Audition Information
Auditions for Fall 2024
Audition registration for entry into the orchestra in Fall 2024 (August 25, 2024) is now open! Read the instructions on this page and click the red button below to register. You can join our mailing list here to be informed of any updates (or you can follow us at our facebook page – facebook.com/daayo)
Audition Rounds and Deadlines
We will have multiple rounds with multiple deadlines this spring of 2024. (All rounds are the same, please only select one during registration.)
Round 1 – April 15 deadline, early May result
Round 2 – May 20 deadline, early June result * (please note this timing may be impacted by our Japan trip this summer, we apologize in advance for this!)
Round 3 – June 19 deadline, early July result
Please note: the deadlines above are for both registration AND video submission. In general, we recommend submitting your registration first, and well before you submit your videos.
If you play saxophone, piano or percussion/timpani, please register separately here to be notified of potential openings. (Please note we may not have openings for those instruments every season.) All other instruments should use the button below.
Important points:
- Make sure you download and read the instructions for video submission here.
- Remember to read our FAQ, as well as this entire page, before registering.
- Learn more about our various orchestras/levels through our videos on this website
- Specific audition requirements for each orchestra are located on this page (scroll down).
Questions? Contact us here.
Current Openings:
String Explorers: All Instruments (Strings)
Junior Strings: All Instruments (Strings)
Concert Strings: Viola. Inquire for other string instruments.
Philharmonic: Selected Winds, Limited Strings Openings. (Please inquire)
Symphony: Selected Strings and Winds. (Please inquire)
Chamber Program: Violins and Violas. Limited Cello/Bass openings. Scroll down to Chamber section below for details and separate registration.
Most applicants will follow a similar audition process of scales, etude, and excerpts. Winds are an exception, see bottom of this page. If you do not make your desired group, we will consider you for another orchestra; however, we may require an additional audition. Space is limited and we highly recommend that you look at the required excerpts closely to determine your best potential fit.
Rehearsals
All of our ensembles (with the exception of the Chamber Group) rehearse on Sunday afternoons (late August to May) at: 420 Maplelawn Drive Plano, TX 75075
The rehearsal times for each group are as below:
String Explorers (SE) (Strings Only): 5:00-6:30PM
Junior Strings (JS) (Strings Only): 2:00-3:30PM
Concert Strings (CS) (Strings Only): 1:30-3:15PM
Philharmonic Orchestra (PO) (Strings and Winds): 3:30- 5:30PM
Symphony Orchestra (SO) (Strings and Winds): 6:00-8:30PM
As a reminder, applicants should be in their school orchestra or band programs unless they are unavailable.
Chamber
Please note our chamber group now uses the same common application as all the other ensembles.
Our Chamber Group rehearses on Saturday afternoons from 1-3:00PM @ the same location above. (1 hour block per each chamber ensemble). We may hold open rehearsals during the beginning of the season for interested applicants.
Audition Preparation – All auditions will be via video submissions.
Audition Requirements
All requirements below are current for the Spring 2024 auditions (entry into orchestra in Fall 2024).
String Explorers
1. Scales: All Instruments – 1 octave C major, A major
2. Etude: Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass
3. Excerpts: Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass
Junior Strings
1. Scales: All Instruments – 2 octaves C Major, G Major
2. Etude: Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass | Harp
3. Excerpt: Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass
Concert Strings
1. Concert String Scales –
Violin – Bb Major, D Major *3 Octaves preferred.
Viola – F Major, D Major *3 Octaves preferred.
Cello – F Major, D Major *3 Octaves preferred.
Bass – G Major, F Major
2. CS Etude Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass | Harp
3. CS Excerpt 1 Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass
4. CS Excerpt 2 Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass
Philharmonic Orchestra
Strings Applicants for Philharmonic should prepare the following:
Philharmonic Etude: Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass | Harp
Philharmonic Excerpt: Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass
Philharmonic Scales:
Violin: A Major & Eb Major *3 Octaves required
Viola: Eb Major & G Major *3 Octaves required
Cello: Eb Major & G Major *3 Octaves required
Bass: Bb Major & D Major *2 Octaves required
Winds: See below
Symphony Orchestra
String applicants who wish to be considered for the Symphony need to prepare all of the above Philharmonic Requirements (Etude/Excerpt/Scale) as well as the following:
Wind Applicants – Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra
Wind Applicants for Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestra should prepare the following:
1. Scales: Winds – Submit a scale of your choice (up to 5 sharps/5 flats (major key only)). (2 or 3 octave)
2. Solo of your choice
Chamber Ensemble
Eligibility: Enthusiastic strings students (Suggested age: 12+). (Piano: inquire before applying.) (Meets Saturdays, 1-2 or 2-3PM)
Requirements:
1. Solo of your choice (up to 7 minutes). Please also include a short introduction about yourself in the video.