How to prepare for an orchestral audition
2021-11-16T12:18:00
First violinist in the San Francisco Symphony Catherine van Hoesen offers her advice on orchestral auditions, regarding preparation, musicality, feedback and nerves, in this extract from 2014
Catherine van Hoesen, first violinist, San Francisco Symphony
Teaches at San Francisco Conservatory of Music
A student who doesn’t know the score will nearly always be eliminated. Someone who just practises their part without a knowledge of the score might be easily found out by the audition committee. The candidate’s faulty choice of dynamics will indicate they don’t know the score. Once a student is familiar with the work, it will be much easier to choose a manner of playing that indicates an understanding of the violin part’s particular role at any given moment. I recommend several techniques for practising specific excerpts. Many of the excerpts required at an audition are fast, virtuoso pieces that require a lot of dexterity.