KWYO Audition REQUIREMENTS
Audition requirements details are listed under each orchestra and generally include:
- Scales
- Solo piece(s)
- Short orchestral excerpts for most orchestras / instruments
Entry level string orchestra. Suggested minimum age: 6 years old. To join our entry-level string orchestra, a candidate should have been taking private music lessons for about a year and have a basic understanding of music notation. Suggested opening skill level RCM* 1 or its equivalent in Suzuki.
Instruments
- Violin
- Viola
- Cello
- Double Bass
Preludium Strings Audition Requirements
- G major or C major scale - 1 or 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment
* Royal Conservatory of Music
Junior level strings orchestra. Suggested minimum age: 8 years old. Instruments: violin, viola, cello and double bass. Opening skill level RCM* 3 or its equivalent in Suzuki.
Youth Strings Audition Requirements
Violin
- Scales: D major, 2 octaves & C minor, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 min long) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Selected Orchestral Excerpts
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Strings Auditions VIOLIN
Viola
- Scales: C major, 2 octaves & D minor, 1 or 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 min long) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Strings Auditions VIOLA
Cello
- Scales: G major, 2 octaves & D minor, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 min long) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Strings Auditions CELLO
Double Bass
- 2 scales of own choice, 1 octave
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 min long) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Strings Auditions DOUBLE BASS
* Royal Conservatory of Music
Intermediate level string & wind (NEW) orchestra. Suggested minimum age: 10 years old.
Instruments:
- Strings (violin, viola, cello and double bass)
- Opening skill level of RCM Level 5 or its equivalent in Suzuki.
- Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet & bassoon)
- Suggested opening skill level of RCM 6 / middle school or secondary school grade 9-10 band experience.
- Brass (French horn, trumpet, trombone and tuba)
- Suggested opening skill level of RCM 4 / middle school or secondary school grade 9-10 band experience.
Youth Sinfonia Audition Requirements
Strings
Violin
- Scales: G major, 3 octaves & C minor, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long, or a section of a longer piece) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Sinfonia Auditions VIOLIN
Viola
- Scales: C major, 2 octaves & D minor, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long, or a section of a longer piece) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Sinfonia Auditions VIOLA
Cello
- Scales: D major, 2 octaves & G minor, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long, or a section of a longer piece) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Sinfonia Auditions CELLO
Double Bass
- Scales: D major, 1 octave & E minor, 1 octave
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long, or a section of a longer piece) that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 Youth Sinfonia Auditions DOUBLE BASS
Woodwinds
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet & Bassoon
- 2 scales of the candidate’s choice, 2 octaves, in any articulation
- 2 contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- selections can include solo pieces, studies or band / orchestral parts
- one should be more technical, the other more lyrical
- 1-2 minutes long (or sections of longer pieces)
Brass
French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone & Tuba
- 2 scales of the candidate’s choice, 1 octave, in any articulation
- 2 contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- selections can include solo pieces, studies or band / orchestral parts
- one should be more technical, the other more lyrical
- 1-2 minutes long (or sections of longer pieces)
Advanced level symphony orchestra. Suggested minimum age: 12 years old.
Instruments:
- Strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass & harp)
- Opening skill level of RCM Level 8 or its equivalent in Suzuki.
- Woodwinds (flute / piccolo, oboe, clarinet & bassoon)
- Suggested opening skill level of RCM 8 / senior band experience, ideally supplemented by private music lessons.
- Brass (French horn, trumpet, trombone and tuba)
- Suggested opening skill level of RCM 6 / secondary school grade 11-12 or university band experience, ideally supplemented by private music lessons.
- Percussion (timpani, snare drum & xylophone)
- Suggested opening skill level of RCM 6 / secondary school grade 11-12 or university band experience, ideally supplemented by private music lessons.
Youth Orchestra Audition Requirements
Strings
Violin
- Scales: one major & one minor, 3 octaves, in 16th notes, 8 per bow, M.M. = 60 and corresponding arpeggios
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions VIOLIN
Violin - Concertmaster & Leadership Role Audition
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions Concertmaster & Leadership Role
- Candidates must audition in the spring to participate
- Indicate your intention in your Audition Application.
