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Auditions — Concert Bands and Symphony Orchestra Winds for Spring 2024

Spring Semester

All students must audition for bands (and symphony orchestra winds) each semester. Auditions are by video. Instructions and excerpts are toward the bottom of this page. 

DEADLINE — The link to your audition video must be received by Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

A note about Symphony Orchestra auditions...

Brass and woodwind auditions for the Symphony Orchestra are conducted by the studio faculty in coordination with auditions for the Ohio State bands. Students playing these instruments will use the same audition resources as for bands (below).

String players who wish to join the Symphony Orchestra for the first time in Spring semester should contact Miriam Burns. 

Learn about the Ohio State Orchestras.

General Band Membership Information

Auditions are open to ALL woodwind, brass and percussion students enrolled at Ohio State, regardless of major.

Wind Symphony / Symphonic Band / Symphony Orchestra (Winds) / Collegiate Winds — by audition

  • Music Majors! All woodwind, brass and percussion students majoring in music are expected to prepare audition materials for Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and/or Symphony Orchestra. It is not permissible for a music major to prepare only an audition for Collegiate Winds. 
  • Non-Majors may choose to prepare an audition for ALL bands or may elect to prepare only the audition for Collegiate Winds. 

University Band — audition not required

  • Register for the course. Undergraduate: Music 2204.04 | Graduate: Music 7204.04.
  • Placement auditions to seat the band occur at the beginning of the semester.
  • Questions? Email Graduate Teaching Associate Sarah Baker (baker.3351@osu.edu) or Will Fihaki (fihaki.1@osu.edu)

Learn about the Bands

Ensemble Course Information

All ensembles at Ohio State are credit-bearing courses. Most ensembles have variable credit hours between 0.5 and 2, which allows you to participate without exceeding 18 hours per semester.

COURSE TIMES

  • Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band — M/W 1:50–3:55 p.m. and F 1:50–2:45 p.m.
  • Symphony Orchestra (Winds) — T/R 1:50–3:55 p.m.
  • Collegiate Winds — T/R 7–8:30 p.m.
  • University Band — T/R 7–8:30 p.m.

Please consult Class Search to confirm course meeting times and locations.

Audition Procedures

Percussion — Non-majors auditioning for Collegiate Winds, contact Susan Powell for percussion information. 

Brass and Woodwinds — Auditions for Spring 2024 will be video recorded by each auditionee and submitted for evaluation according to the procedures outlined below. Auditions will be evaluated by conducting and studio faculty.

DEADLINE — The link to your audition video must be received by Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

BASIC STEPS:

  1. Complete the audition registration form.
  2. Download the musical excerpts packet for your instrument (below).
  3. Prepare the excerpts according to the instructions below.
  4. Upload your final recording to YouTube or another file-sharing platform and email the link to the band administrative staff as detailed below. 

Required Musical Excerpts and Instructions

Note that excerpt packets change each semester. Spring packets are below.

All students majoring in music, as well as non-majors wishing to audition for all ensembles, are expected to prepare audition materials for Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band and/or Symphony Orchestra. It is not permissible for a music major to prepare only an audition for Collegiate Winds.

Wind Symphony / Symphonic Band / Symphony Orchestra (Winds)

From the packet for your instrument below, find the excerpts indicated for these ensembles. Prepare and perform the excerpts in the order in which they appear in the packet.

Collegiate Winds — for non-majors who wish to be considered for Collegiate Winds only

From the packet for your instrument below, find the excerpts indicated for this ensemble. Prepare and perform the excerpts in the order in which they appear in the packet.

Audition Recording Technical Information

Before You Begin — Equipment Check

  • Use whatever video recording device you have at your disposal (video camera, phone, tablet, computer, etc.) but select a device that captures the highest quality audio.
  • Position the camera so that you can be seen clearly in the video.
  • Before recording, test the audio level and picture quality of both the device and microphone.

The Actual Recording

The audition video recording is to be one continuous take, with no pauses or edits in any way.

  1. Begin the video with a short introduction in which you share:
    • your first and last name
    • year in school this semester (e.g. “second-year undergraduate student,” “first-year master’s student,” etc.)
    • your declared major (e.g. “music performance,” “music education,” “engineering,” etc.)
    • your hometown (e.g. “Columbus, OH,” “Moorhead, MN,” etc.)
    • the ensemble for which you are auditioning (e.g. “Wind Symphony/Symphonic Band,” "Symphony Orchestra” or “Collegiate Winds (non-majors only)"
       
  2. Following your introduction, proceed to the excerpts, performing them in the order in which they appear in the document. You may take some time between excerpts, but do not stop or pause the recording. Allow the recorder to capture the time you take between each excerpt.

Finalizing and Uploading Your Video

  1. View your completed video in its entirety to ensure that it includes all the required components and your finest quality performance of the required excerpts.
     
  2. Post your audition as an UNLISTED VIDEO on YouTube or upload to a file-sharing platform such as OneDrive or Dropbox.

NEED HELP? These instructional videos can help with this process:

Uploading videos to YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klVWGHtRTuE

How to create an Unlisted YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOr7JluzEOM&ab_channel=MN

  1. Send an email to Ensembles Administrator Christopher Dent at dent.50@osu.edu.
     
    • Type “Ensembles Audition” in the subject line and include the following information in the body of the email:
      • First and last name
      • Instrument
    • The working link to the finalized audition video


DEADLINE — The link to your audition video must be received by Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

Audition Results

All students who complete an audition will receive an email notification before the start of spring semester classes.

QUESTIONS? If you have questions about the audition process, trouble downloading the musical excerpts, or do not receive an email with the results, email Christopher Dent at dent.50@osu.edu. Mr. Dent responds to email between 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri.