MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH PROGRAMS 2025-26 SEASON
We hope you’ll join us on your musical journey!
Marin Symphony Youth Programs
c/o The Marin Symphony
4340 Redwood Highway, Suite 409c
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: 415.479.8105
Dawn Madole-Nkomonde, Youth Programs Manager
dawn@marinsymphony.org
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.
We strongly encourage all of our students to participate in their school music programs.
OVERTURE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS (Strings Only)
Ages 8-12
General Notes:
• Although players should practice the excerpts with a metronome, auditions do not have to be performed with a metronome.
• See Overture eligibility guidelines.
1. Scales and Arpeggios (memorization not required):
• 1 Major scale and arpeggio of player’s choice in 2 octaves.
• 1 melodic minor scale and arpeggio of player’s choice in 2 octaves.
If student is capable of shifting, demonstration of shifting is encouraged, but not required.
2. Solo piece (memorization not required):
• A solo piece of your choice representing your current abilities, approximately 2-3 minutes in length, unaccompanied. Cuts can be made to include contrasting sections, or play through until the allotted time. Please time your selection to be no more than 3 minutes.
Please skip over rests longer than 2 measures.
3. Required excerpts:
• String players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
All violinists will prepare the same excerpts. Seating assignments, as well as section assignments, will be determined by the conductor.
Click here for Overture 2025 Fall Audition Excerpts
4. Sight reading:
• Players will be asked to play a short sight reading excerpt.
CRESCENDO AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Ages 10-17
General Notes:
• All prospective members must audition following the guidelines below. Previous Crescendo membership does not guarantee acceptance in 2025-2026.
• For prospective returning Crescendo members, attendance, participation, and behavior during the prior season may be considered when determining acceptance and seating.
• Students will need to bring a metronome to the audition.
• See Crescendo eligibility guidelines.
1. Scales and Arpeggios (memorization not required):
STRINGS:
• 1 Major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 sharps, 4 eighth notes slurred at quarter = 60). Student may choose to play 2 or 3 octaves.
• 1 melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 flats, 1 quarter note per bow at quarter = 60). Student may choose to play 2 or 3 octaves.
Demonstration of shifting is desired.
WINDS:
• 1 Major scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 sharps), slurred in one breath.
• 1 melodic minor scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 flats) tongued in one breath.
BRASS:
• 1 Major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 sharps), slurred in one breath. Student may choose to play 1 or 2 octaves.
• 1 melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 flats) tongued in one breath. Student may choose to play 1 or 2 octaves.
PERCUSSION:
Players may choose to audition either on requirements #1 or #2:
1. 1 Major scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 sharps), on xylophone, marimba, bells, or piano.
1 melodic minor scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 flats), on xylophone, marimba, bells, or piano.
2. Be prepared to demonstrate rudiments at the request of the conductor with varying dynamics (pp to ff) and a smooth transition between open and closed rudiments including rolls, paradiddles, flams, and drags on snare or timpani.
If a player would like to demonstrate proficiency in both 1 and 2, they may do so.
HARP:
• 1 Major scale and arpeggio (2 hands 3 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 sharps).
• 1 melodic minor scale and arpeggio (2 hands 3 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0 – 3 flats).
2. Solo piece (all instruments):
• Solo piece (or pieces) of your choice representing your current abilities, approximately 2-3 minutes in length, unaccompanied. Your selection should incorporate contrasting sections, so cuts can be made to include contrasting sections, or you may choose 2 different works to show contrasting sections. Please time your solo(s) to be no longer than 3 minutes total.
In the performance of your solo, please skip over rests longer than 2 measures.
3. Required excerpts:
All excerpts listed for your instrument are required and must be performed with the metronome, following the markings given below.
• Multi-measure rests: for four or fewer measures, count the rests while the metronome plays; for five or more measures, please skip to the next passage.
• There is a range of metronome marks given for the excerpts. The upper number is the performance tempo. The minimum number is the slowest acceptable tempo for the audition. Preference will be given for players who play accurately and musically at the performance tempo.
• String players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
• All violinists should prepare the first two excerpts and prepare the third excerpt to be considered for placement in the 1st violin section. Seating assignments, as well as section assignments, will be determined by the conductor.
Click here for Crescendo 2025 Fall Audition Excerpts.
4. Sight reading:
• Players will be asked to play a short sight reading excerpt.
MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Ages 13-18
General Notes:
• All prospective members must audition following the guidelines below. Previous MSYO membership does not guarantee acceptance in 2025-2026.
• For prospective returning MSYO members, attendance, participation, and behavior during the prior season may be considered when determining acceptance and seating.
• Students will need to bring a tuner and metronome to the audition.
• See MSYO eligibility guidelines.
1. Scales and Arpeggios:
STRINGS
• One assigned scale played to a drone (see PDF for scale and instructions). Memorization is not required.
• One major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps). Students may choose to play 2 or 3 octaves. Memorization is required.
• One melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 flats). Students may choose to play 2 or 3 octaves. Memorization is required.
Contrasting tempos and articulations between the major and minor scales and arpeggios are encouraged.
WINDS
• One assigned scale played to a drone (see PDF for scale and instructions). Memorization is not required.
• One major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps). Memorization is required. The number of octaves is left to the discretion of the student and their private teacher.
• One melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 flats). Memorization is required. The number of octaves is left to the discretion of the student and their private teacher.
Contrasting tempos and articulations between the major and minor scales and arpeggios are encouraged.
BRASS
• One assigned scale played to a drone (see PDF for scale and instructions). Memorization is not required.
• One major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps). Memorization is required. The number of octaves is left to the discretion of the student and their private teacher.
• One melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 flats). Memorization is required. The number of octaves is left to the discretion of the student and their private teacher.
Contrasting tempos and articulations between the major and minor scales and arpeggios are encouraged.
PERCUSSION
• One major scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps), on xylophone or piano. Memorization is required.
• One melodic minor scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 flats), on xylophone or piano. Memorization is required.
2. Solo Piece:
• Students must announce the title and composer of their solo(s) from memory. Memorization of the solo is optional.
• Plan to play for 3 minutes total and demonstrate both slow and fast playing. Cuts can be made to include contrasting sections, or you may choose 2 different works.
3. Required Excerpts:
• All excerpts listed for your instrument are required and must be performed with the metronome, following the markings given below. If the given tempo, for example, is half = 60, it is not acceptable to play at quarter = 120; the metronome marks test students’ subdivision skills in addition to speed. Students must bring their own metronome to the audition.
• Multi-measure rests: for four or fewer measures, count the rests while the metronome plays; for five or more measures, please skip to the next passage.
• The given metronome marks are concert tempos, and students are strongly encouraged to meet these standards. The minimum acceptable speed is 80% of the given mark. (For example, if the stated mark is quarter = 120, the minimum acceptable speed for the audition is 0.8 x 120 = 96, or quarter = 96.) Preference will be given to players who play accurately and musically at the performance tempo.
• For excerpts that contain a small tempo change, students may pause briefly to adjust the metronome.
• All violinists should prepare all three excerpts listed for violin. Seating assignments, as well as section assignments, will be determined by the conductor.
Click here for MSYO 2025 Fall Audition Excerpts
4. Sight reading for:
• String players wishing to be considered for front-of-section seating, including principal
• Wind and brass players wishing to be considered for first chair
Students wishing to be considered for front-of-section or first chair positions will be given one sight-reading excerpt. Students may look it over for 30 seconds before playing.