Auditions

String Substitute Auditions

upcoming audition dates:

Saturday, October 4th at 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 (violin I)
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 October 4, please send an email to auditions@handelandhaydn.org with the following information included:

  • your resume/CV
  • what time window you are available from 10am-2pm (note: cello and bass auditions are only available between 10:00am-12:00pm)

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.

Chorus Substitute Auditions

upcoming audition dates:

All slots for our October audition date are now full.

The next chorus substitute audition date will be Friday, January 9, 2026. Vocalists who are interesting in being considered for an audition invitation for that date are asked to email their resume and sample(s) of their singing to auditions@handelandhaydn.org by Monday, December 15.