Davis High School  Audition Requirements

2010-2011

Symphony Orchestra and Baroque Ensemble

All DHS Orchestra Auditions will be held at Davis High School Performing Arts Theater in room PA-3 from March 18th – 25^th.  Check your school music room for sign-up sheet and times.              

Sign-up Deadline is Friday, March 5^th!

Contact Mr. Moreno if you have any questions or need an extension amoreno@djusd.k12.ca.us.  The final audition schedule will be posted Friday, March 12th^th, which will include your individual audition time.

Audition Dates and Times by Instrument:

Violins:               Thursday,  March 18^th             3:50 PM – 6:00 PM

                           Friday,      March 19^th              3:50PM - 8:00 PM

                           Monday,   March 22^nd             3:50 PM - 8:00 PM  

Cellos/Basses:  Tuesday,     March 23^rd           3:50 PM – 8:00 PM 

Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion:  Wednesday, March 24^th   3:50 PM - 8:00 PM

Violas:                Thursday,       March 25^th        3:50 PM - 6:00 PM  

If none of these audition times work for your schedule and you need assistance contact Mr. Moreno at amoreno@djusd.k12.ca.us  

Description of The Davis High School Symphony Orchestra:

The Davis High Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Angelo Moreno, is an advanced full symphony orchestra including strings, winds, brass and percussion. The group will study and perform music for symphony orchestra from the classical to modern eras. In recent years, the Symphony Orchestra has performed Beethoven’s Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, Dvorak’s Eighth and Ninth Symphonies and Elgar’s Nimrod, amongst many other pieces of music from Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Schumann, Haydn, Brahms and many other composers.

Description of The Davis High School Baroque Ensemble:

The Davis High Baroque Ensemble, under the direction of Angelo Moreno is a unique string orchestra which includes the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass, and Key Board players who are interested in learning to play the Harpsichord. Students will perform on Baroque instruments, which include string instruments converted to Baroque style with gut strings and Baroque style bows. The group will study and perform music from the Baroque Era, including composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Telemann, and Handel.

Recommended Level of Ability:

It is recommended that all players have previous ensemble or performance experience and be well advanced in the command of their instrument. Confidence in sight-reading and advanced control of intonation and tone quality is expected.

DHS Orchestra Program - Audition Requirements

Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass:

• 3 octaves of any major scale in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144  (Basses 2 octaves)

• 3 octaves of any melodic minor scale in quarter notes at a tempo of 120  (Basses 2 octaves)

• 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.*

Woodwinds- Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinets, Bassoon:

• 2 octaves of any major scale in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144
• 2 octaves of any melodic minor scale in quarter notes at a tempo of 120
• A Chromatic scale using the full range of your instrument
• 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.*

Brass- French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba:

• 2 octaves of any major scale in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144
• 2 octaves of any melodic minor scale in quarter notes at a tempo of 120
• A Chromatic scale using the full range of your instrument
• 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.*

Percussion: 

Note: Email Mr. Moreno directly if you have any questions at amoreno@djusd.k12.ca.us  

• Mallets: Demonstrate ability to perform on any of the mallet instruments two octave of any major scale in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144
• Timpani: Fifteen-second roll on timpani, dynamics: pp to ff to pp and demonstrate some ability to perform on timpani
• Snare Drum: Demonstrate the appropriate rudiments on snare drum, open and closed double stroke rolls and alternating flam accents

* Strings, Winds, and Brass: when deciding on solo literature, consult your private instructor or school music teacher.

Solos should be at a concerto level. 

***REQUIRED***

Prepare to bring an extra copy of your solo music the day of your audition for the judges.

Contact Mr. Moreno for further information or if you have any questions at  

530.400-7614 (cell) or by email: amoreno@djusd.k12.ca.us

Download a copy of the information on this page here.

Download a copy of the Audiion Scoring Sheet here.