- Prepare the additional material required to perform in your violin audition which will be extended to approximately 15 minutes.
- The second stage of the Concertmaster & Leadership Role auditions is scheduled for early September. Successful candidates will receive additional Stage 2 material before the summer, to be presented in the September audition.
Viola
- Scales and arpeggios: one major & one minor, 2 or 3 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions VIOLA
Cello
- Scales and arpeggios: one major & one minor, 2 or 3 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions CELLO
Double Bass
- Scales and arpeggios: one major & one minor, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions DOUBLE BASS
Harp
- Scales and arpeggios: one major & one minor, 2 or 3 octaves
- A solo piece of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions HARP
Woodwinds
Flute & Piccolo
Please indicate in your Audition Application if you plan to audition on piccolo, as well.
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 2 or 3 octaves, in contrasting articulation
- Chromatic scale, 2 or 3 octaves, starting on a note of your choice
- A solo piece or a study of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions FLUTE & PICCOLO
Oboe
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 2 octaves, in contrasting articulation
- Chromatic scale, 2 octaves, starting on a note of your choice
- A solo piece or study of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions OBOE
Clarinet
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 2 or 3 octaves, in contrasting articulation
- Chromatic scale, 2 or 3 octaves, starting on a note of your choice
- A solo piece or a study of the candidate's choice, 2-3 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions CLARINET
Bassoon
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 2 octaves, in contrasting articulation
- Chromatic scale, 2 octaves, starting on a note of your choice
- A solo piece or a study of the candidate's choice, 1-2 minutes long, or a part of a larger work that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- Orchestral Excerpts: 2025-26 YO Auditions BASSOON
Brass
French Horn
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 1 or 2 octaves
- Chromatic scale, 1 octave, starting on a note of the candidate’s choice
- 2 contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- selections can include solo pieces, studies or band / orchestral parts
- one should be more technical, the other more lyrical
- 1-2 minutes long (or sections of longer pieces)
- Orchestral Excerpts (RCM 8 - optional): 2025-26 YO Auditions FRENCH HORN
Trumpet
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 1 octave, in contrasting articulation
- Chromatic scale, 1 octave, starting on a note of the candidate’s choice
- 2 contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- selections can include solo pieces, studies or band / orchestral parts
- one should be more technical, the other more lyrical
- 1-2 minutes long (or sections of longer pieces)
- Orchestral Excerpts (RCM 8 - optional): 2025-26 YO Auditions TRUMPET
Trombone / Bass Trombone
Please indicate in your Audition Application if you plan to audition on bass trombone.
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 1 or 2 octaves
- Chromatic scale, 1 octave, starting on a note of the candidate’s choice
- 2 contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- selections can include solo pieces, studies or band / orchestral parts
- one should be more technical, the other more lyrical
- 1-2 minutes long (or sections of longer pieces)
- Orchestral Excerpts (RCM 8 - optional): 2025-26 YO Auditions TROMBONE & BASS TROMBONE
Tuba
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 1 octaves
- Chromatic scale, 1 octave, starting on a note of the candidate’s choice
- 2 contrasting pieces of the candidate's choice that best demonstrates their current skill level, performed without piano accompaniment.
- selections can include solo pieces, studies or band / orchestral parts
- one should be more technical, the other more lyrical
- 1-2 minutes long (or sections of longer pieces)
- Orchestral Excerpts (RCM 8 - optional): 2025-26 YO Auditions TUBA
Percussion
Candidates are required to supply their own mallets and drumsticks
Timpani
- Demonstrate Single Stroke Roll to create long sustained sound in a Slow-to-Fast execution
- A solo piece or a study of candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long) that best demonstrates their current skill level
- Orchestral Excerpts (RCM 8 - optional): 2025-26 YO Auditions PERCUSSION
Snare Drum
- Demonstrate the two rudiments in a Slow-Fast-Slow execution:
- Double Stroke Roll
- Single Paradiddle
- A solo piece or a study of candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long) that best demonstrates their current skill level
Xylophone (optional)
- 2 scales: one major & one minor of the candidate’s choice, 2 octaves
- A solo piece of candidate's choice (1-2 minutes long) that best demonstrates their current skill level