INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES

2024/2025 FACULTY OF MUSIC CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES AT A GLANCE

  • UT Symphony Orchestra: Mon, Wed & Fri 3:00-5:00pm Uri Mayer
  • Wind Ensemble: Mon, Wed & Thurs 3:00-5:00pm Gillian MacKay
  • Wind Symphony: Tues, Thurs & Fri 3:00-5:00pm Pratik Gandhi
  • Contemporary Music Ensemble: Tues & Thurs 3:00-5:00pm Wallace Halladay
  • Guitar Orchestra: Wed & Fri 3:00-6:00pm Rob MacDonald
  • Graduate Classical Saxophones: TBA Wallace Halladay

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass and Percussion Placement Auditions

(Non-Music Students please follow the directions for Arts & Science Students)

These auditions determine your placement for the 2024-25 academic year in the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony or Contemporary Music Ensemble.

Ensemble conductors and instrument specialists will hear each audition and students will be ranked according to their level of performance. Based on the repertoire needs of the ensembles, some flow of players may occur during the year.

All instrumental auditions will be in-person.

  • Wind, Brass and Percussion auditions will be screened. The audition panel will sit behind a screen and will not be able to see candidates as they audition. Adjudicators will only be able to identify you by a candidate number.
  • String auditions will NOT be screened.
    • ALL string students must complete the STRING Ensemble Placements (2024) online form by end of day on Thurs Aug 15
      • This form allows Faculty of Music STRING students to indicate if they intend to:
        1. Audition for leadership positions in the UTSO (Orchestra)
        2. Declare an interest in playing in the CME (Contemporary Music Ensemble)
        3. Opt in if Major Ensemble is optional for your degree/year of study (3rd & 4th yr Comprehensive, Composition, History Culture Theory)
      • Non-String students should contact Amanda in the Performance Office if they wish to schedule an audition and should not complete the above form
  • Piano auditions are for consideration to play piano in Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony and UTSO, as needed.  They will not be screened, and you will be asked to play with a conductor.

Please follow the instructions as outlined below for your instrument and review:
General Guidelines for Preparing Audition Material 2020
Advice for taking screened audition

  • Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled time.
  • Students are identified in the schedules by the last 5 digits of their student number.

Schedules

Classical Instrumental Ensemble Audition Excerpts:

Prepare ALL the excerpts.

WOODWINDS

BRASS

Percussion

Piano

STRINGS

  • String students only need to audition if they want to be considered for a leadership position in the Orchestra, such as Concertmaster and/or Principal of a section
  • String auditions will not be screened
  • Those auditioning for principal positions in the Violin and Viola sections are asked to create their own bowings for each excerpt

Results will be posted on Friday, September 6, 2024.

If you would like to audition for any other ensembles, on another instrument, or if you have any questions, please contact the Performance Office.