KVYSO membership is open to all players in grades 7 through 12. Auditions take place twice per season, in September and January. The KVYSO audition usually lasts approximately ten minutes. It is designed only as a tool for assessing each student’s ability – it is not intended to be difficult nor intimidating for the player. KVYSO requests that auditioning students have at least one year of playing experience in their school music program before auditioning for KVYSO.
In-person auditions for the first semester of the 2024/2025 season will be held on September 7th, 2024 and will be scheduled between 8 AM and 12 PM. Second semester auditions will take place on January 19th and 26th, 2025 and will be scheduled between 12 and 2 PM.
The auditions will take place at Olivet Nazarene University in the Larsen Fine Arts Center. Once you fill out and submit the form below, you will be contacted to set your appointment time. Please contact the KVYSO if you have any questions.
Audition Panel
- Each applicant will play in front of a panel of up to three judges. Generally, these judges are the KVYSO Conductor and/or members of the KVYSO Coaching Staff (occasionally an outside individual may be on the panel).
- Following this audition, this panel will discuss the individual’s ability level, and place that student in the appropriate group.
- Generally, the audition panel will stop the applicant after three or four minutes.
- Pieces shorter than three minutes are acceptable.
Solo Piece
Students are asked to play all or part of a prepared solo piece. Accompanists are not required.
Sight-reading
Each applicant will be asked to play all or part of a set of sight-reading materials. The student may take a brief period to look at the materials, then begin playing.
Specific Audition Requirements:
Wind & Brass
- 3 major scales, 2 octaves. Student picks one, audition judge picks 2 from all major scales plus chromatic, OR IMEA SCALE SHEET, whichever the student prefers.
- Prepared piece of your own choosing. No accompanist necessary.
- Sight reading.
Percussions Requirements
- Rudiments including flam rudiments, paradiddles, drags and ruffs, rudimental roll — all slow to fast to slow (open to closed to open)– plus buzz roll (soft to loud to soft)
- Timpani tuning: perfect fourth, minor third, major second
- Prepared piece of your own choosing.
- Sight reading
String Requirements
- 3 major scales, 3 octaves (if possible) except 2nd Violin and Double Basses, who may play 2 octaves. Student picks one, audition judge picks 2 from these: C,D,E, F,G, A and B-flat major.
- Prepared-piece of your own choosing. No accompanist necessary.
- Sight reading.
Placement
Placement is dependent on the number of positions available within each section. Orchestra wind and brass positions are offered to the best applicants in each section.
Tuition
Tuition for each student is $325.00 per season, payable in accord with current season payment policy. Financial aid is available for payment of tuition by contacting the KVYSO Board President immediately after the audition by e-mail, phone, or mail as shown below.
Performances
Regular performances are scheduled in the Larsen Fine Arts Center, on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
