Am I good enough for a professional symphony orchestra?

Question

Well, I am currently a high school senior and I am would like to play in a professional orchestra during college to pay for my education, but I am not sure whether I even have a chance:

I play the trumpet: I have a Vincent Bach model 37 trumpet with an allen vizzutti custon gold mouthpiece

I've been a section leader for all years of high school

I can play Fantasie and Variations to the Carnival of Venice well (level 6) as a solo piece

I have played many songs ranging from 3-5, even though most are not challenging to me anymore

My range goes up to a double high C on a good day, a double high G everyday

Idk what symphonies are looking for, but can someone help me determine what I need to get in if I can?

Answer 1

Yes...learn your excerpts!  Get lists from each orchestra you can find. Take as many auditions as you can, get on as many sub-lists as you can, learn to play everything "just a little softer."  They are looking for consistency, good tone, good intonation, ability to blend.  For post-doctoral students, most have to take over 20 serious auditions before they get a job...and you play trumpet so there are less chairs to fill, which makes it harder.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Below is a list of some of the standard works that are used in professional orchestra auditions.

When you have learned all of these, plus other titles to perfection under the pressure of an audition, you will be ready to play in a Major Orchestra.

Many college students play in "per service" regional orchestras while studying and your orchestra director or trumpet teacher should be able to advise on groups in your college area.  For ever one position there will be hundreds of players who send in their resume. Perhaps about 20 of those will be heard and 3 will go on to the final auditions for that one open position.

Practice many hours a day, get to know professional musicians, study with a trumpet player from the Major Orchestra nearest your college and play in as many groups as you have time for. This will give you a better "in" when auditioning. Remember that "College" is you first job.

For a 1st  trumpet opening in a Major Orchestra which recently had auditions, 700 players applied for that Principal position.

Trumpet Audition Works:

Beethoven, Leonore Overture No. 3 (trumpet call) Kalmus Publication for sale. (Kalmus is the reprint house for most standard orchestra music that is PD in the U.S.)

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9. Kalmus.

Brahms, Symphony No. 2.  Kalmus.

Gershwin, Concerto in F.  not for sale. On rental to orchestras only.               Check excerpt books.

Mahler, Symphony No. 3. (posthorn solo) Kalmus.

Mahler, Symphony No. 5. Kalmus.

Mahler, Symphony No. 7. Kalmus.

Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade. Not for sale. On rental to orchestras only. Check excerpt books.

Ravel, Alborada del Gracioso.  Kalmus corrected edition.

Ravel, Concerto (Piano) in G. Not for sale. On rental to orchestras only. Check excerpt books.

Respighi, Pines of Rome. Not for sale. On rental to orchestras only.          Check excerpt books.

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade. Kalmus corrected edition.

Strauss, R. Symphonia Domestica. Kalmus.

Strauss, R. Bourgeois Gentilhomme. Kalmus.

Stravinsky, Petroushk.  1911 version Kalmus.  1947 version Not for sale. On rental to orchestras only. Check excerpt books.

Bach, Mass in b minor.  Kalmus.

Mussorgsky/Ravel, Pictures at an Exhibition: Schmuyle Not for sale.  On rental to orchestras only. Check excerpt books.

Stravinsky, Rite of Spring Kalmus corrected edition.

Debussy, La Mer (1st Trumpet, 1st Cornet & Piccolo Trumpet) Kalmus corrected edition. Learn all 3 parts.

Wagner, Siegfreid's Funeral Music Kalmus.

Copland, Quiet City  For sale Boosey and Hawkes.

Mendelssohn, Fingal's Cave Kalmus.

Wagner, Siegfreid Idyll Kalmus.

Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 Kalmus.

All Kalmus publications can be ordered from your local music dealer or directly from

Edwin F. Kalmus & Co., Inc. Music Publishers .

How to order:

http://www.kalmus-music.com/hto.html

For works that are on rental only you can often buy study scores or find them in excerpt books. A good local music store should be able to tell you which book to buy.

Good luck and best wishes for your career.

Answer 3

     First of all if I were you, I would contact the heads of the music departments of schools, colleges, universities, conservatories, whatever, that you would like to attend, requesting an application form for a scholarship.

     And then make a recording, re-record if necessary, of your very best possible performance: CD, cassette tape, video, whatever; then send one with your application via registered mail, to the head of the department: this is important, because you want to make sure that whoever has the responsibility for auditioning for scholarships, receives and listens to your recording.

                                                    Much good luck,

                                                         Alberich

      

Answer 4

You sound pretty good. I play the trumpet too. I have an Accent Black Nickel. I love playing. Music is my passion. I really want to learn to play something else. If your good, you can get a scholarship for pay for your education. I want to be a section leader hopefully when I'm a senior. My section leader now is an ***. Good luck!  

Answer 5

You might not be able to join an orchestra like, say, the largest performing arts ensemble in your state, but I would assume you'd be able to join an orchestra of a moderate sized town. What city do you live in?

Ex. If you live in Dallas, then it'd be best to join the Waco Symphony or something similar.

If you can play the Carnival of Venice even moderately well, you should be able to play the excerpts. Stravinsky's Petrushka, Dvorak's 8th, Pictures at an Exhibition. As well as solo work, such as Haydn's Trumpet Concerto. I don't play the trumpet, so I can't really speak of the difficulty from experience. I know that the Petrushka excerpt (Ballerina Dance on cornet/trumpet) is pretty difficult when played at normal tempo.