Kansas State University Symphony Orchestra

2023-24 Fall Placement Auditions

Welcome to the Kansas State University Symphony Orchestra! Membership in the KSUSO is contingent upon a successful placement audition each season.

Placement Auditions

Placement auditions for the 2023-2024 KSUSO season will take place August 19-21, 2023. Audition excerpts for all musicians are found below.

For more information on the audition process, all string players should visit the STRING AUDITION SIGN-UP link to reserve your audition time. Audition procedures for winds, brass, and percussion are as follows...

WOODWIND, BRASS, & PERCUSSION AUDITIONS

The KSUSO will be holding fall placement auditions for winds, brass, & percussion at the same time as the K-State Bands audition process on Monday, Aug. 21 at 3:30 p.m. Prior to your audition, woodwind and brass musicians should fill out the WOODWIND & BRASS KSUSO AUDITION FORM. Specific audition criteria for the orchestra include:

    • Students auditioning for band and orchestra will only perform one audition. Students should prepare all band scales and excerpts as well as the Beethoven, Glinka, and/or Dukas orchestra excerpt(s). Orchestra scales and solos are not required for this audition - your band excerpts and scales will suffice.
    • Students auditioning for orchestra only should prepare all three portions of the KSUSO audition process (Excerpts, Solo, & Scale).
    • Percussionists should attend percussion studio auditions on Sunday, Aug. 20. Please visit the PERCUSSION AUDITION link for more information

All woodwind and brass musicians auditioning for the KSUSO and/or K-State Bands should plan to attend the mandatory meeting on Monday, Aug. 21 at 3:30 p.m. in room 201. For more information about this meeting, please visit the K-State Bands website.

If you have a course conflict and are unable to attend the audition process on Monday, Aug. 21 at 3:30, please contact Dr. Rachel Dirks (rdirks@ksu.edu) prior to Aug. 21 to schedule an alternate audition time.

String Audition Excerpts

Make sure to prepare all audition requirements (Scales & Excerpts). All audition excerpts have been gathered from the following works:

Beethoven - Symphony #6

Glinka - Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla

Recordings for these works may be accessed by clicking on the titles above.

Violin Excerpts

Viola Excerpts

Cello Excerpts

Bass Excerpts


Wind and Brass Audition Excerpts

Make sure to prepare all audition requirements (Scale, Solo, & Excerpts). All audition excerpts have been gathered from the following works:

Beethoven - Symphony #6

Glinka - Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla

Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice

Recordings for these works may be accessed by clicking on the titles above.

Flute Excerpts

Oboe Excerpts

Clarinet Excerpts

Bassoon Excerpts

Horn Excerpts

Trumpet Excerpts

Trombone Excerpts

Bass Trombone Excerpts

Tuba Excerpts

We look forward to hearing you play. If you have any concerns about how to prepare for your audition, please visit the link below. Good luck in your preparations and see you soon!

Ideas on How to Practice