Come play with us!
SFO is auditioning! Interested musicians should email us at info@seattlefestivalorchestra.org with your name, contact info, instrument, and your background (e.g. your training, experience, current ensemble participation). We’ll get back to you in a few days.
We currently have openings for:
Violin (very limited)
Viola
Cello
Bass
Percussion
Assistant principal horn
Our audition process
We ask that you arrive at least 10 minutes early to warm up in a designated area. When it’s your turn to play, we’ll call you into another room to play for our Music Director and representative principals/orchestra members (usually three people total). We’ll be asking to hear an orchestral excerpt (see below), and a short portion of a solo of your choice; the total audition usually lasts about 5 minutes. After the audition, you’ll hear from us within a week or two with the results.
What caliber of musician do we look for?
The average volunteer musician in our orchestra has grown up having taken private lessons, and has previous orchestral experience, though there may be a few exceptions. We look for musicians who are both capable on their instrument, and who have the ability to work on our repertoire outside of rehearsal. We typically have eight weekly rehearsals before a concert weekend, during which time we expect everyone to become adept on their parts.
Will I be paid to participate?
Seattle Festival Orchestra is a community organization, not a professional orchestra. With some exceptions, all of our musicians are volunteers and are not paid a salary.
What music should I prepare?
We would like to hear both assigned orchestral excerpts, and 2-3 minutes of a solo work of your choice.
Expand the link below to see the excerpts we have selected, that represent the kind of music the orchestra regularly plays.
- Solo except of the candidate’s choice (i.e. concerto, solo Bach or other solo piece)
- Beethoven Symphony 3 - Movement 1 - Beginning through rehearsal C
- Mozart Symphony 39 - Movement 2 - Beginning through measure 27
- Solo except of the candidate’s choice (i.e. concerto, solo Bach or other solo piece)
- Mozart Symphony No. 35, Movement 1 - Measures 41 - 66
- Brahms Symphony No. 4, Movement 2 - Measures 64-80
- Solo except of the candidate’s choice (i.e. concerto, solo Bach or other solo piece)
- Mozart: Symphony No. 40 Movement 1
- Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Movement 2 (mm. 1-15 AND mm. 49-55)
- Solo except of the candidate’s choice (i.e. concerto, solo Bach or other solo piece)
- Mozart: Symphony No. 35
- Brahms: Symphony No. 2, Movement 1
- Rimsky-Korsakov: Capriccio Espagnol (Excerpt 1)
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 (Excerpt 1)
- Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 (Excerpt 3)
- Dukas: The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Excerpt 1)
- Dvorak: Symphony No. 8 (Excerpt 3, Trumpet 1)
- Mahler: Symphony No. 5 (Excerpt 1, Trumpet 1)
- Respighi: Pines of Rome (Excerpt 1, Trombone 2)
- Strauss: Ein Heldenleben (Excerpt 1, Trombone 2)
- Rimsky-Korzakov: Scheherezade (Excerpt 1, Horn 1)
- Weber: Overture Der Freischutz (Horn 4)
- Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique (Excerpt 1)
- Holst: The Planets (Excerpt 1)
When and where do you rehearse?
We rehearse every Tuesday night from 7:15pm until 9:30pm at Nathan Hale High School in North Seattle, with occasional exceptions.
Where and when are the auditions held?
Auditions for the 2024-25 season were held on September 10, 2024 in North Seattle (detailed info provided upon audition sign-up). After that, we will schedule auditions throughout the season as needed. These auditions are usually on Tuesday evenings at Nathan Hale High School, before our rehearsal start time.
How do I sign up?
Please send an email to info@seattlefestivalorchestra.org with your preferred instrument and a brief bio of your experience. We will then work with you to schedule an audition slot that works for you. Feel free to contact us with any other questions you have; we’ll be happy to answer them.