Orchestras
University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra
The University Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra perform a diverse repertory including the symphonies or large-scale orchestral works of Bartok, Beethoven, Bernstein, Brahms, Dvorák, Gershwin, Kodály, Mahler, Mozart, Prokofiev, Schoenberg, Shostakovich, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, and Zwilich, among others. The Symphony Orchestra has performed in Boulder, Boettcher Hall in Denver, and Aspen. Solo appearances with the orchestra are awarded to students as a result of an annual concerto competition.
Auditions for the Fall 2012 semester are open to all students at CU. String auditions will be held on Monday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 28. The precise schedule, along with signup sheets, will be posted Monday, August 20 outside E160 on the Orchestra bulletin board in the College of Music. String audition excerpts are posted on this website and available for download. All string majors planning to participate in the University Symphony Orchestra will audition through this process. Wind and percussion auditions will be held beginning Thursday, August 23. Audition materials for winds and percussion are available at http://bands.colorado.edu.
Please note the following information regarding string audition materials:
All strings should be prepared to play the entire Brahms – Sym. #1 part, excerpts from Wagner – Rienzi Overture, along with a short work of your choice. Violinists have the option of choosing between preparing Violin I or Violin II excerpts. However, ultimate placement for the first concert will be made by the faculty.
Violin I: Brahms Mvt. 1
pg. 1 – ms. 1-9; ms. 41-B
pg. 2 – 4 before C to m. 105; 2 before E to end of page
pg. 4 – pickup to K to M
Mvt. 2
pg. 6 – 1 before A to B; m. 49 to C
pg. 7 – Solo (pickup to E to F)
Mvt. 3
pg. 8 – m. 54 to D
Mvt. 4
pg. 10 – A to B
pg. 11 – 2 before D to H
pg. 12 – K to 4 after N
Wagner (bracketed excerpts)
pg. 1 – line 5 to end of page (quarter = 68)
pg. 2 – line 4 to end of line 6 (half = 96)
pg. 3 – line 5 to middle of line 9 (half = 96)
Violin II: Brahms Mvt 1
pg. 1 – ms. 1-9
pg. 2 – 4 before C to m. 105; 2 beofre E to 2nd ending
pg. 4 – pickup to K to M
pg. 5 – 2 before O to m. 458
Mvt 2
pg. 6 – 1 before A to B; m. 49 to C
Mvt. 3
pg. 8 – A to B
pg. 9 – 4 after E to m. 154 (piu tranquillo)
Mvt. 4
pg. 10 – A to B
pg. 11 – 2 before D to H
pg. 12 – K to N
pg 15 – pickup to m. 376 to piu allegro
Wagner (bracketed excerpts)
pg. 1 – line 5 to end of page (quarter = 68)
pg. 2 – line 4 to line 5 (half = 96)
pg. 3 – line 6 to line 10 (half = 96)
Viola: Brahms Mvt 1.
pg. 1 – beg to m. 9; pickup to m. 52 to 9 after C
pg. 2 – 4 before E to F
pg. 3 – 4 before G to m. 260 (36 ms.)
pg. 4 – K to L; pickup to m. 353 to 4 after M
pg 5 – 4 before O to P
Mvt. 2
pg. 6 – pickup to 3 after A to C
pg. 7 – 3 before D to 6 after E
Mvt. 3
entire movement
Mvt. 4
pg. 10 – 2 before A to B
pg. 11 – 2 before D to 5 after F; m. 142 to G
pg. 12 – K to N
pg. 14 – 15 before O (animato) to m. 332
Wagner (bracketed excerpts)
pg. 1 – line 5 to end of page (quarter = 68)
pg. 2 – end of line 2 to line 6 (half = 96)
pg. 3 – end of line 7 to line 9 (half=96)
Cello: Brahms Mvt. 1
pg. 1 – beg to m. 9; A to 8 before D
pg. 2 – pickup to 1 before E to F
page 3-4 before G to H
page 6 – pickup to 1 before O to P
Mvt. 2
pg. 7 – beg to m. 13; 8 after B to 6 after D
Mvt. 3
pg. 8 – m. 11 to A; m. 33 to C; D to 2nd ending
Mvt. 4
pg. 11 – 2 before A to B
pg. 12 – D to E; F to m. 148
pg. 13 – G to I; pickup to K to N
pg. 16 – m. 348 (top of page) to piu allegro
Wagner (bracketed excerpts)
pg. 2 – line 6 to line 8 (half = 96)
pg. 4 – line 4 to line 7 (Half = 96)
Double Bass: Brahms Mvt. 1
pg. 1 – m. 46 to C
Pg. 2 – E to 2nd ending; G to H
pg. 3 – m. 335 to M
pg. 4 – O to P
Mvt. 2
pg. 5 – 9 after B to D
Mvt 3
pg. 6 – 4 before B to C; D to 2nd ending
pg. 7 – m. 144 to end
Mvt. 4
pg. 7 – A to B
pg. 8 – D to H
pg. 9 – K to N; P to piu allegro
Wagner (bracketed excerpts)
pg. 2 – line 3 to line 5 (quarter = 68/half = 96(allegro))
pg. 4 – line 4 to line 7 (half = 96)
The links to string audition materials below are in pdf format:
Violin I | Violin II | Viola | Cello | Double Bass
The first Symphony Orchestra program will be featured on the CU Artist Series and will include the following repertoire:
- Wagner – Overture to “Rienzi”
- Shostakovich – Conerto No. 1 for Cello and Orchestra with Johannes Moser, cello
- Brahms – Symphony No. 1
Campus Orchestra
The Campus Orchestra is an ensemble comprised of music and non-music majors which delivers one concert performance each semester. The ensemble performs a wide-ranging repertoire from Baroque through Contemporary periods in both string and full-orchestra settings and rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in room E-160 of the College of Music. String instrument musicians, of any major, interested in participating should attend the first meeting of the ensemble, Wednesday, August 29, at 7 p.m. in room E-160 in the College of Music. A short audition (more information at the first meeting) will be required for final admission into the group. This audition will include performing a three-octave major scale and other basic skills. Wind, brass and percussion students earn placement into this ensemble through College of Music studio auditions at the beginning of each semester. Any questions should be directed to Gary Lewis at gary.lewis@colorado.edu.