The GBYO Symphony
GBYO's most advanced orchestra, comprised of strings, winds, brass, and percussion. We are looking for musicians with ensemble experience that have a strong inner pulse, accurate pitch, and musical sensitivity. String players have mature vibrato, the ability to play off the string well, and familiarity with advanced bowing techniques.

Symphony audition components:

★ One major scale and one minor scale of musician's choice demonstrating pitch, tone, technique (3 octaves when possible.) Strings: prepare one of the scales spiccato, 4 eighth notes repeated per pitch. Winds: in addition prepare a chromatic scale the range of your instrument or as recommended by your private teacher.

★ Two short works or excerpts demonstrating contrasting styles or one work with contrasting sections. Audition excerpts for festivals like All State and Honor Band/Orchestra are also appropriate.

Symphony musicians have auditioned performing pieces such as Mozart and Mendelssohn concertos for violin, Hoffmeister and J. C. Bach concertos for viola, Bach Suites and Haydn concertos for cello and Eccles Sonata and Dragonetti concerto for the double bass. Wind/brass audition pieces include works by composers such as Vivaldi, Donizetti, Weber, Osborne, Bach, Strauss, Mozart, Handel, and Arban.

Past performances of the Symphony include works such as Serenade for Strings by Tschaikovsky, Symphony Nos. 1, 5, and 8 by Beethoven, Symphony No. 2 by Sibelius, Symphony No. 40 by Mozart, Symphony No. 8 by Schubert, and An Outdoor Overture by Copland.


The GBYO Philharmonic
The Philharmonic is a full orchestra (strings, winds, brass and percussion) that is the middle level for GBYO. We are looking for musicians with ensemble experience that have a beautiful tone, a strong inner pulse, accurate pitch, developing vibrato, and strings players developing off the string bowing techniques.

Philharmonic audition components:

★ One scale of musician's choice demonstrating pitch, tone, technique. 3 octaves for strings, 2 octaves for double bass and winds/brass.

★ Two short works or excerpts demonstrating contrasting styles or one work with contrasting sections. Audition excerpts for festivals like All State and Honor Band/Orchestra are also appropriate.

Musicians in the Philharmonic have auditioned performing pieces such as Concerto for Two Violins by Bach through Mozart concertos for violin, Telemann concerto and movements of Bach Suites for viola, movement from a sonata or concerto by Breval and movements of Bach Suites for cello and movements from Marcelo and Vivaldi sonatas for the double bass. Wind/brass audition pieces include works by composers such as Vivaldi, Donizetti, Weber, Osborne, Bach, Strauss, Mozart, Handel, and Arban.

Past performances of the Philharmonic include works such as Hungarian Dance No. 5 by Brahms, Bacchanal by Saint-Seans, Divertimento by Mozart, Waltz from Sleeping Beauty by Tschaikovsky, Alexander's Feast by Handel and Dance of the Tumblers by Rimsky-Korsakov.


The GBYO Sinfonia
This strings-only orchestra is GBYO's youngest ensemble. Sinfonia audition components: 2 scales of the musician's choice, including at least one two octave scale. Two short works or excerpts demonstrating contrasting styles or one work with contrasting sections. Students have auditioned with pieces from or equivalent to Suzuki books 2-4. No ensemble experience necessary.

The GBYO Wind Ensemble
All winds, brass, and percussionists of the Philharmonic and Symphony also perform in the Wind Ensemble!

Dress
The audition is a form of an interview; please dress appropriately for the occasion.

Notification
All applicants will be notified of the results of their audition by email. This process may take a while. Please do not call GBYO for results. If accepted into one of the orchestras, students will be sent enrollment information.

Mission

Founded in 2010, the Greater Boulder Youth Orchestras provide a variety of opportunities for young musicians to deepen their musical skills and passion and to engage the community through performances of the highest possible artistic level.

GBYO performs significant orchestral repertoire with a focus on works from monumental composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky in addition to creating other opportunities to perform and learn about music, such as a chamber music program and classes in theory and composition.

Creating a nurturing environment to cultivate the talents of our students, we look forward to working with every young musician committed to achieving the highest possible artistic level, regardless of socioeconomic background. As we are in full support of school music programs, all GBYO members will participate in the parallel music ensemble at their schools.

Read the GBYO Handbook for more info.