MARIN SYMPHONY YOUTH PROGRAMS 2026-27 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
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:
• See Overture eligibility guidelines.
1. Scales: (memorization not required):
Click here for Overture scale requirements.
• All players should prepare both requested scales for their instruments using all requested bowings and tempos. Printed scales with bowings and tempos are provided with audition materials for each instrument. Be prepared to play scales with metronome (provided by conductor) at the audition.
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: Click Here for Overture Excerpts
• Although players should practice the excerpts with a metronome, auditions do not have to be performed with a metronome.
• Players should perform audition excerpts as close to the given tempos as they are capable while demonstrating accuracy and musicality.
• Players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
• All violinists are asked to prepare the same excerpts. Seating assignments, as well as section assignments, will be determined by the conductor.
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.
• For prospective returning Crescendo members, attendance, participation, and behavior during the prior season may be considered when determining acceptance and seating.
• See Crescendo eligibility guidelines.
1. Scales: (memorization not required):
Click here for Crescendo scale requirements.
STRINGS:
All players should prepare both requested scales for their instruments using all requested articulations and tempos. Printed scales with bowings and tempos are provided with audition materials for each instrument. Be prepared to play scales with metronome (provided by conductor) at the audition.
WINDS and BRASS:
All players should prepare all requested scales for their instruments using all required articulations and tempos. Printed scales with articulations and tempos are provided with audition materials for each instrument. Be prepared to play scales with metronome (provided by conductor) at the audition.
PERCUSSION:
Players should prepare both #1 and #2:
1. Scales on mallet instrument as provided in audition requirements.
2. Rudiments of player’s choice demonstrating varying dynamics (pp to ff) and a smooth transition between open and closed rudiments including rolls, paradiddles, flams, and drags on snare or timpani.
2. Solo piece: (all instruments):
• Solo piece (or pieces) of your choice representing your current abilities, approximately 2-3 minutes in length, unaccompanied. Please time your solo 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: Click Here for Crescendo Excerpts
All excerpts listed for your instrument are required.
• Although players should practice the excerpts with a metronome, auditions do not have to be performed with a metronome.
• Players should perform audition excerpts as close to the given tempos as they are capable while demonstrating accuracy and musicality.
• Multi-measure rests: for two or fewer measures, count the rests and wait; for three or more measures, please skip to the next passage.
• Players may choose upper or lower notes in divisi passages as appropriate for each player.
• String players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
• Section assignment will be determined by the conductor.
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.
• 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. Solo:
• 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.
2. Excerpts: Click Here for MSYO Excerpts
• All excerpts listed for your instrument are required and must be performed with the metronome in your audition, 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.
• 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. 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.
• 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.
• String players should follow all marked bowings. Attention to bowings, bow use, intonation, rhythm, and dynamics will be evaluated.
• Violinists should prepare all three excerpts listed (the 2nd violin and the 1st violin excerpts). Seating assignments, as well as section assignments, will be determined by the conductor.
3. Scales and Arpeggios:
STRINGS
• One assigned scale played to a drone. Click here for drone scales and instructions. Memorization is not required.
• One major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps). Detache 8th notes at quarter=60. 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). Two or three quarter notes slurred at quarter=76. Students may choose to play 2 or 3 octaves. Memorization is required.
• All scales to be played without vibrato.
WINDS
• One assigned scale played to a drone. Click here for drone scales and instructions. Memorization is not required.
• One major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps). Two octaves, tongued 16th notes at quarter=96. Memorization is required.
• One melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 flats). Two octaves, slurred 8th notes at quarter=80. Memorization is required.
BRASS
• One assigned scale played to a drone. Click here for drone scales and instructions. Memorization is not required.
• One major scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps). One octave, tongued 16th notes at quarter=96. Memorization is required.
• One melodic minor scale and arpeggio in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 flats). One octave, slurred 8th notes at quarter=80. Memorization is required.
PERCUSSION
• One major scale and arpeggio (2 octaves) in a key selected by the conductor (0-3 sharps), on xylophone or piano. 8th notes at quarter=96. 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. 8th notes at quarter=96. Memorization is required.
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.