1. Audition Packet for McLean High School Orchestras
All students MUST complete the following survey IN ADDITION to completing their audition: Rising freshman and transfer students MUST sign up for an audition time at the following link: …if you don’t sign up using the link, I will assume you are not auditioning at all!
Please prepare only one audition option. Pick the material that you feel best shows your talents and skill level. All audition excerpts can be downloaded and printed at
OPTION 1 – Intermediate Orchestra Audition Requirements:
PREPARED PIECE Prepare 1 to 2 minutes of a piece of your own choosing that best shows off your abilities. SCALES Violins, Violas, Cellos: all 2 octave Major and Melodic Minor scales, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats Basses: all 1 octave Major and Melodic Minor scales, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats
District Bowing is preferred! That means two notes slurred, two separate (martele) when ascending, 4 slurred when descending. Prepare as many of the scales listed above as you feel comfortable playing, be honest with Ms. Smith if you’re not comfortable with certain scales…it’s okay!
OPTION 2 – Symphonic Orchestra Audition Requirements:
EXCERPTS Violins & Violas: Mazas Op Melodious Studies, Book 1, #3 Cello: Dotzauer 113 Studies, Book 1 #17| Bass: Simandl Etudes #8 Please pay close attention to tempo markings, fingerings, bowing direction, and style/phrasing (accents, dynamics, etc).
SCALES Violins, Violas, Cellos: all 3 octave Major and Melodic Minor scales, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, Basses: all 2 octave Major and Melodic Minor scales, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats
District Bowing is preferred! That means two notes slurred, two separate (martele) when ascending, 4 slurred when descending.
OPTION 3 - Philharmonic Orchestra Audition Requirements:
Excerpts are taken from the Senior Regional Orchestra Audition Material for the coming year. If you plan on also auditioning for Senior Regional Orchestra next year, please Ms. Smith at to obtain the full set of audition excerpts. Please prepare ONLY the excerpts listed below be your McLean HS Philharmonic Orchestra audition.
EXCERPTS Violin: Brahm’s Symphony No. 1, 1st Movement (2 excerpts) AND Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, 2nd Movement Viola: Berlioz’s Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9 AND Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2, 2nd Movement Cello: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, 2nd Movement AND Rossini’s Overture “William Tell” Bass: Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, 1st Movement AND Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, 4th Movement SCALES Violins, Violas, Cellos: all 3 octave scales, Major and Melodic Minor, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats
Basses: all 2 octave scales, Major and Melodic Minor, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats
Contact Miss. Smith if you have any questions about the audition process at
We look forward to having you as a new or returning member of the MHSO! Go Highlanders!
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2. McLean High School Orchestra FAQ’s
General Audition Information:
All students are accepted into the MHS Orchestra program! Auditions merely serve as placement exams that help Miss. Smith place each student in an orchestra that suits student’s musical abilities. All students are required to audition every year.
If you choose not to audition for Miss. Smith, you will be automatically placed into the beginning/intermediate orchestra!
All auditions will take place in the McLean High School Orchestra room on March 29, 30, and 31st. Rising freshman and transfer students MUST sign up for an audition date and time using the following Sign-Up Genius link found on the reserve side of this sheet.
After hearing auditions, Miss. Smith has final say over which orchestra students will be placed into. Miss. Smith will not hear repeat auditions, no exceptions!
Counselors work alongside Miss. Smith to ensure each and every student’s class schedule accommodates Orchestra as best as possible. See Miss. Smith immediately if you notice any schedule conflicts at the start of the new school year in September.
Check out our website at follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or Miss. Smith at
FAQ’s
Q: Do I HAVE to audition?
A: YES!!! Auditioning will help ensure you are placed into the proper orchestra class for your skill level. If you choose not to audition for Miss. Smith, you will be automatically placed into the beginning/intermediate orchestra! Please note that students will NOT be permitted to re-audition for any reason.
Q: How many concerts do the MHS Orchestras perform in each year?
A: Concert & Symphonic orchestras perform a minimum of 5 concerts each year, while Philharmonic often participates in 8 or more performances per year.
Q: Do we have after school rehearsals?
A: All ensembles will have occasional, graded after school/evening rehearsals prior to big concerts. In addition to regular classes, Philharmonic Orchestra meets every Wednesday evening from 7 to 9pm for mandatory, graded rehearsals.
Q: Am I required to take private lessons? A: No, taking private lessons is not a requirement for participating in school orchestra. However, keep in mind that private lessons are the absolute best way to excel at your instrument. While not required, it is highly recommended all students in orchestra take private lessons.
Q: Do I have to bring my instrument to school everyday?
A: Violinists and violists are required to bring their instrument to school on the days they have orchestra class. We have lockers in the orchestra room for storage. Cellists and bassists can use school instruments so they do not have to bring their instruments to school, but can if they choose to.
Q: It’s true that many high school orchestras go on overnight competition trips. Where is the orchestra travel to for their spring trip next year?
A: It’s a surprise! Locations we’ve traveled to in the past include Orlando, Nashville, Philadelphia, and New York City…spring trip details will be sent out at the start of next school year. Get excited!
Q: I hear that MHSO has an orchestra exchange program with an orchestra in Germany? Is the Philharmonic Orchestra traveling to Germany next year?
A: The MHSO has a fantastic and unique, long-lasting orchestral exchange program with musicians in Detmold, Germany. This May, our friends from Detmold will travel to visit us here in DC. The Philharmonic Orchestra will be will traveling to Germany again in January Travel to Germany alternates every other year and is limited to members of Philharmonic Orchestra.
Q: Can I wear my middle school orchestra uniform in high school? A: NO!!!! While they look similar, high school uniforms are NOT the same as middle school uniforms! Ladies wear black “Concerto” dresses and black dress shoes. These dresses are different than the ones from Longfellow, so you must purchase a new dress.
Gentlemen wear tuxedos composed of very specific components. Tuxedo pants (same as middle school’s pants, IF THEY STILL FIT YOU), a banded mandarin tuxedo shirt, a red & black plaid cummerbund, a button cover, black shoes, back socks, and a tuxedo jacket. Except for the tuxedo pants, gentlemen must purchase all new uniform items. Students rent tuxedo jackets and cummerbunds through the orchestra.