Audition Requirements

Requirements differ by instrument, and are flexible to accommodate different skill levels. Select from your instrument group below to view the audition requirements.

OKYO's Auditioned Ensembles include:

Ready to audition? Click Here to submit your audition video.

Strings Audition Requirements

Students auditioning on string instruments are eligible for placement in Sinfonia, Chamber Orchestra (CO), Oklahoma Youth Philharmonic (OYP), and Oklahoma Youth Orchestra (OYO).

Major scale of your choice.
Tempo: quarter note = 84-92, using quarter notes. Minimum 2-octave scale employing shifting. Advanced students should perform a 3-octave scale employing vibrato. Advanced Bassists should perform a 2-octave scale.

Solo piece of your choice.
A single piece, etude, or a set of excerpts displaying
technical and lyrical ability. Advanced students: demonstrate the ability to shift into two or more upper positions (third position or
higher) with frequency and ease, employing vibrato. Younger students may select pieces from their current Suzuki level book or equivalent materials, preferably demonstrating the ability to shift and employ vibrato if possible.

All auditions must be no longer than 5 minutes in length.
All auditions must be submitted via video.
Audition videos must be continuous (major scale and excerpt performed in one take) and may not be cut or edited together.
Students are placed in the various ensembles listed above based on audition results.
We recommend you record 2-4 times in a quiet space, take a break, then listen to select your final audition video to upload.
Auditions do not need to be memorized, and accompaniment is not necessary.

Woodwinds & Brass Audition Requirements

Students auditioning on woodwind and brass instruments are eligible for placement in Oklahoma Youth Winds (OYW), Oklahoma Youth Philharmonic (OYP), and Oklahoma Youth Orchestra (OYO).

Major scale of your choice.
Two-octave scale at tempo: quarter note = 84-92,
using quarter notes.

Solo piece of your choice.
A single piece, etude, or a set of excerpts displaying technical and lyrical ability. Students auditioning on flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, and tuba are eligible for all groups listed above. Students will indicate a preference for placement in OYW or one of the full orchestras (OYP, OYO) in the audition form. This preference does not guarantee placement. Non-orchestral winds and brass instruments (saxophones, low clarinets, euphonium, etc) are only eligible for placement in OYW.

All auditions must be no longer than 5 minutes in length.
All auditions must be submitted via video.
Audition videos must be continuous (major scale and excerpt performed in one take) and may not be cut or edited together.
Students are placed in the various ensembles listed above based on audition results.
We recommend you record 2-4 times in a quiet space, take a break, then listen to select your final audition video to upload.
Auditions do not need to be memorized, and accompaniment is not necessary.

Percussion Audition Requirements

Students auditioning for percussion will have the opportunity to perform with Oklahoma Youth Winds, Oklahoma Youth Philharmonic and Oklahoma Youth Orchestra, as well as Percussion Ensemble in the fall.

Percussionists may submit a standard audition to be considered for placement in the general percussion pool, which performs with OYW, OYP, and OYO. However, to audition specifically for OYO, a more advanced audition should be prepared. All percussionists will be considered for Percussion Ensemble in the fall.

OKYO Percussion Pool

For consideration into the pool of percussionists for OKYO Auditioned Ensembles, please prepare all of the following, choosing etudes that demonstrate your technical and musical abilities:

Mallet Etude
Choose an additional etude: Snare or Timpani
Perform a 30-second roll on snare, from piano to forte to piano

OYO Percussionists

Advanced Students wishing to be considered for Oklahoma Youth Orchestra* only must submit three videos as outlined below:

Snare Drum: One Solo or Etude by Cirone, Peters, Delecluse, Pratt, Wilcoxon, Tompkins, or the All-State/10-12 CODA etudes or something of similar difficulty.
Marimba (Two-Mallets): One solo demonstrating two-mallet ability. Examples include works by Bach, Koshinski, Green, McMillan, Goldenberg, All-State/10-12 CODA etudes or something of similar difficulty.
Timpani: One Solo or Etude by Delecluse, Carter, Hochrainer, Beck, Goodman, Lepak, or the All-State/10-12 CODE etudes or something of similar difficulty.

*An audition submitted specifically for OYO will be considered for the general percussion pool.

Percussionists can upload up to three videos.

Piano & Harp Audition Requirements

Our ensembles occasionally perform works that include piano or harp parts. Because we cannot guarantee that any given performance will include these instruments, we ask that you contact the Program Manager before submitting an audition. Students who are already a member of one of our ensembles on another instrument, or who are interested in joining with a secondary instrument are given preference.

Major scale of your choice.
Tempo: quarter note = 84-92, using quarter notes.
Perform any Major scale, minimum three octaves.

Solo piece of your choice.
Prepare a single piece, etude, or set of excerpts
displaying technical and lyrical ability.

All auditions must be no longer than 5 minutes in length.
All auditions must be submitted via video.
Audition videos must be continuous (major scale and excerpt performed in one take) and may not be cut or edited together.
Students are placed in the various ensembles listed above based on audition results.
We recommend you record 2-4 times in a quiet space, take a break, then listen to select your final audition video to upload.
Auditions do not need to be memorized, and accompaniment is not necessary.