Orchestral Instruments Auditions

Large Ensemble Audition

The Orchestral Large Ensemble Audition covers the following ensembles:

  • McGill Symphony Orchestra
    MUEN 597 McGill Symphony Orchestra 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • CME (Contemporary Music Ensemble)
    MUEN 594 Contemporary Music Ensemble 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • McGill Wind Orchestra
    MUEN 590 McGill Wind Orchestra 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • String Quartet Seminar
    MUEN 565 String Quartet Seminar 2 Credits
      Offered in the:
    • Fall
    • Winter
    • Summer

  • Small Ensembles (Chamber Music)

Violin, Viola, Cello: The placement audition for large ensembles is mandatory for all new students (Undergraduate and Graduate, except D.Mus.), including former students who are returning for a new degree. All other violin, viola and cello students need to take the audition only if they want to be considered for principal positions.

Double Bass: The placement audition for large ensembles is mandatory for all double bass students, new and returning. (Undergraduate and Graduate, except D.Mus.).

Brass, Woodwinds and Percussion: : The placement audition for large ensembles is mandatory for all brass, woodwind and percussion students, new and returning. (Undergraduate and Graduate, except D.Mus.)

All music students should have received an email with instructions for accessing the audition excerpts. If you are not a music student, or did not receive this email, please contact the Ensemble Resource Office to obtain the information.

Questions or concerns? Contact the ensembles.music [at] mcgill.ca (Ensemble Resource Office).

​Fall 2023 instrumental ensemble placement audition schedule*:

*Please complete the Large Ensemble Placement form found here:
  • This form is required for all students that plan to participate in a large ensemble fall and/or winter term, even if you are exempt from the audition. You will be assigned randomly to an approximate time slot prior to the audition (there is no in-person number draw), so it is imperative that you complete this form, no later than 12pm on Thursday, August 24th.

•  All auditions are blind auditions. Approximately 48 hours prior to your audition, you will receive an approximate audition time via email, as well as a time to check into the warmup room. This schedule will also be available in your warmup room on the day of your audition, as well as outside room E-202. Make sure you check your email regularly for more information.

*If you are not able to attend the live audition, please contact the ensemble office as soon as possible to receive instructions for recorded auditions. In order to submit a recorded audition, you must provide a valid reason for your absence and have it approved by your department.

Instrument Audition Date Audition Start Time Audition Room Warmup Room
Trumpet Monday, August 28th 10:00am Pollack Hall C-304
Cello Monday, August 28th 10:00am Clara Hall C-204
Violin Monday, August 28th 10:30am C-310 C-302/C-301
Horn Monday, August 28th 1:00pm Pollack Hall C-204
Oboe Monday, August 28th 1:30pm Clara Hall C-304
Clarinet Monday, August 28th 2:30pm Clara Hall C-304
Saxophone Monday, August 28th 3:00pm Pollack Hall C-204
Percussion Tuesday, August 29th 10:00am E109 Percussion Rooms
Trombone Tuesday, August 29th 10:00am Pollack Hall C-204
Double bass Tuesday, August 29th 10:30am C-310 C-304
Bassoon Tuesday, August 29th 1:00pm C-301 C-302
Viola Tuesday, August 29th 1:00pm Pollack Hall C-204
Flute Tuesday, August 29th 1:30pm C-310 C-304
Tuba / Euphonium Friday, September 1st 10:00am Pollack Hall C-201

Small Ensemble Audition

All orchestral instrumental students are required to do an assigned small ensemble (chamber music) in addition to a large ensemble. Degree requirements and assignment procedure vary for Strings/Woodwind/Brass Areas.

Policy:

pdf document icon 2023-2024 Strings/Mixed Chamber Music Policy

Woodwind & Brass small-ensemble assignments are based on large-ensemble audition results. Strings Chamber Music has a separate coordination process (please read the Strings/Mixed Chamber Music Policy above). There will be more information given during student orientation. Procedures will be explained, questions answered and initiatives announced.

Small Ensembles (Chamber Music) Credits are restricted to students enrolled in performance programs in the Faculty of Music unless special permission has been granted by the relevant coordinator.

