Auditions

BG Philharmonia Orchestra Auditions Fall 2025.

Everyone who wants to be in the BG Philharmonia – the University’s Orchestra - must audition as outlined below.

Woodwinds and Brass Orchestra Auditions: Sunday, August 24 beginning at 5 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be posted outside Room 1008 on Friday, August 22 at 9 a.m.

Percussion Auditions:
These will take place on Sunday, 8/24 at 11 a.m. in Kelly Hall (MMAC Room 1012). Excerpts have been sent directly to students. If you are interested in auditioning on percussion and have not received excerpts, please contact Dr. Dan Piccolo (dpiccol@bgsu.edu).

String Auditions: Monday, August 25, beginning at 1:30 p.m. A sign-up sheet will be posted outside Room 1008 on Friday, August 22 at 9 a.m. Violins audition in Room 1008, Violas in 2173, Cellos in 1060. Basses, TBA.

BG Philharmonia Audition Instructions Fall 2025
-please read carefully-      

Preparing your Orchestra Audition: Start early! Be prepared!

Part I Everyone must bring a prepared solo to the audition. 
You will play a passage from it as requested by the faculty present.  

Part II Orchestra Excerpts
1. Download and print out the excerpts for your instrument or use on your device. NOTE: Violinists can choose to audition on Violin I OR II.

2. Prepare all excerpts posted for your instrument. The audition committee will select which ones you perform at the audition.

3. Listen to a recording while following the excerpts to learn tempo and musical style. Recordings of the pieces are widely available on the internet. Anyone who would like to hear a recording of the Adler Horn Concerto should contact Dr. Brown at efbrown@bgsu.edu.

4. Contact your teacher if you have any questions about the excerpts.

NOTE TO ALL HORN PLAYERS!  You must prepare the Exposition of Mozart's Horn Concerto No. 2, K. 417 in E-flat as their solo.

EXCERPTS

Flute
Piccolo
Oboe
English Horn
Clarinet
Bass Clarinet
E-flat Clarinet
Bassoon
Contrabassoon
Horn - NOTE:
*Don’t forget the Mozart😊
*The Shostakovich Symphony 5 low tutti excerpt is from Mvt. I, bars 17-21 only.
*The Humperdinck Hansel & Gretel Prelude 1st horn excerpt is rehearsal letters A-C and M-Q.
*The Hindemith 1^st horn excerpt is Mvt. I, 5 before C to the 10th of D, and Mvt. 4, letter J to the end.
*The Brahms Third excerpt should be clear. Any questions please reach out to Dr. Pelletier or Dr. Brown.
Trumpet
Trombone
Tuba
Percussion excerpts have been sent directly to students. If you are interested in auditioning on percussion and have not received excerpts, please contact Dr. Dan Piccolo (dpiccol@bgsu.edu).

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Dear String Players! I am looking forward to welcoming you to the fall semester at the College of Musical Arts. We have some wonderful concert programs planned. The the excerpts included here are all from pieces we will perform. This is a great opportunity to begin learning them.

A few notes about these excerpts: As you look at them, you’ll find that the sections you need to prepare are marked with brackets. When you play at the audition there is no need to count the rests if they’re longer than one or two measures. Take the time to listen to a recording while following along to make sure you have a good sense of tempo and style. Then settle into practicing the technical elements.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your private teacher or to me, Dr. Brown, at efbrown@bgsu.edu

Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Bass (with further instructions)