Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon : YSSO

2025-2026 Concert Season Auditions - Join Us!

Auditions for the 2025-2026 Concert Season: September 5, 6, 7, 8 & 10. See below for locations and details.

Audition components:

required music excerpt(s);
required scale (or one of the options noted for your instrument); and
3-minute (maximum) solo/piece selected by the musician.

To find the excerpts and scales for Youth Symphony, click Youth Symphony Music Excerpts & Scales
To find the excerpts and scales for Youth Orchestra, click Youth Orchestra Music Excerpts & Scales

The YSSO music director/conductor along with either out-of-the-area or local professional musicians/music educators serve as adjudicators.

Audition Dates, Locations, Times, Instrument Groups/Sections
(NOTE: Certain dates are reserved for specific instrument groups)

Friday, September 5, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp
Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University
Music Department Building
450 South Mountain Avenue
Ashland
Saturday, September 6, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp
North Medford High School - Fine Arts Building
1900 North Keene Way Drive
Medford
Sunday, September 7, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Harp
Performing Arts Center at Grants Pass High School
N.E. 8th Street & N.E. Olive Street
Grants Pass
Monday, September 8, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Woodwinds
Oregon Center for the Arts at Southern Oregon University
Music Department Building
450 South Mountain Avenue
Ashland
Wednesday, September 10, 5:00-8:30 p.m.
Brass & Percussion Musicians
North Medford High School - Fine Arts Building
1900 North Keene Way Drive
Medford

2025-2026 Musician Contact Information Form
(2-page PDF with fillable contact information page)

Required Excerpts for Youth Symphony (advanced-level symphony orchestra) :

Please print and/or save a list (PDF) of all Youth Symphony required excerpts and scales. To download and print the Youth Symphony list, click Youth Symphony List.

Keep in mind the music excerpts and scales for the Youth Symphony are not the same as the music excerpts and scales for the Youth Orchestra. Be sure you are preparing the correct excerpt(s) and scale(s).

PDF files with music excerpt(s) for the Youth Symphony are below. Select your instrument and click the link to print and/or save the music excerpts. Please note the required scale (or scale options) for your instrument.

All instrumentalists should prepare both excerpts, one scale of the options noted, and a 3-minute maximum excerpt of a solo.

Flute:
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 83-90 AND Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto Reh. E-m. 173
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Oboe:
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 83-100 - Holding A 440 long notes
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Clarinet:
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto, Pickup to measure 225-248 AND Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 210-221
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Bassoon:
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto Pickup to measure 102-116 AND Rossini, William Tell Overture (see bracketed excerpt)
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Horn:
Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 283-286, 263-281 AND R. Strauss, Also Sprach Zarathustra pick up to m. 15-21 (Horn I or Horn II line)
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Trumpet:
R. Strauss, Also Sprach Zarathustra AND Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 55-64
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Trombone:
Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 263-281 AND Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, Finale Rehearsal 97-98
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Tuba:
Hackleman, Maestoso, through the first 2 notes of measure 20 ( = 92)
2 octave chromatic scale of choice
Percussion:
R. Strauss, Also Sprach Zarathustra m. 11-21 (Timpani) AND
Gourdhead 1st Page (Snare Drum) AND
Hand Balancing, Measures 3-4 Patterns 1-10 (Snare Drum) AND
Williams (arr. Vinson) Star Wars-Force Awakens m. 8-11 & m. 27-41 (Mallet Percussion)
Harp:
Shostakovich, Symphony No. 5, Finale, 8 before 121-Reh. 121 AND Elgar, Chanson de nuit, Beginning-Reh. A
Solo of choice
Violin I:
Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 1-14 AND Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 57-68
G, A, or B 3 octave Major scale
Violin II:
Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 1-14 AND Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 201-221
G Major 3 octave scale OR 2 octave D, E, or F scale
Viola:
Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 1-14 AND Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 67-98
3 octave C Major scale
Cello:
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 27-50 (Cello I line) AND Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 206-221
3 octave C Major scale
Bass:
Beethoven, Symphony No. 7, Allegretto m. 75-86 AND Beriot, Scene de Ballet m. 1-14
2 octave G Major scale

Required Excerpts for Youth Orchestra (intermediate-level/preparatory orchestra):

Please print and/or save a list (PDF) of all Youth Orchestra required excerpts and scales. To download and print the Youth Orchestra list, click Youth Orchestra List.

Keep in mind the required music excerpts and scales for the Youth Orchestra are not the same as the music excerpts and scales for the Youth Symphony. Be sure you are preparing the correct excerpt(s) and scale(s).

PDF files with music excerpt(s) for the Youth Orchestra are below. Select your instrument and click the link to print and/or save the music excerpt. Please note the scale requirement (or scale options) for your instrument.

All instrumentalists should prepare the excerpt, one scale of the options noted, and a 3-minute maximum excerpt of a solo.

Flute:
Traditional, Sailors Hornpipe, All (comfortable speed)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Clarinet:
Traditional, Sailors Hornpipe, All (comfortable speed)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Oboe:
Traditional, Sailors Hornpipe, All (comfortable speed)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Bassoon:
Traditional, Sailors Hornpipe, All (comfortable speed)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Horn:
#45, All, Marcato ( = 110)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Trumpet:
#55, All, Allegretto ( = 96)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Trombone:
Traditional, Sailors Hornpipe, All (comfortable speed)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Tuba:
Traditional, Sailors Hornpipe, All (comfortable speed)
1 octave chromatic scale of choice
Percussion:
Accent Rudiment 1st 3 lines (Snare Drum) AND Exercise 13 - Duet full page top or bottom line (Snare Drum)
Violin:
Wagner (arr. Leidig), March of the Meistersingers, Maestoso, beginning through the first note of m. 28
2 octave D, E, or F Major scale
Viola:
Wagner (arr. Leidig), March of the Meistersingers, Maestoso, beginning through the first note of m. 28
Any 2 octave Major scale
Cello:
Wagner (arr. Leidig), March of the Meistersingers, Maestoso, beginning through the first note of m. 28
Any 2 octave Major scale
Bass:
Wagner (arr. Leidig), March of the Meistersingers, Maestoso, beginning through the first note of m. 28
2 octave E, F, or G Major scale

Required Scale(s) for Youth Symphony and for Youth Orchestra String and Wind Musicians:

See above for scale requirements (or scale options) for Youth Symphony and Youth Orchestra instrumentalists.

3-Minute Solo Piece

In addition to the required music excerpt(s) and scale, musicians are asked to prepare a piece, selection, or excerpt of a work. This piece/selection may be no more than 3 minutes in length.

The Youth Symphony of Southern Oregon has prepared lists of recommended works or movements for violin, viola or cello for Youth Orchestra and for Youth Symphony musicians. Keep in mind that selection of a suggested work or movement, however, will not guarantee selection for or placement in Youth Orchestra or Youth Symphony.

Please click on the links below to view or download lists (PDFs) of recommended solo works or movements for violin, viola or cello: