Last Update: 2026-02-01

PYS Auditions:

Auditions for orchestra membership in the 2026-2027 season are being planned for the weekend before Labor Day weekend ( August 29th, 2026 ) ) or on Labor Day weekend ( September 5th, 2026 ) in the Education Institute of Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater. The specific date will be posted once finalized with Ruth Eckerd Hall.

Students are strongly encouraged to participate in their school music programs where available and encouraged to seek private instruction. Study of assigned music and practice outside of rehearsal insures the advancement of the orchestra as a whole during rehearsal time.

Click here for the Online Audition Registration Form

Please come prepared to play all of the specified requirements when auditioning, including any excerpts posted for your instrument. However, the adjudicators may choose to omit some items during the actual audition.

Click here to find the excerpts



NOTE: Excerpts and Audition Requirements for 2026-2027 to be posted later this spring.

Follow this link to read the Audition Requirements in PDF format

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
2026 / 2027 Season

ORCHESTRA LEVEL:

 Intermediate Advanced
Includes… Includes…
Pinellas Youth Philharmonic Pinellas Youth Symphony
& Serenade Strings
     

SOLOS:

 One solo at least 2 minutes in length, or both the Lyrical and Technical All-State Excercise. One solo at least 2 minutes in length, or both the Lyrical and Technical All-State Excercises.
  NOTE: Solos are unaccompanied.
SCALES: For Strings

  Violin:
    Bb, F - 1 octave
    C, D, G - 2 octaves
  Viola/Cello:
    Eb, D - 1 octave
    F, G, C - 2 octaves
  Bass:
    Bb, C - 1 octave
    F, G - 2 octaves

The 9 Major Scales & Arpeggios from 4b through 4#,

  Violin/Viola/Cello: 3 octaves

  Bass: E, F, and G - 3 octaves,
      all others 2 octaves
For Woodwinds and Brass

These 8 Major Scales & Arpeggios: concert D,G,C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db;
2 octaves when practical. Chromatic scale by memory.

These 8 Major Scales & Arpeggios: concert D,G,C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db;
2 octaves when practical. Chromatic scale by memory.
     

SIGHT READING:

Yes

Yes
     

PYS EXCERPTS:
 download from the PYS website  www.pysmusic.org

Yes

Yes
     
PERCUSSION AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

Snare Drum:

Prepared piece or etude of student's choice, examples of which may be found in Whaley Fundamental Studies for Snare Drum, Whaley Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer, or Goldenberg Modern School for the Snare Drum.

Keyboard Percussion:

Major scales,  one octave.  Student will play  several  scales of their choice after which the adjudicator may ask for several more.

Timpani:

The  Adjudicator  will  sound  several  notes on a pitch source and ask the  student to  tune them  on the Timpani.  The  student  will play an an etude or orchestral excerpt for two timpani, without tuning changes, examples of which may be found in the Whaley Fundamental Studies for Timpani, Whaley Primary Handbook for Timpani, or Goodman Modern Method for Timpani.

Note:

Students may substitute a prepared  piece on keyboard percussion or timpani  for  the  prepared   piece  on  snare  drum.  In  this  case  the adjudicator  may  ask them  to sight read  a  brief  snare  drum  etude similar to the examples listed above.