String Substitute Musician Auditions

Audition slots for March 2025 are now full. H+H will continue to hold substitute string musician auditions with additional Summer + Fall audition dates being announced at a later date. If you are interested in auditioning, you may send along materials to join the wait list for March 28 + 29 or submit materials in anticipation of future auditions by sending an email to auditions@handelandhaydn.org.

upcoming audition dates:

Friday, March 28th, BYSO/Youth Center for Music, Boston, MA
10:00am - 1:00pm (violin, viola, cello, bass)

Saturday, March 29th, BYSO/Youth Center for Music, Boston, MA
10:00am - 2:00pm (violin, viola, cello, bass)

The auditions will be approx 10 mins and you will be asked to perform a movement of solo Bach, the exposition of a classical concerto or sonata of your choice, and a couple of standard orchestral excerpts on period instruments/bows.  For auditionees on bass, you will not be asked to play solo Bach or the concerto/sonata, rather you will be asked for only the five bass excerpts below.

All works to be performed at the same pitch. (A-430). The excerpts for all instruments are as follows, and the music can be found here:

 

VIOLIN
  • Bach: Orchestral Suite No. 3, Overture Vivace mm. 42-58 (violin I)
  • Mozart Symphony No. 35, first movement, mm.1-35 (both violin I and II parts)
VIOLA
  • Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 4, last mvt opening
  • Mozart: Overture to Marriage of Figaro, mm. 1-95
CELLO
  • Bach: Magnificat in D major, BWV 243 - IV. Omnes Generationes
  • Mozart: Symphony No. 35 - IV. mm. 134-181
BASS
  • Haydn, Symphony No. 31, "Hornsignal": solo from IV. Theme and Variations
  • Bach Suite in B Minor, Ouverture: beginning to 20 and 33-55
  • Bach, Matthew Passion (orchestra 2) No 61 "Können Tränen meiner Wangen", beginning to Letter C
  • Mozart 35, Movement I.: beginning to Letter B
  • Beethoven 5 - Scherzo: beginning to Letter A; Trio, pickup to 141 to 218

If you are interested in auditioning on one of the above dates in March, please send an email to auditions@handelandhaydn.org with the following information included:

  • your resume/CV
  • which date/time(s) you are available (note: cello is only available on Saturday during this set of auditions)

Significant professional experience performing on period instruments is a requisite for being invited to the auditions.

If you are interested in being considered for the H+H substitute musician list but do not plan to partake in the upcoming auditions, you are invited to alternatively send along audio/video samples of your playing along with your resume/CV to auditions@handelandhaydn.org.