Auditions

2025 Auditions

In-person auditions for our Ensembles, which include our Orchestras and Violin and Cello Choirs, take place August 23 and 24. 

SignUp Genius links will be sent out only to the students planning to audition who are registered by August 11. 

Please note that students are placed in ensembles based on their ability level, not their age.

Auditions are required for:

Ensembles

Ensemble Audition Information

All new students (live audition or video accepted)

Prepare a scale and solo piece following ensemble guidelines with direction from your private teacher. Memorization of the selected scale and piece is preferred but not required. Students in-person will be asked to play a level-appropriate sight reading example. Priority for placement in an ensemble will go to in-person auditions if there are space limitations. See video submission guidelines below.

Returning students who want to move to the next ensemble, or move from 2nd to 1st violin (live audition or video accepted)

Prepare a scale and solo piece following ensemble guidelines with direction from your private teacher. Memorization of the selected scale and piece is preferred but not required. Students in-person will be asked to play a level-appropriate sight reading example. Priority for placement in an ensemble will go to in-person auditions if there are space limitations. See video submission guidelines below.

Returning students who want a leadership position in ISO, CSO, or YS (only live audition accepted)

Prepare a scale and leadership excerpts linked on each ensemble webpage. Students will also be asked to play a sight reading example. 

Solo piece is not required unless they are also new students, auditioning to move from 2nd to 1st violin, or auditioning to move up orchestras. 

Leadership excerpts will be posted on the ensemble blogs no later than August 4th.

Chamber Music Auditions

All new and returning students who wish to participate in the DUSS chamber program (only video accepted)

Prepare a scale and solo piece following ensemble guidelines with direction from your private teacher. Memorization of the selected scale and piece is preferred but not required. 

In your video audition submission, the email title should include: "Chamber audition", student's first and last name, and instrument. 

In the email body, include student's name, age, piece they have recorded. Previous chamber experience including pieces previously played is also helpful. See further video submission guidelines below.

Deadline for DUSS Chamber Music video submissions: Thursday, August 28, 2025, 11:59pm.

Students auditioning to join the "DCC" DUSS Ciompi Quartet Collaborative (only live audition accepted)

Prepare a scale and solo piece following ensemble guidelines with direction from your private teacher. Memorization of the selected scale and piece is preferred. Students will be asked to play a level-appropriate sight reading example. See our DCC webpage to learn more about the program, and to view spots open for auditions this year. 

Note: The DCC is an advanced chamber music and orchestra program that requires significant time commitment (4+ hours) on Saturdays. 

Additional Audition Guidelines: 

Students submitting an audition video should confirm their scale and piece selection with their teacher. 

Students working on lengthy solo pieces need only record/prepare a maximum of 5 minutes of the piece. Students with shorter pieces should record the entire piece.

Students wishing to audition for leadership (ISO, CSO, YS) in their current orchestra will be asked to play a scale, leadership excerpts linked on each ensemble webpage, and sight read in leadership auditions. (They do not need to play a solo piece unless they are auditioning to moving up sections like 2nd to 1st violin, or auditioning to move up orchestras). 

Students wishing to audition for a new ensemble/section and leadership role should prepare the appropriate scale, piece, and leadership excerpts.

Video Submission Guidelines 

There are 2 ways to submit an audition video:

1. Upload a scale and solo piece to YouTube and send the video link(s) to: dukestringschool@gmail.com. We recommend you make the video “unlisted” so that it is not public. Include the student’s full name, piece title, and what they are auditioning for in the email.
2. Upload the scale and solo piece to your own Google Drive Folder and share the folder with dukestringschool@gmail.com with “edit access." In the sharing settings, also mark down "anyone with link can access the video" so that teachers on different computers can view the video. Include the student’s full name, piece title, and what they are auditioning for in the shared Google Drive folder.

Note: Do not delete the video for 1 month so that we can have access to it. If you delete the video from your Google Drive, we will not be able to view it. You may receive multiple emails from teachers’ emails requesting permission to view the video.

Note: When submitting your assessment video for chamber group placement, include Chamber audition, student name, and instrument in the email title. In the email body, include student's name, age, and previous chamber experience, including pieces previously played in the body of the email.