MARYLAND CLASSIC YOUTH ORCHESTRAS Concert Orchestra

Andrea Cameron, conductor

MCYO's newest ensemble, Concert Orchestra, is conducted by Andrea Cameron. A full orchestra designed to give musicians the opportunity to introduce ensemble skills within a full orchestra setting. It will provide a valuable opportunity for students in grades 6-8 to develop their ensemble skills in a full orchestral setting. As with every MCYO ensemble, this experience will not only enhance technical proficiency but also foster a deeper appreciation for orchestral music.

Rehearsals are on Wednesday from 5:00 – 6:30pm at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Audition Requirements

Grades in School:
Strings: 6–8th Grade
Winds/Brass/Percussion: 6–8th Grade

Minimum Solo Level (MMEA grade level):
Difficulty grade level 3 and higher.

Please prepare an entire movement of a solo work and be ready to play a selection of no more than 5 minutes. The judge(s) may stop the musician in the middle of their selection.
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 required excerpt from the younger ensemble’s excerpts.

Musicians auditioning for both Concert Orchestra and Young Artists will be required to prepare ALL the excerpts for both orchestras and be prepared to play all the excerpts at each audition.

You will be asked to play ALL the selections at the younger ensemble auditions.

Musicians must be able to play all the scales listed for their instruments (scales, arpeggios, etc.). Musicians will play several scales from the list below at the discretion of the judge.
Scales/arpeggios must be played from memory.
All scales/arpeggios are to be played ascending and descending.
Two octaves (and one octave), to be played by slurring two eighth notes per bow, followed by a two-octave arpeggio in the same note pattern at the same tempo. (quarter note = 72) The minor scales, two octaves, to be played by slurring two eighth notes per bow. (quarter note = 72) There is no arpeggio for minor scales.

Violin
Major scales: 2 octaves / C G D A F Bb Eb
Melodic minor scales: 2 octaves / C D
Viola
Major scales: 2 octaves / C G D A F Bb
Melodic minor scales: 2 octaves / A G
Cello
Major scales: 2 octaves / C G D A F Bb Eb
Melodic minor scales: 2 octaves / A D
Bass
Major scales: 2 octaves / F ; 1 octave / C G A D Bb
Melodic minor scales: 1 octaves / E G

Musicians must be able to play all the scales listed for their instruments. Musicians will play several scales from the list below at the discretion of the judge.
Scales must be played from memory.
Chromatic scales are to be played evenly and smoothly in a triplet eighth note at a minimum metronome speed of quarter = 72.
Major scales should be played slurred in a 16th note pattern at a minimum metronome speed of quarter = 72. Major scales should also start on the named note of the scale.
All scales are to be played ascending and descending.
Musicians are welcome to hold the bottom and top notes (tonic and octave) as 8th notes, at the discretion of the musicians’ private teachers.

Flute
Chromatic: 1 or more octave scales
Major scales: 2 octaves / C G D A F Bb Eb

Oboe
Chromatic: 1 octave scales
Major scales: 1 or more octaves / C G D A F

Clarinet
Chromatic: 1 or more octave scales
Major scales: 2 octaves / C G D A E F Bb

Bassoon
Chromatic: 1 octave scales
Major scales: 1 or more octaves / C G D A F Bb Eb

French Horn
Chromatic: 1 octave scales
Major scales: 1 or more octaves / C G D A F Bb

Trumpet
Chromatic: 1 octave scales
Major scales: 1 or more octaves / C D A E F ; 2 octaves / G

Trombone
Chromatic: 1 octave scales
Major scales: 1 or more octaves / C D G A F Bb

Tuba
Chromatic: 1 octave scales
Major scales: 1 or more octaves / C G D A F Bb

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 2 instruments (i.e. a mallet SOLO plus snare drum and timpani EXCERPTS). The student should be prepared to sight read on all 3 instruments as well as demonstrate timpani tuning and basic snare drum rudiments (long concert roll, 5, 7 and 9 stroke rolls, flams, flam taps, flam accents, paradiddles, and double paradiddles).

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