Auditions

Auditions are required for:

  • All new students (live audition or video accepted)
  • Returning students who wish to move to the next ensemble (live audition or video accepted)
  • Returning students who wish to move from Violin 2 to Violin 1 within their current ensemble (live audition or video accepted)
  • Returning students who want a leadership position in ISO, CSO, or YS. (only live audition accepted)
  • All students who wish to participate in the DUSS chamber program (only video accepted)
  • All students who wish to join the DUSS Ciompi Quartet Collaborative (DCC)(only live audition accepted)

2023 Auditions

Auditions for orchestras and violin and cello choirs will be in-person and take place August 26 and 27.  SignUp Genius links will be sent out only to the students planning to audition who are registered. Students may send an audition recording to be considered, however priority will go to in-person auditions. Only in-person auditions will be considered for orchestra leadership and the DUSS Ciompi Quartet Collaborative. See our DCC webpage to view spots open for auditions this year.

All new and returning students interested in playing in a chamber group will submit an assessment video following the same audition guidelines as for orchestras. When submitting your assessment video for chamber group placement, include the student's ensemble level, age, and previous chamber experience, including pieces previously played.

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

Deadline for all video submissions:  Thursday, August 24, 2023, 11:59pm.


Audition Guidelines: Students wishing to move to the next ensemble, move up from violin 2 to violin 1, or play in the DUSS chamber music program or DUSS Ciompi Quartet Collaborative should follow the ensemble guidelines for piece and scale selection. Memorization of the selected scale and piece is preferred but not required. Priority for placement in an ensemble will to go in-person auditions.

Students submitting an audition video should confirm your scale and piece selection with your teacher. Students working on lengthy solo pieces need only record a maximum of 5 minutes of the piece. Students with shorter pieces should record the entire piece.

Students wishing to audition for leadership in an orchestra (ISO, CSO, YS) that they are currently in need only prepare leadership excerpts posted on each ensemble's "news" pages, linked on each ensemble page. They may also be asked to sight read in their audition, but they do not need to play a solo audition piece unless they would like to.

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

Videos submitted must be from recordings made between April 1, 2023 – August 24, 2023.

Deadline for all video submissions: Thursday, August 24, 2023, 11:59pm.

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


There are 2 ways to submit a 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 a chamber music group placement assessment video, include the student's ensemble level, age, and previous chamber experience, including pieces previously played.