Audition excerpts will be live April 1!
To join an ESYO Performing Ensemble, you must complete an audition.
Young musicians through the age 20 are encouraged to audition!
Are you interested in singing in the Melodies of Christmas Concert? Click "Voice" below to view audition details and requirements.
Are you a local college student interested in performing with ESYO? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Auditions are open to most instruments. Is your instrument not listed? Email Sue Lascoe at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
New this year: Solo recordings from as early as January 1, 2023 can be used for your upcoming ESYO audition! If you are preparing for a recital or a state solo and ensemble festival, capture/record a video and save it for your ESYO audition.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. To be considered for Concertino Strings prepare and submit one solo piece. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience. To only be considered for Concertino Strings: prepare the single excerpt for that ensemble.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. To be considered for Concertino Strings prepare and submit one solo piece. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience. To only be considered for Concertino Strings: prepare the single excerpt for that ensemble.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. To be considered for Concertino Strings prepare and submit one solo piece. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience. To only be considered for Concertino Strings: prepare the single excerpt for that ensemble.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. To be considered for Concertino Strings prepare and submit one solo piece. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience. To only be considered for Concertino Strings: prepare the single excerpt for that ensemble.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
All rhythm instruments (piano, bass, drums, guitar) in addition to the given excerpts, play about 45 seconds of 'time' or 'comping' on the tune(s) of your choice, in the following styles: medium swing, fast swing, ballad, bossa nova and funk/rock, then a one-minute solo in any style, any tempo.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
All rhythm instruments (piano, bass, drums, guitar) in addition to the given excerpts, play about 45 seconds of 'time' or 'comping' on the tune(s) of your choice, in the following styles: medium swing, fast swing, ballad, bossa nova and funk/rock, then a one-minute solo in any style, any tempo.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
All rhythm instruments (piano, bass, drums, guitar) in addition to the given excerpts, play about 45 seconds of 'time' or 'comping' on the tune(s) of your choice, in the following styles: medium swing, fast swing, ballad, bossa nova and funk/rock, then a one-minute solo in any style, any tempo.
Audition must be prepared on flute.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Audition must be prepared on oboe.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Two octave scale to your highest, consistent note at forte volume.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Two octave scale to your highest, consistent note at forte volume.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solos: Prepare two solos of contrasting style and tempi or two contrasting sections from a larger work. Maximum length per solo: 3 minutes.
Scales: Prepare one scale appropriate for your playing ability: scales should demonstrate your range on the instrument and embodied musicianship is strongly recommended. Check out a video on embodied musicianship below.
Excerpts: Prepare two excerpts that best align with your current level of skill and experience.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Classical Percussion
To be considered for Chamber Percussion Ensemble, Repertory Percussion Ensemble
Classical Percussion
To be considered for Youth Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra
Timpani
To be considered for Symphony Orchestra, Repertory Orchestra
In-person auditions for percussion are to be announced.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: 45 seconds of 'time' in the following styles: medium swing, fast swing, ballad, bossa nova and funk/rock; One-minute solo in any style, any tempo.
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
All rhythm instruments (piano, bass, drums, guitar) in addition to the given excerpts, play about 45 seconds of 'time' or 'comping' on the tune(s) of your choice, in the following styles: medium swing, fast swing, ballad, bossa nova and funk/rock, then a one-minute solo in any style, any tempo.
Solo: Prepare one solo jazz standard of your choice. Play-along track or recorded accompaniment permitted, not required.
Jazz improvisation (optional): Improvisation within a prepared solo encouraged, but not required.
Solo: Improvising a solo over a blues (in any key, any tempo) is optional, but helpful. Using an Aebersold Play-A-Long would be recommended, or a live performance. Play the melody, two choruses, melody.
Scales: Chromatic scale from your lowest note to highest note and back down, as fast as possible (with both hands).
Excerpts: Prepare all excerpts.
All rhythm instruments (piano, bass, drums, guitar) in addition to the given excerpts, play about 45 seconds of 'time' or 'comping' on the tune(s) of your choice, in the following styles: medium swing, fast swing, ballad, bossa nova and funk/rock, then a one-minute solo in any style, any tempo.
In-person auditions will be September 30 & October 1.
Requirements will be posted this summer.
Applications will be accepted starting September 5.
Come to an open rehearsal! Simply sign up online, reserve your time, and show up ready to play or simply observe!
Advertise with ESYO in our concert program books.
Log in or create your online ESYO Account.
Empire State Youth Orchestra
45 MacArthur Drive, Schenectady, NY 12302
Phone: 518-382-7581 | Fax: 518-382-0254