Auditions

2024-25 Ensemble Audition Information (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 2024 semester will be either Mahler, Symphony No. 1 OR Berlioz, Symphonie Fantistique 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 since ALL excerpts will be selected from these two pieces.

MUSIC/PARTS are accessible via imslp.org: Mahler music https://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.1_(Mahler,_Gustav), AND Berlioz music, which can be found here (link). At this time, ALL required excerpts for the audition are from the Mahler. If your strong preference is to perform in the Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique ensemble, please feel free to select ANY passages from this work according to your level. Bring it to the audition and you will be heard. Again, the Berlioz is OPTIONAL, and no one is expected to prepare both pieces. You should prepare EITHER the Mahler (info below) OR the Berlioz (self-selected excerpts).

For specific excerpt passages, click here (link). 

Violin I parts (link)

Violin II parts (link)

Flute parts (link)

(All other parts can be obtained via the IMSLP links above).

Please contact Mr. Hong (hongthom@sas.upenn.edu) for any additional questions.

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 27

3:00 PM to 7:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)

August 27 sign up (link)
 

Wednesday, August 28

3:00 PM to 7:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)

August 28 sign up (link)
 

Thursday, August 29

3:00 PM to 5:30 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)
 

August 29 sign up (link)
 

Friday, August 30

3:00 PM to 7:00 PM – ALL instruments (for Orchestra only)

August 30 sign up (link)
 

Everyone is encouraged to audition earlier in the week if possible as the FIRST rehearsal of the semester will be on THURSDAY, August 29!! If you have any questions or difficulty with the sign up sheets, please email Isaac Shalit.

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Penn Wind Ensemble

ALL INTERESTED MUSICIANS:  Please fill out the Instrumental Audition Form found at the top of this page and send it to Mr. Bryan when you upload your video.

Auditions for new AND returning students will be done via video recordings. The deadline to submit your video audition is Friday, August 30.


Audition Requirements

All audition instructions, including specific musical passages to prepare, can be found here:

Penn Wind Ensemble 2024 Audition Instructions

All parts containing the musical passages for you to prepare can be found here:

Penn Wind Ensemble 2024 Audition Materials

 

Audition Schedule

Video submissions due by Friday, Aug. 30.


If you have any questions, please contact the director, Mr. Paul Bryan.


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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

Friday, August 30 – 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM – For students interested in Baroque Ensembles and/or Penn Chamber 

Baroque/Penn Chamber sign up (link)

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

 


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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. 29 and Friday, Aug. 30 from 10am - 2pm. Please contact Michele to arrange a time. Please plan to prepare passages from 2 contrasting pieces.


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Penn Jazz Ensembles

All Jazz Ensemble auditions will be by video submission. The deadline to submit is September 4. Rehearsals begin the week of September 9. 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: dpaul@sas.upenn.edu 

Jazz Ensembles Audition Requirements (PDF download)


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Penn Chorale

New students interested in auditioning for Penn Chorale may submit a video audition.  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 submit by email with your video audition.  Video auditions are due by Thursday, September 5. 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.  

Audition Schedule

Video auditions only.


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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 submit a video audition. 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 submit by email with your video audition.  Video auditions are due by Tuesday, September 3. 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

Tuesday, August 27 – 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM


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Marian Anderson Performance Program (MUSC 0100A, B)

Auditions for the Marian Anderson program will take place on Wednesday, September 4 between 9:30 and 11:30AM. Interested students can sign up for a time by visiting room 227 Lerner Center between August 26 and September 3 at 12:00PM (sign up sheet will be on the door). 

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.


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Ensembles Without Auditions (MUSC 0070)

Brazilian Samba Ensemble

No audition is required.  Students interested in the Brazilian Samba Ensemble are free to register for the course on Path@Penn. For questions, contact Music Director, Michael Stevens by email: sambafreak13@gmail.com. The first session will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, in Amado Recital Hall in Irvine Auditorium.

 

Penn Arab Percussion Ensemble

No audition is required for the Arab Percussion Ensemble, and interested students can register for the course on Path@Penn. Any questions should be directed to the Music Director, Hafez Kotain: hafez.kotain@gmail.com. The first session will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024 in the Lerner Center (Music Dept.), 201 S. 34th Street.