2025-26 Ensemble Placement
Audition packets at bottom of page- please read instructions first!
Video audition submissions for Sinfonia and Chamber Orchestra are due March 19th, 2026.
There is NO audition requirement for Concert Orchestra, which is the default placement for students with middle school orchestra experience.
Registration info for rising 9th graders: For now, register for Intermediate Orchestra 1 for 1st and 2nd semesters. This will be changed later if you audition into a different ensemble, but you need it as a placeholder on your schedule.
Email Mr. Cummings at cummingsas@fultonschools.org with any questions.
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Who should complete an audition?
- 8th graders (rising 9th graders) who are interested in trying out for Sinfonia or Chamber Orchestra should audition. Spots are extremely limited, so most 9th grade students should anticipate placement in Concert for their first year. Auditions are encouraged, however, because they can also help Mr. Cummings determine initial chair placements, section leaders, and overall music level for Concert Orchestra.
- Current Concert students: Audition for initial chair placement in Concert and/or for potential placement in Sinfonia or Chamber
- Current Sinfonia students: Audition for initial chair placement in Sinfonia and/or for potential placement in Chamber.
- Current Chamber students: All audition for Chamber placement and initial chair placement.
The Milton Orchestra program is made up of 100+ students with a wide range of experience and ability levels. We are a diverse group, ranging from future music majors to varsity athletes and National Merit finalists! There is a place for everyone!
CONCERT ORCHESTRA: Intermediate 1-4*
SINFONIA: Advanced 1-4*
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA: Mastery 1-4*
*Number simply indicates student grade
(ex. Intermediate 4 would be a senior in Concert Orchestra)
Which audition do I take?
Details are below, but in general you should take the audition for the highest-level orchestra for which you would like to be considered (Sinfonia- Advanced or Chamber- Mastery). If you are placed in a lower level ensemble than the audition you took, a slightly curved score (to account for higher difficulty audition) will be used to compare you for chair placement. Alternatively, you can submit both auditions if you prefer.
Does orchestra take a lot of time outside school?
We recognize that orchestra students are often highly involved in academics, clubs, and sports, so we maintain flexibility with those schedules and keep our required events to a minimum. As a co-curricular class, the main outside of school commitments are our Fall, Winter, Pre-LGPE/LGPE, and Spring concerts. Dress rehearsals for those concerts, when applicable, typically occur the same day, so as to minimize the impact on schedules. Co-curricular expectation increases with orchestra level- Chamber can expect more outside of school responsibility than Concert Orchestra.
Many optional extracurricular performance, travel, and social opportunities are available and encouraged for those interested. Check out our social media accounts @miltonorchestra to get an idea of what those look like!
What do I submit?
There are three steps to the audition, with instrument-specific details below:
- Registration (Google Form)
- 1 Scale/Arpeggio
- 1 Excerpt or Etude selection
Steps 2 and 3 can be submitted as one combined or two separate videos, but each step should be clearly identifiable as a single play-through with no edits.
When is it due?
Registration (Google Form) and video(s) are due March 19, 2025 at 11 pm.
Where do I submit?
Step 1: Registration form
Link: Google Form (required)
Steps 2-3:
Current student videos will only be accepted as an ungraded Canvas assignment. You can submit a link (ex. unlisted YouTube video(s), upload a video, or record directly into Canvas. If you need to test uploading/recording early, that is encouraged- You have unlimited submissions. Just make sure the things you want me to listen to (whether one combined video or two separate) are the most recent submissions.
Rising 9th graders only should email link(s) in an accessible format (ex. Unlisted YouTube video, cloud link with “anyone with link can view” permissions) to cummingsas@fultonschools.org. I will send a confirmation email when received, so please follow up if you don't hear back from me in a school day or two.
How do I complete this?
Read ALL instructions on this page. If you do not have a way to complete the recording/upload on your own, schedule a time (with plenty of notice!) to use school equipment. Ask for musical and technical help early if you anticipate any difficulties! I will gladly assist, but it won’t be possible at the last minute.
Can I play live instead of submitting a recording?
If you prefer to play live, please contact Mr. Cummings to set up a time within a week of audition materials being posted. I cannot guarantee that I will be able to schedule you if requested later than that. You will submit the registration form in advance. I will still record your audition for reference, but you will not submit a recording of your own.
Will I be considered for Sinfonia if I audition for Chamber and don’t get in?
Yes. You have two options: 1. Record/submit material for both auditions OR 2. Submit only a Chamber audition. Since the repertoire is more challenging, there will be a slight curve for chair placements if placed in a lower-level ensemble than the audition you submitted.
Video Recording Guidelines: Poor visibility, edits in the middle of selections (not allowed), audio issues, etc. can be disqualifying factors. PLEASE READ and adhere to these guidelines:
- I must be able to see your face, instrument, and both hands clearly…keep reading for details.
- Leave enough distance between you and the camera that your posture is visible. If standing, you should be fully visible from the waist up. If sitting, your entire posture should be in the frame.
- Make sure that you have good lighting and audio/visual quality before submitting.
- Be mindful of background noise that could distract from your audition.
- The music stand should not be blocking the view of your hands/arms.
- Violin and Viola players: Be at an angle to the camera that shows your entire left hand/arm AND entire right hand and bow stroke. The camera should not be pointed straight at your front, looking down the scroll/fingerboard. Horizontal (landscape) mode helps with this if using a phone.
- Cello players: The camera should be as straight on from the front as possible so that arms/hands are clearly visible. This may require moving your music stand to the side. Vertical (portrait) mode helps with this if using a phone.
- Bass players: Like cello, you should be straight on to the camera with left and right arms/hands clearly visible. This may require moving your music stand to the side. Vertical (portrait) mode helps with this if using a phone.
- If you have a private teacher, you can use their preferred scale fingerings instead of those printed.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Scale (only one, marked with brackets): Chamber audition play the entire bracketed portion. Sinfonia audition can stop at the dotted line half way through the arpeggio sequence.
*This is the scale format we use as an ensemble. Alternatively, you may substitute a standard 3 octave major scale/arpeggio in the same key.
2. Etude: Play the etude for the highest level ensemble for which you want to be considered. Only play the bracketed portion.
3. Don't forget your REQUIRED registration form!
Resources:
Original sources for etudes in case you are searching for tutorials or want to play off of a clean version: Sinfonia audition uses the GMEA 1st round middle school etude, Chamber uses a portion of the GMEA 1st round 11/12 audition.
Online tutorials: This is a limited selection, but you can probably find more with a thorough search by etude/composer (see above link)
Sinfonia viola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pac-11o-yq4
Chamber viola: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Ud3XBcJUg
Chamber cello: https://music.gsu.edu/all-state-etudes/#1757699597366-66054764-2517
