Instrumental Ensemble Performance Demonstrations and Auditions

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2026-2027 Academic Year

All performance demonstrations and auditions for the 2026/2027 academic year for Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Orchestra will be completed by online video submission. Cell phone videos are acceptable if that is the only equipment available. All the information you need to complete and submit your video is provided below. If you are submitting recordings for multiple ensembles, you will need to complete separate submissions for each ensemble.

If you have questions after reading the information below, please contact:

Video Requirements

All performance demonstration and audition materials on the video must be done in one, continuous, un-edited take. (Keep the camera on at all times through the audition). Your face and fingers/valves/slides/sticks must always be visible in the video.

Submission for all applications

  1. Upload your video to YouTube as an “unlisted” video.
  2. Secure a download link for the file that you can share with us. Please check to make sure that the permissions will allow us to view your video.
  3. Click on the link to the appropriate audition application (see below) and complete the form. There will be a place within the form for you to share the link to your audition video.

Important Dates

  1. Applications and recordings are due Monday, August 24 (one week prior to the first day of class).
  2. Results will be communicated by Friday, August 28 via email.
  3. First Rehearsals
    • All who earn a position in each ensemble will attend their first regularly scheduled rehearsal:
      • Wind Ensemble: Monday, August 31, 3:20-4:40 PM, D-040
      • Jazz Ensemble: Tuesday, September 1, 2:40-4:10 PM, D-040
      • Orchestra: Tuesday, September 1, 6:15-8:45 PM, D-040

Instrument Access – Woodwind, Brass, and String Players

If you do not have access to an instrument, we recommend one of the following:

  1. Contact your high school director to borrow an instrument to complete your audition video.
  2. Contact your local instrument store to rent an instrument to complete your audition video.
  3. Schedule an appointment to rent an instrument from CSB+SJU. The date for instrument pick-up will be Friday, August 7 from 1:00-4:00pm at the BAC on the CSB campus.
    • Woodwinds and Brass – Schedule your appointment by contacting Dr. Justin Zanchuk ([email protected]).
    • Strings – Schedule your appointment by contacting Dr. Andrew Towsey-Grishaw ([email protected]).
    • Guitar – Schedule your appointment by contacting Dr. Ryan Picone ([email protected]).

Wind Ensemble

Your audition video will contain:

  1. A short introduction of yourself and the name of your audition piece(s)
  2. Woodwinds/Brass
    • Play any solo piece or etude of your choice approximately 1-2 minutes in length demonstrating good sound, quality intonation, musical imagination, rhythmic integrity, and technical control of your instrument.
    • Play your instrument part to the first movement of English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan-Williams (scores here). Please play the page straight down. You do NOT need to play the repeats or take the D.C. and play the coda. Tempo is quarter note = 112-120. For a reference recording, listen here.
      • Saxophones – play the alto sax part even if you are auditioning on tenor or bari sax
    • Play your concert B-flat and concert F major scale up and down, preferably two octaves.
  3. Percussion
    • Play any solo piece or etude of your choice for snare drum approximately 1-2 minutes in length (play on snare, practice pad, or any drum to which you have access)
    • Play any solo piece or etude of your choice for mallets approximately 1-2 minutes in length (play on any mallet instrument or piano to which you have access. If you cannot access a keyboard instrument, please skip this portion of the audition)
    • Play m. 165-199 of Lightning Field by John Mackey (score here) (play on wood blocks, buckets, chair backs, or any creative home instrument of your choosing if you do not have access to four tom-toms). Tempo is quarter note = 180. For a reference recording, listen here.

Wind Ensemble Performance Demonstration Application Fall 2026

Jazz Ensemble

Your audition requirement video will contain the following materials.

  1. A short introduction of yourself.
  2. Horns (saxophones, trumpets, trombones) Audition Requirements:
  3. Rhythm Section (Piano, bass, and guitar) Audition Requirements:
  4. Drums Audition Requirements:
    • Demonstrate the following styles:
      • Medium swing
      • Up-tempo swing
      • Bossa, samba
      • Funk/pop/rock

Jazz Ensemble Audition Application Fall 2026

Orchestra

Your performance demonstration video will contain a short introduction of yourself as well as the title and composer of your chosen solo piece.

Audition Repertoire:

Scale:
E Melodic Minor: No. 162 “Scales and Arpeggios”. One Octave & Two Octave required; Three Octave encouraged. Quarter Note = 50 – 60 bpm

Solo:
One solo piece of your choosing. Up to three minutes maximum length. Accompaniment not required.

Excerpts:
G.F. Handel – Concerto Grosso in E minor, Op. 6, No. 3 – Mov. 3: Allegro
Beginning to Measure 22. Play all solo and tutti parts. Quarter Note = 92 bpm
Example Recording Here

Instrument Audition Packets:
Violin
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Orchestra Performance Demonstration Application Fall 2026