Audition

Contact us to arrange an audition!

Hello Musicians,

We appreciate your interest in the San Luis Obispo Symphony Orchestra auditions! Since its founding in 1961, the SLO Symphony has been an artistic, economic, educational, and community-minded entity in the Central Coast of California. The orchestra’s season includes an annual performance of “Pops” at Avila Beach, a bi-annual New Year’s Eve Pops concert, and occasional chamber opportunities in more intimate venues. In addition, we perform five Classics in the Performing Arts Center at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. 

We have the following openings:

Strings

Assistant Concert Master
Section Violin – 4 Firsts, 1 Second
Section Viola – 1
Principal Cello
Section Cello – 1
Section Bass – 2
Principal Harp

Audition Date & Time
Thursday, April 26, 2024
5-9pm

Application Deadline
April 4, 2024

Audition FAQs and APPLICATION PROCESS

What materials do I need to submit to apply for an audition?

Please send a one-page resume (including email, address, and phone number) to [email protected] . To secure an audition time, you will need to complete and submit an online application and one-page resume and a non-refundable audition deposit of $25.00. Please use the direct link, which is also found on the audition page: https://slos.secure.force.com/ticket/#/instances/a0F5G00000OSUieUAH

An application is only considered complete upon the arrival of all application components. Please note that audition materials must be filled out completely, and received by the application deadline, with the deposit, to secure an audition time.

 

What information needs to be on my resume?

Please limit your resume to one page. 

The following information must appear clearly on your one-page resume:

• Name
• Instrument
• Email Address
• Telephone Number (cell preferred)
• Current Mailing Address

Please email your resume to Linda Sorensen, Personnel Manager, at [email protected]

 Do I need to submit a recording? Only if you’d like.

OPTION #1: You can submit a recording (audio only, no video) for the first round by April 4, 2024. You will receive notice whether you’re invited to audition in person (April 25 for strings or 26 for harp) by April 15, 2024. The recording should be a single, unedited take of all audition repertoire.
Audition Repertoire will be updated and pdf excerpts made available on this site by January 8, 2024.

OPTION #2: Attend the first round live and in person on Thursday, April 25, 2024 for strings or Friday April 26, 2024 for harp. Location TBA by January 8, 2024.
Audition Repertoire will be updated and pdf excerpts made available on this site by January 8, 2024.

Repertoire List
(This list is outdated, but will be updated and PDFs made available by January 8, 2024)

Assistant Concertmaster-all solos, plus the violin excerpts listed below:

• Brahms Symphony No. 4, 4th Mvt., 8 mm before B to D
• Mozart Symphony No. 39, 2nd Mvt., beginning, take first repeat to 2nd beat of m. 27.
• Mendelssohn Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo, beginning to 17 measures after K
• Strauss Don Juan, first page

Violas

• Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd Mvt, beginning to m. 106
• Strauss, Don Juan, beginning to 6 measures after D
• Mozart Symphony No. 35, 1st Mvt., beginning to Letter B
• Shostakovich Symphony No.5, 1st Mvt., rehearsal numbers 15-17

Cellos: .

• Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 2nd Mvt., beginning to m.10; mm. 98-106; mm. 114-124
• Mozart Symphony 40, 1st. Mvt., mm. 114-138 (20 measures before C to 5 measures after C)
• Brahms Symphony No., 2nd Mvt., beginning to m. 15; mm. 46-55
• Strauss Don Juan, beginning to Letter D

Bass

• Beethoven Symphony No. 5, 3rd. Mvt., mm. 141-219 (Trio) w/o repeat
• Mozart. Symphony No.40, 1st Mvt., mm. 114-138
• Stravinsky Pulcinella, Suite VII. Vivo (Figure 85-6 measures after 93 w/o repeat)
• Bach, Violin Concerto in E Major, MWV 1042, Adagio, mm. 1-15

Horn – Assistant Horn

• Concerto exposition from either Mozart Horn Concerto No. 2 or No. 4, or Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1
• Brahms Haydn Variation VI
• Brahms Haydn Variations – Finale (9 before M to 4 before N)
• Mendelssohn Midsummer – Nocturne
• Beethoven Symphony No. 3 Trio (beginning to m. 205)
• Strauss Til Eulenspiegel (opening calls to fig 1.
• Wagner Siegried’s Rhine Journey
• Brahms Symphony No. 3 Mvt III (letter F to 13 after F)
• Beethoven Symphony No. 7 Mvt IV (m. 23 to 32)
• Strauss Heldenleben (fig 1. to fig. 5)
• Tchaikovsky Symphony No.4 Mvt I (beginning to 6 after A)
• Beethoven Symphony No.3 Mvt IV (Letter F to the end)

Strauss Heldenleben (fig 10 to 13)

When will I receive further information?
Usually, you will receive correspondence within 48 hours. All correspondence is done via email. Audition information is posted on the SLOS website.

What if I need to cancel my audition?
Please get in touch with the Personnel Manager for any cancellations: [email protected]

What if I miss a deadline?
Be advised, the deadline for applications for this audition is April 4, 2024.
Likely, we will not accept your materials. If extenuating circumstances are at play, an exception may be made, but typically, this is not the case, and will discard your materials.
Auditions are planned months in advance, please adhere to the deadline

Can I request a specific audition time?
Please email the audition account [email protected] with your audition time request when you submit your complete application. This email should include your requested audition date and time and your reason for the request. If you need to ask for a specific time, I strongly encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible. This increases the odds of getting the day and time you need, as requests are honored first come, first served.

If you receive an audition date or time that doesn’t work for you, you may request another time, but your request may not be granted, as it is much harder to change once we’ve set the audition times.

What is the compensation?

 

Sincerely,

 

Linda Sorensen

San Luis Obispo Symphony Personnel Manager

San Luis Obispo Symphony

75 Higuera St., #160

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

[email protected]