- CONTRABASSOON
- VIOLIN
- VIOLA
- CONTRABASS
- HARP
Even if you haven’t played seriously for a while, this is your chance to brush up your skills and audition for the premier community orchestra in the Salt Lake Valley! Several of our current musicians had gone years without playing before deciding they wanted to be part of our orchestra, so don’t let that hold you back!
The West Valley Symphony of Utah is privileged to perform for audiences of hundreds (and even thousands) of spectators on a regular basis. We are the go-to orchestra for the KUTV Holidays Pops concert each year, as well as the Larry & Gail Miller family each December at the Delta Center. We are often invited to participate in other popular events such as Taylorsville Dayzz and the Days of ’47 concerts at Abravanel Hall. Through these events and others, we perform a large range of music ranging from Bach to film scores and other popular music.
If you live in/near the Salt Lake Valley and would like to be a part of what we do, this is your chance!
So how do I audition?
STEP 1: Contact us to arrange an audition time!
STEP 2: Download the Musician Information form and prepare the materials for your instrument (below).
STEP 3: Polish up your skills and show up for your audition with your completed Musician Information form (available below)!
Audition Materials
Required scales and audition materials can be downloaded below. Even if it looks tough, work on it and come prepared to do your personal best. Please also prepare a short excerpt (16 bars) from a concerto/etude/performance piece of your choice to show us what you’ve got!
Violin audition materials:
Viola audition materials:
Contrabassoon, Contrabass, Harp: Contact us for details!
Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.) about our auditions
- When are rehearsals held?
- Weekly on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 PM.
- What material do I need to prepare?
- Materials for Violins and Violas are posted above on this page.
- All musicians (including violins and violas) are expected to prepare a scale of their choice and also 16 bars from a standard piece of repertoire (etude, solo, concerto, etc.) for your instrument.
- What criteria will be used to evaluate my audition?
- Pitch (accuracy and adjustments)
- Rythm (accuracy and tempo)
- Tone (quality and resonance)
- Technique (fingers, positions, shifting, bowings/tonguing)
- Musicality (artistry, interpretation, confidence).
- Please note that we are not monsters! We understand the nerves associated with an audition and take this into account. Your audition is among friends.
- How old do I need to be?
- We have never turned anybody away due to age, because we’re more concerned with skill and commitment. We welcome your audition whether you’re a 12-year-old prodigy, a seasoned virtuoso at age 99, or an experienced musician at any age in between.
- How many people will observe my audition?
- Our two conductors and the leadership of the section observe auditions for all new applicants. For most sections this means there will be a total of three people, though some large sections may have more.
- Do you accept everybody who auditions?
- While some community orchestras are able to accept any musician, our orchestra is in a class of its own with regard to quality and the expectations of those for whom we perform. The number of musicians in each section is kept balanced similarly to professional orchestras.
