2020 Audition Excerpts & Instructions

FRENCH HORN

AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS FOR 2020

Your audition will last between 5-7 minutes and will consist of the following:

1. ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS
• Excerpts are a very important part of your audition – SYO advises all musicians to take the excerpts to their
instrumental teacher as soon as they receive the audition materials.
• Please note that your excerpt selection will depend on which orchestra you are auditioning for. Read the
instructions for each excerpt carefully.
• Remember to observe all markings including brackets (only play the excerpt within them), dynamics, bowings
and articulation. The panel will be assessing your technical ability as well as musicality. Some aspects to pay
attention to include tone quality, accurate rhythm and articulation, appropriate tempo and good intonation.
• Listen to numerous recordings to help your understanding of the excerpts and their context. Use YouTube,
Naxos, Spotify, etc. to find full recordings. Find scores and parts online at IMSLP.org to research the excerpt in
depth.
• Please take any tempo markings provided as a guide in conjunction to your research. An excerpt played
accurately under tempo is better than the same excerpt played poorly at a faster tempo.

2. PIECE OF YOUR OWN CHOICE

Choose a 2-3 minute passage/piece without accompaniment that you are familiar with that best displays your
musicality and technical proficiency. It is strongly advised that this piece be from within an established
examination syllabus such as AMEB, Trinity College London or ABRSM.

3. SCAL
SCALES
ES
• Strings may be asked to play the following major scales and arpeggios (3 octaves with spiccato and 2 other
bowings of your choice)
o Violins: G, A, Bb,
o Violas/Cellos: C, D, Eb,
o Basses: G, Ab, Bb.
• Woodwind and Brass may be asked to play a major or harmonic minor scale up to 4 sharps or 4 flats. Please
prepare 2 octaves where possible, all slurred and all tongued.
• Percussionists and Harpists will not be required to play scales.

4. SIGHT-
SIGHT-READING
This is an important part of your audition and an essential skill for orchestral musicians. Be sure to ask your
teacher for advice and practice sight-reading. Remember to not get overwhelmed and to take time to check
time signature, key signature, accidentals, tempo, dynamics and phrasing, etc.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT:

• Auditions are unaccompanied
• You will receive your audition date and time in early October. SYO Auditions for 2020 will commence on
Tuesday 15 October, 2019 – your audition may be scheduled on this day so please ensure you are prepared to
audition from this date.
• The audition panel may choose not to listen to all your excerpts, chosen piece or scales due to time constraints.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the SYO Operations team.

Phone:
Phone 02 9251 2422
Email:
Email info@syo.com.au
Office:
Office 182 Cumberland St, The Rocks NSW 2000

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

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 2020 Audition Excerpts & Instructions

FRENCH HORN

EXCERPT 1

Please prepare this excerpt if you are auditioning for SWO, WSYO, PSO, SYOP or The SYO

CARTER No. 21 from 30 Fantasies for Low Horn

(Horn in F)

End of Audition Excerpts for SWO, WSYO and PSO

Audition Excerpts for SYOP and The SYO continue overleaf

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

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 2020 Audition Excerpts & Instructions

FRENCH HORN

EXCERPT 2
Only prepare this excerpt if you are auditioning for SYOP or The SYO
BRAHMS Symphony No. 2
Movement I, Allegro non troppo
(Horn 1 in D)

Audition Excerpts for SYOP and The SYO continue overleaf

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

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 2020 Audition Excerpts & Instructions

FRENCH HORN

EXCERPT 3
Only prepare this excerpt if you are auditioning for SYOP or The SYO

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4

Movement I, Andante sostenuto
(Horn 1 in F)

End of Audition Excerpts for SYOP

Audition Excerpts for The SYO continue overleaf

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

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 2020 Audition Excerpts & Instructions

FRENCH HORN

EXCERPT 4
Only prepare this excerpt if you are auditioning for The SYO
Please prepare both excerpt 4a and 4b

STRAUSS Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche

4a. (Horn 1 in F)

4b.
4b. (Horn 1 in F)

End of Audition Excerpts

FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY

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