MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH PROGRAMS 2025-26 SEASON
We hope you’ll join us on your musical journey!
Youth ensemble auditions are held annually at the end of the summer, and mid-year auditions are held in January for any open positions within the three ensembles.
AUDITION FEE: $15
For all ensembles, you must be under the instruction of a Private Teacher.
Click Here for a List of Qualified Private Teachers.
OVERTURE STRING ENSEMBLE
TUITION: Overture $800 (full year)
REHEARSALS: Sundays, 11:30 – 12:45pm
LOCATION: College of Marin, Kentfield; Room PA 75
Program Requirements:
Ages 8-13. Must study privately with a teacher on your orchestral instrument. We strongly encourage all of our students to participate in their school music programs. See Overture eligibility guidelines.
Audition Requirements:
1. Scales: (TBD)
2. Solo piece: (memorization not required)
• 1 solo piece of your choice representing your current abilities, approximately 2-4 minutes in length, unaccompanied. Cuts can be made to include contrasting sections, or play through until the allotted time.
Please skip over rests longer than 2 measures. Count rests less than 2 measures.
3. Required excerpts:
• Overture excerpts available in June. String players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
All violinists should prepare both first and second violin excerpts. Seating assignments, as well as section assignments, will be determined by the conductor.
4. Sight reading: (for new and continuing member auditions)
• Players will be asked to play a short sight reading excerpt. Sight reading ability may not play a factor for entrance into the orchestra but will be a consideration for placement within each section.
CRESCENDO ORCHESTRA
TUITION: Crescendo $900 (full year)
REHEARSALS: Sundays, 1:00 – 2:45pm
LOCATION: College of Marin, Kentfield; Room PA 75
Program Requirements:
Ages 10-17. Must study privately with a teacher on your orchestral instrument. We strongly encourage all of our students to participate in their school music programs. See Crescendo eligibility guidelines.
Audition Requirements:
1. Scales: (TBD)
2. Solo piece: (memorization not required)
• One solo piece of your choice representing your current abilities, approximately 2-4 minutes in length, unaccompanied. Cuts can be made to include contrasting sections, or play through until the allotted time.
In the performance of your solo and excerpts, please skip over rests longer than 2 measures. Count rests less than 2 measures.
3. Required excerpts:
• Crescendo excerpts become available in June. String players please follow all bowings that are marked on the music. Your attention to bow direction, use, speed, and technique will count toward your audition results.
4. Sight reading: (for new and continuing member auditions)
• Players will be asked to play a short sight reading excerpt. Sight reading ability may not play a factor for entrance into the orchestra but will be a consideration for placement within each section.
MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
TUITION: MSYO $1000 (full year)
REHEARSALS: Sundays, 3:00 – 6:00pm
LOCATION: College of Marin, Kentfield; Room PA 75
Program Requirements:
Ages 13-18. Must study privately with a teacher on your orchestral instrument. We strongly encourage all of our students to participate in their school music programs. Students are required to set aside time outside of rehearsals to learn their music and are strongly urged to work on their parts with private teachers at their teachers’ convenience. See MSYO eligibility guidelines.
Audition Requirements:
* Students will need to bring a metronome to the audition.
Each audition will go in this order: 1) solo 2) excerpts 3) scales and arpeggios.
All excerpts must be performed with the metronome, following the markings given below. Students should bring their own metronome to the audition. Multi-measure rests in excerpts: for 4 or fewer measures, count the rests while the metronome plays; for 5 or more measures, it’s ok to skip to the next passage.
1. Solo piece: (all instruments)
• 1 solo piece of your choice representing your current abilities, approximately 3-5 minutes in length, unaccompanied. Cuts can be made to include contrasting sections, or play through until the allotted time.
2. Required excerpts: (all instruments)
MSYO excerpts become available in June.
• String players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
All excerpts must be performed with a *metronome, within the tempo range listed at the top of the excerpt. Students should bring their own metronome to the audition. For 4 or fewer measures rest within an excerpt, count the rests while the metronome plays; for 5 or more measures, please skip to the next passage.
3. Scales: (TBD)
Contact Dawn Madole-Nkomonde, Youth Programs Manager at dawn@marinsymphony.org.
Marin Symphony Youth Programs
c/o The Marin Symphony
4340 Redwood Highway, Suite 409c
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: 415.479.8105