Your Guide to the Cape Cod Symphony Youth Orchestra and Cape Cod Children's Chorus Auditions

Young musicians who have been playing orchestral instruments for at least two years are invited to audition Saturday and Monday in Barnstable for the Cape Cod Youth Orchestra.

Also Saturday, the Cape Cod Children's Chorus holds placement interviews for young singers in both Barnstable and Falmouth. 

All auditions are by appointment:

Call 508-362-2772 or email info@capecodconservatory.org for youth symphony auditions, Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon and Monday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Cape Cod Conservatory in West Barnstable.

Call 508-540-0611 for chorus auditions in Falmouth, Saturday 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Call 508-362-2772 for chorus auditions in Barnstable, Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to the audition notice posted on Patch,

• The Cape Cod Youth Orchestra program brings talented young musicians of all ages and skill levels together to perform symphonic music under the direction of professional conductors, musicians and educators.  
• The goal of the program is to nurture musicianship and foster joy in instrumental and orchestral playing.  
• The program is open to all youth musicians with a minimum of two years experience playing an orchestral instrument. 

The Youth Orchestra has two ensembles, according to its website:

Cape Cod Youth Orchestra Debut Strings is an exciting ensemble experience. Energetic weekly 90-minute rehearsals emphasize ensemble cooperation in a supportive, fun setting.  Students will be inspired by the full sound of ensemble string literature and will be introduced to orchestra protocol.

Cape Cod Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO) is for the advanced string, woodwind, brass and percussion player.  Rehearsals challenge musicians to a high performance level while exposing them to a rich symphonic repertoire. 

Audition Guidelines from the Cape Cod Symphony Youth Orchestra website:

Students should prepare two excerpts that will demonstrate technical proficiency and lyrical, expressive playing. All auditions will include one or two short sight reading pieces.

Scales:  
Strings auditioning for YSO: C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb (2 octaves; 3 if possible)
Woodwinds and Brass (play 2 octaves where possible)
                C Instruments – G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab
                Bb Instruments- C, F, Fb, G, D, A
                F Instruments – G, D, C, F, Bb, Eb
Strings auditioning for Debut Strings: D, G, C (1 octave)

Placement information from the Cape Cod Children's Chorus website:

Placement Interviews are one-on-one sessions with the Director. These 10-minute sessions are conducted in a personable, supportive atmosphere.  

Candidates should be prepared to sing the refrain to "America the Beautiful" from memory, unaccompanied, starting on a pitch of their own choosing:

         "America, America, God shed His grace on thee;
          And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea."

In addition, students will be asked to sing simple exercises to determine abilities in pitch-matching, melodic memory, vocal range, tone quality, music-reading, attitude, aptitude and potential. Come with a smile and simply do your best!

Find out more about the Children's Chorus and Youth Symphony at capecodconservatory.org.

Do you know any Falmouth kids who have taken part in these programs? Tell us in the comments.