Audition Information

Seats for the MYO are primarily filled during auditions held in April and May of each year. Once a student has been accepted as a member, members in good standing may remain in the orchestra until high school graduation. If you are in grade 12 or under, play an orchestral instrument, and have a desire to join a fantastic group of motivated musicians, please contact the MYO!

The date of the next PSO/MYO auditions for NEW MEMBERS is:

Friday, April 25, 2008 & Friday May 9th, 2008
Middle Tennessee State University, Saunders Fine Arts Bldg., Room 101

All instruments are welcome.
The PSO has positions available for all stringed instruments.

String players will be placed in either the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra or the Preparatory String Orchestra. All students MUST reserve an audition slot at least 48 hours in advance and bring a completed Audition Application which may be downloaded by clicking on the link. Contact Music Director/MYO Conductor Susan Mullen to reserve a time. For specific audition information, see below.

Wright Music Building Directions: Take Middle TN Blvd. to Faulkinberry Dr., go past the Stop sign – Wright Music Bldg. is on the right.

Map to Wright Music Building, Middle Tennessee State University and Map to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Murfreesboro

For viewing and printing the Audition Application or maps, Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free download from Adobe.

Contact the Music Director to schedule your audition time.

General Audition Information

Students may audition for either the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra or the Preparatory String Orchestra. Students MUST reserve an audition slot at least 48 hours in advance, and bring the Audition Application which may be downloaded by clicking on the link. Contact Music Director/MYO Conductor Susan Mullen to reserve a time.
Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra

The Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra has approximately 60 members and is made up of string, woodwind, brass, and percussion players. Tuition is $220 per year. Tuition waivers are available for qualifying students. The MYO rehearses Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00 PM August – November, and 6:00 – 8:30 PM November – May in the Wright Music Building on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University.

Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra Requirements

Candidates should be comfortable in all registers of their instruments and have advanced control of intonation and tone quality. Familiarity with all major scales is required. Candidates should demonstrate a strong sense of the inner pulse (internal metronome) in their playing.

1.) All will be required to have a solo prepared for the audition. This should be representative of the student’s overall musical and technical ability and approximately one minute in length. Bring an extra copy of this solo music to the audition.

2.) Prepare all major scales (at least 2 octaves). Students will be asked to play a minimum of 2 scales. Brass and woodwind players may be asked to play a chromatic scale.

3.) All students will be asked to sightread 1 – 3 selections. These will be provided at the audition.

Percussion Requirements

Percussionists may be assigned a separate audition time from the dates listed in order to have instruments available.

SNARE: Buzz Roll, flam, flam tap, flam accent, ruff, 5 stroke roll
TIMPANI: Tuning P4, P5, tuning of prepared music plus long roll (pp)
MALLETS: 1 octave scales. Quarter note = mm 160 per note
Preparatory String Orchestra

The Preparatory String Orchestra has approximately 30 members and is made up of violin, viola, cello, and string bass. This group provides students the opportunity to refine their reading and ensemble skills with the goal of eventually playing with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra. Tuition is $150 per year. Tuition waivers are available for qualifying students. The PSO rehearses Thursdays from 6:00-7:30 PM in Saunders Fine Arts Building of the McLean School of Music on the campus of Middle Tennessee State University August through May.

Preparatory String Orchestra Requirements

1.) All students are required to have a solo prepared for the audition. This should be representative of the student’s overall musical and technical ability and approximately one minute in length. Minimum suggested level of difficulty: pieces which are similar to those found in the Middle to the end of Suzuki Book 2. Students should keep a steady beat while playing. Bring an extra copy of this solo music to the audition.

2.) Prepare the following scales: Violin: G, A, Bb, and C (all 2 octaves). Viola: C, D, Eb (2 octaves), F (1 octave). Cello: C, D, Eb (2 octaves), F (1 octave). Bass: G, A, Bb, C (1 octave) Minimum speed: Quarter note = 90.

3.) All students will be asked to sight-read 1 – 3 short selections. These will be provided at the audition. Students should have experience reading a variety of rhythms including whole, half, eighth, sixteenth, and dotted notes.

An Audition Application may be downloaded by clicking on the link.

Steinway Piano Gallery Concerto Competition Information and Forms

Each year the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra holds a Concerto Competition which is open to all members of the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and Preparatory String Orchestra. Sponsored by the Steinway Piano Gallery, the two winners of the Senior Division perform as featured soloists on the spring concert with the Murfreesboro Youth Orchestra and win a cash prize. The winners of the Junior Division win cash prizes.

Senior Section entries must choose their works from the Senior Repertoire List which can be accessed on this site. The two Junior Section winners will win a cash prize. For complete guidelines and competition dates, please click on Conditions of Entry/Terms of Agreement. Download this printable Steinway Concerto Competition Application.

For viewing and printing the above files, Adobe Acrobat Reader is necessary. Adobe Acrobat Reader is a free download from Adobe.