Wilmington Symphony Orchestra Auditions
Please download the audition music and fill out the application below. For questions, please e-mail Amy Sandlin at amy@wilmingtonsymphony.org.
The musicians of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra are regional orchestral players who rehearse and present orchestral music drawn from a wide range of repertoire.
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.
Application Form
Interested musicians must fill out the Audition Application Form at the bottom of this page. We will email you a confirmation shortly after receiving your application.
AUDITION DATE: August TBA, 2023
Application deadline is TBA.
The musicians of the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra are regional orchestral players who rehearse and present orchestral music drawn from a wide range of repertoire.
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.
Application Form
Interested musicians must fill out the Audition Application Form at the bottom of this page. We will email you a confirmation shortly after receiving your application.
AUDITION DATE: August TBA, 2023
Application deadline is TBA.
Required Audition Music
Audition music will be available May 1, 2023 and will supersede previously-available excerpts
The three audition results are:
WSO Policies
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
Audition music will be available May 1, 2023 and will supersede previously-available excerpts
- Flute
- Oboe
- Clarinet
- Bassoon
- Horn
- Trumpet
- Trombone
- Tuba
- Violin 1
- Violin 2
- Viola
- Cello
- Double-bass
- Percussion
- Harp
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.
WSO Policies
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 $35 for rehearsals and $50 for concerts.
COVID-19 Vaccination
WSO, Inc. Board of Directors requires that all WSO staff and musicians be fully vaccinated.
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 $35 for rehearsals and $50 for concerts.
COVID-19 Vaccination
WSO, Inc. Board of Directors requires that all WSO staff and musicians be fully vaccinated.
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.
We are not currently accepting applications. We are in the process of revising our audition procedures and requirements, and will update the page soon.
