MARYLAND CLASSIC YOUTH ORCHESTRAS Chamber Ensemble

Julie Savignon, conductor

The MCYO Chamber Ensemble is a unique high school level string ensemble directed by Julie Savignon. The Chamber Ensemble (CE) is comprised of high-level ninth through tenth grade string players who show a keen ability to perform advanced string orchestra repertoire both with a conductor as well as in a true conductor-less chamber orchestra environment. The Chamber Ensemble performs on the Strathmore stage as well as in many different local venues as goodwill musical ambassadors for MCYO.

Rehearsals are from 7:00 – 9:15 Wednesday Evenings in Room 114

Audition Requirements

Grades in School:
Strings: 11 – 12th Grade (10th grade can audition for PHIL, ONLY IF you were in Chamber Ensemble in the previous season)
– String musicians will be considered for Kamerata! as well.
Winds/Brass/Percussion: 10 – 12th Grade

Minimum Solo Level (MMEA grade level or ASTADC):
Difficulty grade level 6 and higher
*Trumpets solo level can be level 5 and higher

Musicians are required to learn the entire solo and will be asked to play a 3-5 minute excerpt from their solo. Solos must be played without piano accompaniment. Memorization of solos and excerpts is not required.

Musicians will sight-read parts which are comparable in difficulty to the orchestra repertoire

Download the Orchestral Excerpts Here.
*Some excerpts may be multiple pages.

To be considered for MULTIPLE ensembles, you must prepare ALL excerpts required for the older ensemble plus ONE excerpt (of musician’s choice) from the younger ensemble’s required excerpts.

NO SCALES will be needed for Philharmonic STRINGS audition

Musicians must be able to play all the scales listed for your instruments]
Scales must be played from memory
Adjudicators may ask musicians to play the scales faster, slower, staccato, and/or legato.
Scales are to be played evenly and smoothly in a 16th note pattern at a minimum metronome speed of quarter = 72.
All scales are to be played ascending and descending.

Flute:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: All 2 or 3 octave scales

Oboe:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: All 2 octave scales

Clarinet:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: 3 octaves / G E F ; 2 octaves / all other major scales

Bassoon:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: All 2 octave scales

French Horn:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: All 2 octave scales

Trumpet:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: 2 octaves / C G A B Bb Ab ; 1 octave / D E F# C# F Eb Db Cb

Trombone:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: All 2 octave scales

Tuba:
Chromatic scales in range
Major scales: All 2 or 3 octave scales

Percussion: Musician will need to prepare a solo or etude for snare drum, mallets or timpani (Goldenberg, Podemski, Cirone, Delecluse, Firth, Peters, Schinstine, Whaley, Houliff, Wessels, Aleo, or equivalent) and the orchestral excerpts for the other two instruments (I.E. a mallet SOLO plus snare drum and timpani EXCERPTS). The student should be prepared to sight read on all three instruments as well as to demonstrate timpani tuning and basic snare drum rudiments (long concert roll, 5, 7 and 9 stroke rolls, flams, flam taps, flam accents, paraddidles and double paradiddles).

Harps: Musicians will need to enroll in to Harp Ensemble (Part of the Small Ensemble).
– Please prepare a solo that best represent your playing level/skills. If you are also interested in performing with the orchestras, you should also prepare an orchestral excerpt that reflects upon current ability.