Who REALLY Wins Orchestra Auditions?

What separates audition winners from the rest of the pack?

I have listened to hundreds of auditions almost every instrument. I can tell you that the musicians who win auditions don't just have technical command of their instrument; they have a compelling musical story for every excerpt they play.

I've said this before, but I want to REALLY explain what I mean...

Having a deep understanding of one’s concerto is expected. You’ve been playing that opening exposition for years! And over time, not only has your technical ability increased, you’ve lived with that opening long enough to hear new and beautiful things to make it special. You’ve also had hours of lessons with fantastic teachers who have helped you hear and sculpt each phrase individually.

But when it comes to excerpts, you are often expected to learn them on our own. If you are lucky enough to have had an orchestral repertoire class in school, you are already ahead of the game. But there is only so much time in a semester to spend on each excerpt. And every audition list has at least ten to twelve excerpts.

Is it possible to bring your excerpts up to the same level as your concerto?

Well if you want an orchestra job, you have to be able to play each excerpt with the same kind of care and understanding you give to your concerto.

After all, you’re being hired to play in an orchestra. Not in front of it.

So here’s the harsh truth. You can’t do it on your own. And even if you were to spend hundreds of hours studying scores and the different styles of composers, you’ll learn them better and faster if you do it the same way you learned a concerto—with the help of a great teacher.