Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Auditions
New Member Auditions
After careful consideration of current guidelines and recommendations regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), auditions for the WSO will be postponed to a later date this year. Please submit an application and we will forward you the audition procedures and dates as soon as they are available. For questions, please EMAIL our Conductor, Steven Errante.
The musicians of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra are local instrumentalists, UNCW music faculty and students, and advanced high-school students who rehearse and present orchestral music drawn from a wide range of repertoire.
The conductor, Dr. Steven Errante, is Professor of Music at UNCW. Auditions are normally held twice a year, in August and January. Prospective members will be asked to play the required audition music and sight-read before the conductor and a committee of the principal chair players. Rhythmic accuracy and intonation are the most important qualities we look for in the prepared material, and solid sight-reading skills are also expected.
Who can Audition
Anyone who has graduated from high-school. High-school students who have completed at least two semesters in good standing with the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra may audition. However, high-school students must continue membership in good standing with the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra in order to participate in the WSO.
Application Form
Interested musicians must fill out the Audition Application Form below and schedule an audition time by contacting the WSO orchestra manager at orchestramgr@wilmingtonsymphony.org.
After careful consideration of current guidelines and recommendations regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), auditions for the WSO will be postponed to a later date this year. Please submit an application and we will forward you the audition procedures and dates as soon as they are available. For questions, please EMAIL our Conductor, Steven Errante.
The musicians of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra are local instrumentalists, UNCW music faculty and students, and advanced high-school students who rehearse and present orchestral music drawn from a wide range of repertoire.
The conductor, Dr. Steven Errante, is Professor of Music at UNCW. Auditions are normally held twice a year, in August and January. Prospective members will be asked to play the required audition music and sight-read before the conductor and a committee of the principal chair players. Rhythmic accuracy and intonation are the most important qualities we look for in the prepared material, and solid sight-reading skills are also expected.
Who can Audition
Anyone who has graduated from high-school. High-school students who have completed at least two semesters in good standing with the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra may audition. However, high-school students must continue membership in good standing with the Wilmington Symphony Youth Orchestra in order to participate in the WSO.
Application Form
Interested musicians must fill out the Audition Application Form below and schedule an audition time by contacting the WSO orchestra manager at orchestramgr@wilmingtonsymphony.org.
Required Audition Music
To download audition music for your instrument click on one of the links below:
The three audition results are:
Attendance Policy
Rehearsal attendance
5-year members and as-needed players may miss no more than the allowable number (see table) of the regular (Tuesday night) rehearsals for which they are required for a concert. Participation in the concert with excessive absence or absence from any dress rehearsal(s) is at the discretion of the conductor.
Tardiness
Being more that 15 minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early will be considered tardy.
Table of Minimum Attendance Requirements for Tuesday night rehearsals
To download audition music for your instrument click on one of the links below:
The three audition results are:
- Accepted for 5-year membership: becomes a voting member of the WSO with a 5-year seat in the orchestra.
- Will call as needed: may be asked to play certain concerts as the needs of the orchestra require, especially as substitutes or extra players in sections which are full. All high-school and college students are placed in this category; they can then re-audition after final graduation for 5-year membership.
- Not accepted: may choose to re-audition at a later date, preferably at least a year later. The orchestra may deny requests for repeated auditions if there is no evidence that the player has advanced in skill level.
Attendance Policy
Rehearsal attendance
5-year members and as-needed players may miss no more than the allowable number (see table) of the regular (Tuesday night) rehearsals for which they are required for a concert. Participation in the concert with excessive absence or absence from any dress rehearsal(s) is at the discretion of the conductor.
Tardiness
Being more that 15 minutes late or leaving more than 15 minutes early will be considered tardy.
Table of Minimum Attendance Requirements for Tuesday night rehearsals
Number of Rehearsals |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
Minimum Number Required |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
4 |
Reasons for dismissal
If the conductor, in consultation with the Player Committee and the appropriate principal players, determines that a player is a detriment to the orchestra's musical quality or morale, that player will be asked to leave the orchestra.
Stipends
Modest stipends are paid to all participating local players on a per-service basis at a rate to be determined by the WSO, Inc. Board of Directors to help partly offset some of the costs of attending rehearsals and concerts. Stipends will not be paid for services in which the player is absent or tardy; stipends will not be paid at all if the player is asked not to play the concert because of attendance. Current rate is $15 for Tuesday-night rehearsals, $30 for dress rehearsals, and $35 for concerts.
Supplementary personnel (ringers)
If the full personnel requirements for a particular concert cannot be met with 5-year members and as-needed players, the WSO Board may hire supplementary players from outside the local area to insure full instrumentation.
If the conductor, in consultation with the Player Committee and the appropriate principal players, determines that a player is a detriment to the orchestra's musical quality or morale, that player will be asked to leave the orchestra.
Stipends
Modest stipends are paid to all participating local players on a per-service basis at a rate to be determined by the WSO, Inc. Board of Directors to help partly offset some of the costs of attending rehearsals and concerts. Stipends will not be paid for services in which the player is absent or tardy; stipends will not be paid at all if the player is asked not to play the concert because of attendance. Current rate is $15 for Tuesday-night rehearsals, $30 for dress rehearsals, and $35 for concerts.
Supplementary personnel (ringers)
If the full personnel requirements for a particular concert cannot be met with 5-year members and as-needed players, the WSO Board may hire supplementary players from outside the local area to insure full instrumentation.
