Audition Information
When will auditions take place? The only openings in the ISU Symphony Orchestra for the 2024 spring semester are in the violin sections.
Symphony Orchestra violin auditions will be held January 15 - 20, 2024 for students wishing to participate in the spring semester. Students can sign up for a 10 minute audition time on the ISU Symphony Orchestra board on the main floor in Simon Estes Music Hall beginning Monday, January 15. Auditions will be held in ESTES 229.
What should I prepare? The piece of your choice, which shows your technical ability.
What do I need to know about the Symphony Orchestra? The Iowa State University Symphony Orchestra welcomes members from every single college and department on campus. Students come from a wide range of musical backgrounds: some have had years of private lessons, others have only played in their school orchestras. Some students, wind and brass players especially, have never been in orchestra before but are looking for new challenges and a chance to play music by some of the greatest composers who ever lived.
Our best piece of advice to everyone auditioning is simple: show us what you can do well. If that means you play something easy, we’d much prefer to hear that rather than hear you try something that’s outside your current skill level. And don’t ever assume you’re “not good enough.” Give yourself the benefit of the doubt and get in touch with us first.