The Sound of Summerville

Orchestra Auditions

Register to Audition for the Summerville Orchestra Here

The following sections are in high demand for the 2026-27 Season

Violin

Cello

Bass

Percussion

Harp

Auditions Overview

Come play with us! The Summerville Orchestra is looking to bolster our ranks with some of Summerville’s finest amateur musicians. We are looking in particular for violins, cello, bass, percussion, and harp, but we welcome all to audition. Although these positions are unpaid, they open the door to great new friendships, connections, networking, growth, learning and even more performance opportunities.

If interested, please register below and email marlena@summervilleorchestra.org

Register to Audition for the Summerville Orchestra Here

Audition Details

Audition Dates:  August 9, 2026
 
Location: Fort Dorchester High School band room, 8500 Patriot Blvd., North Charleston, SC 29420
 
Time Slots: Auditions will be scheduled in 15-minute time slots, though you may not need the full allotted time. To reserve a slot, please contact Personnel Manager Marlena Davis at marlena@summervilleorchestra.org and include a phone number where you can be reached.
 
Audition Expectations

The S.O. expects all auditioning musicians to prepare one solo selection and the three required excerpts provided below. Musicians should strive to perform as close to the indicated performance tempo as possible while maintaining accuracy and musicality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an accompanist?
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.
 
Do I need to memorize my solo an excerpts?
Not required. Please just prepare your excerpts and solo piece to the best of your ability and comfort level.
 
What excerpts do I need to prepare?
Please see below for required excerpts and solo repertoire for your instrument.

Strings

Violin

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

In addition, prepare the excerpts for the section you wish to audition for:

If you are unsure whether you prefer Violin I or Violin II, please prepare the Beethoven excerpt and one excerpt from each section list.

Viola

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)

Cello

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)

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

Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, 3rd, m. 1-96 & m. 141-177

Brahms, Symphony No. 2, mvt. 1, m. 118-156

 
Mahler, Symphony No. 1, mvt. 3, beginning until Reh. 2

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

Mendelssohn, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo: 2 before Letter P – end

Debussy, Prelude to Afternoon of a Faun, Opening until Reh. #3

Ravel, Daphnis et Chloe, Reh. 176 – 2 m. after Reh. 179

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

Ravel, Tombeau de Couperin, mvt. 1 , beginning – Reh. 2 AND Reh. 8 – 9

Beethoven, Symphony 6, mvt. III, m. 91 – 123 (solo after A) (page 4 of list)

Dvorak, Symphony No. 7, mvt. 2, opening – Letter A
 

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

Respighi, Pines of Rome, mvt. 3 “I pini del Giancolo” Reh. #13 – Reh. #15 [Guide]

Beethoven Symphony No. 6, mvt. 1, 2 excerpts (m. 418-439 and 2 before K – m. 492)

Mendelssohn, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Excerpt No. 1 & 2 (BOTH required)

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

Donizetti, “Una furtiva lagrima” from L’Elisir d’Amore, m. 2 – 9

Mozart, Overture to Marriage of Figaro, m. 1 – 24

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade, mvt. 2, excerpt 1 (opening solo)

Auxiliary Woodwinds

Please prepare the one excerpt listed below for your instrument, as well as two excerpts from your instrument family above

Piccolo

EXCERPTS

Ravel, Mother Goose Suite, mvt. 2, Reh. 7-8 + mvt. 3, Reh. 1 to 5m after Reh. 3(Excerpt #2 and #3)

English Horn

EXCERPTS

Rossini, Overture to William Tell, m. 176-226 (excerpt on page 10)

Eb Clarinet

EXCERPTS

Ravel, Bolero, Reh. 3 – 4 (excerpt on page 4)

Bass Clarinet

EXCERPTS

R. Strauss, Don Quixote, Reh. 14 (excerpt on page 17)

Contrabassoon

EXCERPTS

Ravel, Mother Goose Suite, mvt. 4, Reh. 2 – 9th bar of Reh 5

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”

French 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

Brahms, Symphony No. 1, both excerpts for Horn 1

Beethoven, Symphony No. 6, mvt. 3, m. 132-161 (50 after A – 77 after A)

Weber, Overture to Der Freischutz, HN 4 Excerpt

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

Dvorak, Symphony No. 8, mvt. 2, 7 before Reh. E to letter F

Beethoven Leonore Overture No. 3, offstage fanfare
 
Respighi, Pines of Rome, mvt. 2, offstage trumpet solo, 8m. after 10 to 9 before 11

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

Mozart, Tuba Mirum: (If auditioning on Tenor Trombone, please prepare Tenor excerpt. If auditioning on Bass Trombone, please prepare Bass excerpt.)

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

1st: Prokofiev, Symphony No. 5, mvt. 1, m.3-6 

2nd: Wagner, Overture to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (J-L)

Percussion, Piano, Harp

Percussion

Piano

Harp

SOLO

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

A long roll on snare drum

EXCERPTS

Players will present each excerpt below, including: timpani, auxiliary percussion, and mallet instruments. 

Auxiliary: 
 
Timpani:
 
Mallet:

SOLO

Prepare a solo piece, or excerpt of a piece, that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)
 

EXCERPTS

 
 
Copland, Appalachian Spring Excerpt (either)
 

SOLO

Prepare a solo piece, or excerpt of a piece, that demonstrates your playing ability (no longer than 2-3 minutes)

EXCERPTS

Tchaikovsky, Nutcracker, Waltz of the Flowers, Cadenza