VIVACE Family Music Camp

Please record ONE audition video for each registration. See Entrance Audition Requirements below for audition repertoire. You may do it in one take, or you may paste multiple videos together. Videos should last no longer than about 2 minutes. Cell phone videos are encouraged.

Once you’re happy with your video, upload the video to YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Video, or another free video sharing platform. Your video can be unlisted, but please be sure it is publicly viewable.

Label the video with the name and age of the applicant, and the intended ensemble for which the audition was recorded.

Copy and paste the link into the Registration Form.

Click Here to Register

Entrance Audition Requirements

Age 15-18+ Philharmonia Audition

3 or 4 octave D Major Scale at mm. 120
1 octave scale of your choice demonstrating the following: Legato, slurring 2 or 4 notes per bow. Start pp with slow, narrow vibrato, a gradual crescendo to ff with wide, fast vibrato at the top, and a gradual diminuendo back down to pp and minimal vibrato to the end.
1 minute of a concerto or other advanced repertoire demonstrating ease of playing in upper positions, LH speed, rhythmic diversity, full range of dynamics, clear tone, and a well-developed vibrato.

Age 12-18+ Symphony Audition

2 or 3 octave D Major Scale at mm. 88
1 octave scale of your choice, demonstrating the following: Legato, slurring 2 notes per bow. Crescendo up, diminuendo down. With vibrato.
1 minute of an intermediate to advanced solo piece demonstrating your most-advanced techniques, vibrato, intonation and even tone (approximately Suzuki Books 4-8 or equivalent recommended).

Age 7-11 Chamber Audition

2 octave D Major Scale at mm. 72 (3 octaves if you can!)
1 octave scale of your choice, demonstrating the following: Legato, slurring 2 notes per bow. Crescendo up, diminuendo down. With vibrato.
1 minute of your most-advanced solo piece demonstrating range of positions, vibrato, dynamics, and beautiful tone (approximately Suzuki Books 3-6 or equivalent recommended).

Age 7-11 Da Capo Audition

1 octave D Major Scale
1 minute of your most-recently-polished solo piece (approximately Suzuki Books 1-2 or equivalent).

Age 7-11 Young Choristers Audition

If also participating in orchestras, this audition should be attached to the video with your Da Capo or Chamber Orchestra Audition. Can also be a continuous recording with both.

Sing 30-60 seconds of a song of your choice.

Age 4-6 Bambini Audition

1 octave D Major Scale
One other piece (early Suzuki Book 1 or equivalent – Twinkles OK)
Optional: Sing 30-60 seconds of a song of your choice

Placement Audition Requirements

Starting about March 1, repertoire will be posted on the website for those who are registered. Each participant receives instructions and excerpt information to make a video due by May 15.

These auditions determine seating, but the real reason for the videos is to help each applicant be better prepared for rehearsals and performances. It will also save time during the week of camp so that everyone can jump into making music already seated in the correct group, in the correct seat, already knowing with whom they will be seated.

Practice Tips

Remember, your ensemble placement audition isn’t only about showing the committee you’re good enough. It’s also an opportunity for you to challenge yourself and grow into a better musician. The audition prepares you for the work we’ll be doing in rehearsal this summer. Try to focus on growth rather than proving yourself. Every time you challenge yourself, you will grow and learn something!

Here are some tried and true audition excerpt secrets:

Start early! Don’t wait until the week (or day!) of the deadline. If you spend just a few minutes per day for a month, you’ll be way more successful than if you cram a bunch of hours in right before the deadline. Plus, you definitely don’t want practice injuries from overuse to get in the way of performing a beautiful audition.
Select Carefully. Be sure to have a close look at all of the audition materials for your ensemble. Be certain that you prepare the correct measures and run it by your parents and your teacher to double check. Mark the audition excerpts in pencil with brackets. Plan to learn anywhere from one to eight measures each day, and hold yourself to it!
Play Scales. Take a look at the key signature for your audition excepts and determine the key (major or minor). If you don’t have a scale book, look up some fingerings online. Play slowly through as many octaves as you can. The more, the better! Say or sing the note names aloud.
Count! Check out your time signatures. Go through each measure slowly, counting “1 and 2 and” or “1 e and a, 2 e and a.” Be sure you can account for every beat. Clap and count-sing the rhythm aloud.
Know the Notes. If you’re feeling a little unsure about the notes, play through the excerpt slowly, saying the note names aloud (or in your mind). DON’T write the note name or fingering over every single note. DO figure out the names of notes and name them aloud as frequently as you encounter less-familiar notes. If you force yourself to learn the notes as they are notated, you won’t have to rely as heavily on fingerings in the future.
Put it altogether. Alternate repetitions of tricky sections saying the note names and counting (aloud if possible). Go slowly at first, then gradually bring it a little closer to full-tempo each repetition. Use a metronome about 30% of the time.
Listen to Recordings. You can introduce the recording at any point in this process. Two things to remember: a) Don’t rely 100% on the recording for notes and rhythm. You might accidentally follow the wrong part! b) DO listen to the recording and eventually practice along with the recording (when you can play excerpts up to speed). You really need to know what else is happening to fully understand your excerpts. Audition committees can tell who has listened to recordings, because more knowledge always equals better performance.
Take it to your teacher. BUT… try to teach it to yourself FIRST. Your teacher will appreciate the work you have put in, and you will be able to learn it more thoroughly if you’ve put in the work before bringing it to your teacher. Ask them to play it for you, and take note of where their interpretation may differ from yours. The better you have practiced beforehand, the higher the level that you can reach before the audition is recorded. Your teacher would love to teach you musicality rather than just focus on notes and rhythms. And you probably have other important things to cover in your lessons, too!
Practice Auditions. Perform your full audition for friends and family. Record your audition a few times well-before your video is due, listen and critique yourself, then carefully practice those things that need a bit more attention.
Add Style. Once you know you have all the notes and rhythms correct (and even before you have them at full tempo), be sure that you are following dynamics, and phrasing the music as beautifully as possible. Follow the printed articulation and listen to recordings for style. Those auditions that really stand out to a committee are the ones that are beautifully and expressively performed, along with all of the correct notes and rhythms.
Have fun! Enjoy the progress you are making and fall in love with the music! Be sure you use the best recording you can find. Make a playlist for yourself. Apple and Google music apps can be really useful tools.
Finish Early! Make your recording BEFORE the deadline. You don’t want to be up until midnight recording an audition. Instead, do it in the morning the weekend before the deadline. But only after eating a yummy, healthy breakfast. Drink lots of water, and get lots of sleep the night before!
Keep it Up. After recording and submitting your audition, don’t stop practicing! This is the same music we’re playing at camp, so keep reviewing it at least a couple of times per week.
Learn the rest of your music for camp, keep following these rules, and get to know ALL of your music well-before the first rehearsal. Even ten minutes per day can have you feeling well-prepared to come and make music!

Orchestral Repertoire Announced

Masterworks Concert

Grand Finale Concert

Auditions 2024

Video Recording Instructions