Davis High School Orchestra Program
2021-2022 Audition Requirements
Symphony Orchestra and Baroque Ensemble
All DHS Orchestra Auditions will be held over ZOOM from March 1st-5th. Click on the link below to sign-up and choose your individual audition times. Auditions are for all in coming 10th grade students, continuing 11th grade students, and 12th grade students not currently in an audition group.
If you have a conflict with your posted audition time, or still need an audition time please contact Mr. Moreno immediately at: Email: amoreno@djusd.net, Cell Phone: 530-400-7614.
Pre-Audition Day Preparedness:
- Practice tuning to an electric tuner perfectly, checking your 5ths in between each string.
- Practice routinely daily your Major Scale, Melodic Minor Scale, Solo, and sight-reading skills.
- Practice performing them all in that order within a 10 min period of time, back-to-back.
- Send Mr. Moreno a scanned copy of your solo via email at amoreno@djusdn.net in the body of the email provide your name, audition day, and time.
Audition Day Preparedness:
- Tune to an electric tuner perfectly, checking your 5ths in between each string.
- Give yourself plenty of warm up time prior to logging in to your Zoom audition meeting. I recommend an hour of focused practice.
- Adjust all Zoom audio settings to optimize your tone.
- Frame yourself in your Zoom camera window so your body, both of your hands, and instrument can be seen.
- Balance the lighting in your performance space and position yourself away from windows so lighting is clear.
- Do not block any part of your body with your music stand. Position your music stand out of view of the Zoom camera window.
- If you are a violin or viola player, you should stand when you perform your audition.
- Have audition materials well organized on your stand and in the order of the audition process:
- -Major Scale
- -Minor Scale
- -Solo
- -Sight reading (I will screen share that with you and give you a few moments to prepare playing it mentally in silence, then I will ask you to play it out loud.)
- Once you login to the Zoom meeting you will be placed in the waiting room until I admit you. Continue checking your tuning and warming up while you wait for your audition to begin.
- Once I admit you, listen carefully to my instructions from start to finish so we can keep the audition schedule moving forward.
Zoom Meeting Links
- Monday March 1st, Violin Placement Auditions DHS Orchestra Program
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://djusd-net.zoom.us/j/81106560319?pwd=K1FJWXBiNktpeExzVU9Uck4zLzVmUT09
- Meeting ID: 811 0656 0319
Passcode: j$LPF4
- Tuesday March 2nd, Violin Placement Auditions DHS Orchestra Program
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://djusd-net.zoom.us/j/88098784807?pwd=ME0yUU9DNWhyYWVSb1pjKzhCNGRBQT09
- Meeting ID: 880 9878 4807
Passcode: B87dx?
- Thursday March 4th, Viola Placement Auditions DHS Orchestra Program
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://djusd-net.zoom.us/j/87186947953?pwd=a0hIYW5qR3ZLVEFCc2lqSENvcHduUT09
- Meeting ID: 871 8694 7953
Passcode: *g14pT
- Friday March 5th, Cello/Bass Placement Auditions DHS Orchestra Program
- Join Zoom Meeting: https://djusd-net.zoom.us/j/81490217142?pwd=U1luSHhldmhCdFh0QmlWcVh4QkIzdz09
- Meeting ID: 814 9021 7142
Passcode: 6=QW*D
Keyboard Players Auditioning for a Harpsichord position in the Baroque Ensemble
Contact Mr. Moreno directly at amoreno@djusd.net to set an audition time. If you are a string player who also plays keyboard and would like to audition for harpsichord sign up for two time slots back to back.
Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion
All Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students who are interested in auditioning for the DHS Symphony Orchestra see audition requirements online at dhsbandboosters.com. Information will be posted soon. All Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students interested in participating in the DHS Symphony Orchestra must be members of the DHS Symphonic Band.
Description of The Davis High School Symphony Orchestra
The Davis High Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Angelo Moreno, is an advanced full symphony orchestra including strings, winds, brass and percussion. The group will study and perform music for symphony orchestra from the classical to modern eras. In recent years, the Symphony Orchestra has performed Beethoven’s Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, Dvorak’s Eighth and Ninth Symphonies and Elgar’s Nimrod, amongst many other pieces of music from Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Schumann, Haydn, Brahms and many other composers.
Description of The Davis High School Baroque Ensemble
The Davis High Baroque Ensemble, under the direction of Angelo Moreno is a unique string orchestra which includes the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass, and Key Board players who are interested in learning to play the Harpsichord. Students will perform on Baroque instruments, which include string instruments converted to Baroque style with gut strings and Baroque style bows. The group will study and perform music from the Baroque Era, including composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Telemann, and Handel.
Recommended Level of Ability
It is recommended that all players have previous ensemble and or performance experience and be well advanced in the command of their instrument. Confidence in sight-reading and advanced control of intonation and tone quality is expected.
Audition Requirements
Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass:
- 3 octaves of any major scale in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144 (Basses 2 octaves)
- 3 octaves of any melodic minor scale in quarter notes at a tempo of 120 (Basses 2 octaves)
- 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.
Key Board Players Auditioning for Harpsichord:
- 3 octaves of any major scale in two hands- in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144
- 3 octaves of any melodic minor scale in two hands- in quarter notes at a tempo of 120
- 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.
Additional Notes
- All players will be asked to sight read
- All instruments – consult your private instructor or school music teacher when deciding on solo literature
- Required: Please provide a copy of your solo music the day of your audition for the adjudicator
You can view and download a PDF of the audition information here. If you have any questions, Contact Mr. Moreno at (530) 400-7614 (cell) or by email: amoreno@djusd.net.