Coordinators:

- Strings/Mixed Chamber Music Coordinator: jinjoo.cho [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Jinjoo Cho)chamber.music [at] mcgill.ca

- Woodwind Chamber Music Coordinator: jacqueline.leclair [at] mcgill.ca (Prof. Jacqueline LeClair)

- Brass Chamber Music Coordinator: richard.stoelzel [at] mcgill.ca (Richard Stoelzel )

Early Music Ensemble Audition

This audition is for participation in:

Early Music Ensemble (EME)

MUEN 580 Early Music Ensemble 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

(MUEN 580​*)

Baroque Orchestra

MUEN 573 Baroque Orchestra 2 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


 

  • INSTRUMENTALISTS: If you are an Early Music Major OR you have successfully auditioned for Baroque Orchestra or EME in the past, you do not need to audition again. Please indicate your ensemble preferences on this form, and you will be notified of your ensemble placement. All other instrumentalists are required to audition.
  • All students must fill out the early music ensemble placement form, even if not required to audition

Audition Material:

  • Prepare one selection from the Baroque period or earlier.
  • Please bring your own accompanist.  Harpsichord and piano will be available.
  • Sight reading may be given.

Audition Time/Date:

  • Monday, August 28th, 10am-1pm in room C-413 (via signup)
    Sign up for an audition time here.

* Please note you will be able to register for MUEN 580 once you receive the CRN (Course Registration Number) for the small ensemble you have been assigned to. Once you receive your CRN, you will be able to find the correct small ensemble on Minerva so you can register. You must register for the right CRN for your small ensemble before the add/drop deadline.

Beethoven Orchestra

This audition is for participation in:

BEETHOVEN ORCHESTRA

MUEN 567 Beethoven Orchestra 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

This ensemble is open to Non-Music students.

Audition Instructions:

  • Non- music students need to audition with the professor prior to the first class meeting.
  • Music students do not need to play an audition.

Audition Material:

  • A short piece demonstrating your abilities on your instrument
  • Sight reading of a short orchestral excerpt on your respective instrument

Audition Date/Time:

  • "Friday, September 8th from 2:30-4:30pm in room C-302.
  • Please come to this room during this time frame and Professor Hauser will hear students as they arrive.

Please direct questions regarding the Beethoven Orchestra auditions to the Ensemble Office: ensembles.music [at] mcgill.ca

Sonata Class Audition

This audition is for participation in:

Sonata Masterclass

MUEN 585 Sonata Masterclass 1 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Who is eligible to audition:

  • Non-pianists Performance Majors interested in taking the Sonata Class taught by Profs. Kyoko Hashimoto and Violaine Melançon, on Tuesdays 5pm-7pm in C-209 (Clara Hall). Note that only four non-pianists per term will be able to participate in the course.

Audition Instructions:

Please write to violaine.melancon [at] Mcgill.ca to be given a 10-minute audition slot. This applies to ALL students interested, even those who have participated in the class previously. As only four non-pianists per term will be selected, please indicate if you have a preference for participation in the Fall or Winter term. The final audition schedule will be communicated after August 19th, one week prior to the audition.

Auditionees may make their own arrangements with a pianist of their choice, or contact suren.barry [at] mail.mcgill.ca (subject: Sonata%20Class%20Auditions) (Suren Barry) as soon as possible as a courtesy to them and to make sure you have adequately rehearsed. For the few students whose travel circumstances will not allow them to audition live, and who have already written to Prof. Melançon about it, we ask that you send a recorded audition of the required material to violaine.melancon [at] mcgill.ca via an excellent video recording by Friday, August 25th so that we may review all auditions at the same time.

Audition Material:

  • One piece or one movement of a piece for unaccompanied instrument (i.e. written without a piano part), and one piece with piano (a piece or movement for piano and other instrument, PREFERABLY a sonata movement).

Audition Date/Time:

  • Saturday August 26th, 2023, between 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm in C-209 (Clara Hall). (Please indicate any schedule conflict that day in your initial email).

 

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