Jazz Night-24

2025-2026 Open Auditions

Register to Audition for the Summerville Orchestra Here
Register to Audition for the Youth Philharmonic/Junior Philharmonic Here

The following sections are in high demand for the 2025-26 Season:

Violins

Harp

French Horn

Percussion

Trombone

Auditions Overview

Who: Musicians interested in section orchestra
Where: Fort Dorchester High School
When: August 10, 2025. Times will be determined based on information received from
Marlena Davis, Personnel Manager. Auditionees may arrive up to 30 minutes prior to
their audition time and no later than 15 minutes prior to their audition time.
What: The Summerville Orchestra (S.O.) has several seats that are open and calling all
musicians in community. The S.O. meets Monday evenings from 7-9:30 p.m. for
rehearsals from late August – late May.

Section Orchestra Auditions Instruments Needed (listed in order of need):
– Section Violin
– Harp
– Trombone (ability to play bass trombone ideal)
– French Horn (low horn desired)
– Percussion
– Any other instruments may audition but are accepted based on need

Audition Details: Interested musicians should fill out the following form:
Audition Form

Time Slots: Please email Personnel Manager Marlena Davis, at marlena@summervilleorchestra.org, and leave a telephone number. Auditions will be 10 minutes in length (you may or may not need/use all this time). If you have a preference within that two-hour window, please let us know.
Audition Date:  August 10, 2025 and January 4, 2026
Location: Fort Dorchester High School band room, 8500 Patriot Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29420
Accompanists: Not needed and certainly not mandatory. You are of course more than welcome to bring an accompanist. However, it will not affect your audition either way.
Memorization: Not required. Please just prepare your excerpts and solo piece to the best of your ability and comfort level.
Repertoire/Requirements: Please see below for required excerpts and solo repertoire for your instrument.
** PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SPECIFIC EXCERPTS REQUESTED **

Auditions are for all interested instrumentalists, not limited to those who play the featured instruments.

You’re always welcome in our chamber groups.

You can also fill out this form, and we will reach out to you when there’s an opening.

The following audition materials below are for the Summerville Orchestra. Students who are interested in joining the youth orchestra need to click here to be taken to the youth requirements.

Strings

Violin

violin icon

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Viola

violin icon

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Cello

cello icon

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

String Bass

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Woodwinds

Flute

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Oboe

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Clarinet

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Bassoon

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Contra-bassoon

contrabassoon icon

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any Baroque/Classical concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Auxillary

Piccolo, Eb clarinet, English horn, etc.

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

None required

Brass

All brass players interested in auditioning should have experience in and can complete the following:

  • Transpose, at sight, in common transpositions (French Horns in Eb, E, D, and C; Trumpets in D, Eb, F)
  • Be able to read and play all associated clefs needed for your instrument (French Horns – Bass clef, Trombones – Tenor clef)
  • Own at least the most common mutes for your instrument (Straight, Harmon, Cup, etc.)
  • French Horns should be familiar with how to play “stopped horn”

Horn

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Trumpet

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Trombone

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Sheet music and guides

  • Dvorak, Symphony No. 8, mvt. 1, 4 after N – end of mvt.
  • Berlioz, Hungarian March, 1 m. before Reh. 4 – end

Tuba

SOLO

  • Exposition of the 1st movement of any concerto, OR
  • a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Percussion, Piano, Harp

Percussion

SOLO

a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Please pick any ONE orchestral excerpt for your instrument

Harp

SOLO

a solo of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker, Waltz of the Flowers, Cadenza

Questions?

Please reach out to Marlena Davis at marlena@summervilleorchestra.org

Violin, cello, and string bass icons created by Valter Bispo from the Noun Project. Tuba icon created by Pham Thi Dieu Linh from the Noun Project.