If your device is able to pause in between instruments, please use that option. However, if your device does not allow you to pause, please submit a video per instrument, and add the links to the submission form separated by a comma.
• Please state your name at the beginning of your video. For example: My name is Stacy Square.

Be sure to follow our guidelines for the best video: Video Audition Guidelines

AUDITION VIDEO SUBMISSION

After your registration, you will receive an email receipt with the Google Form for your audition video submission. Please upload your video to YouTube and title it NJYS2122.[instrument][level].[name]. Then mark it as “Unlisted” and submit the URL using the form in your email. Do not mark as “Private”. Once you have the link to your video, submit your video by the deadline.

Audition REQUIREMENTS

Jazz Requirements
JAZZ Etudes
Jazz-Scale-Sheet
Bflat Blues MP3

Jazz auditions video submission due: May 22

VIDEO REQUIREMENTS

Order:

1. Scales (Specific scales will be posted soon).
2. Audition Piece provided by NJYS
3. Improvisation
4. Additional Rhythm section requirements, if applicable.

AUDITION VIDEO RECORDING

• The entirety of your audition should be recorded in one single, unedited video. Be sure to record your audition in the order listed above. You may not edit, cut, splice, or otherwise alter your performance. Picture must remain stationary: no panning, zooming, multiple cameras, fading in/out. However, you may pause the video to more to a new instrument or to set up your additional device, if necessary.
• You will need an additional device to play the backing track for your improvisation section.
• Please state your name at the beginning of your video. For example: My name is Stacy Square.

Be sure to follow our guidelines for the best video: Video Audition Guidelines

AUDITION VIDEO SUBMISSION

After your registration, you will receive an email receipt with the Google Form for your audition video submission. Please upload your video to YouTube and title it NJYS2122.[instrument][level].[name]. Then mark it as “Unlisted” and submit the URL using the form in your email. Do not mark as “Private”. Once you have the link to your video, submit your video by the deadline.