<p>I have a few questions about the Duke Orchestra. </p>
<p>First of all,
How hard is it to get in, and how hard is it to make first violin?</p>
<p>Second,
when do we get audition music if we are planning to try out in the fall?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Difficulty of getting in depends on competitiveness of those auditioning and number of spots open. There are quite a few seniors graduating as well as juniors going abroad....thus, there should be quite a few free stands in the first violin section. If you've played in youth symphonies/played for quite awhile, I'm sure you'll do fine. There are few music majors at the school, so you are up against a lot of multi-talented musicians (vs. people whose sole purpose in life is to practice). A large number of freshmen get in each year (I made principal trumpet as a freshman)</p></li>
<li><p>For your audition you play a prepared etude/short selection/excerpt (well, perhaps the etude is more of trumpet thing - just a typical audition piece), a scale or two, and then sight read.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Let me know if you have anymore questions.</p>
<p>Do they mail the audition excerpts during the summer, or do I receive them at first rehearsal?</p>
<p>No, I meant playing a prepared orchestra excerpt as an audition piece (i.e. Mahler 5, Ballerina's Dance from Petrouchka, etc for trumpet)....</p>
<p>Just select a piece on your own to perform at your audition. There isn't an official "audition piece" that you will be expected to prepare. Check out this site for time/date/other info: <a href="http://music.duke.edu/performance/orchestra_schedule.php%5B/url%5D">http://music.duke.edu/performance/orchestra_schedule.php</a></p>