Band and Orchestra Auditions

Choral Auditions

Auditions required for participation in Concert Band, Orchestra, or Wind Symphony.

All brass, percussion, string and woodwind students enrolled in applied music lessons are required to participate in Wind Symphony, Orchestra, or Concert Band (if available) except Bachelor of Arts majors who may elect other ensembles as indicated in the student handbook. Ensemble placement is by audition. 

If you are enrolled in a music major, music minor, or applied lessons, you MUST prepare ALL EXCERPTS! 

Course Conflict Policy

1. Students enrolled in applied lessons are placed in an ensemble on the basis of audition. We will accommodate required courses that are only available that term (for example, EDI 331, but others exist) as long as your audition level matches that of the other players in the ensemble. 
2. Conflicts that are not time-sensitive (you could take a substitute course or section) will not be considered over audition placement. 
3. If you are not enrolled in applied lessons - typically students who are not music majors or minors - we will honor any time conflict that does not bump someone who placed higher in auditions. The auditions must be fair and have meaning.
4. Please register ASAP. Rehearsal plans will be issued through the Blackboard course page.

Fall 2025 Audition Results

Wind Symphony

Concert Band

Winter 2026 Audition Procedures

1. Students interested in Wind Symphony or Orchestra, please contact Professor Schut [email protected].
2. Students in University Band, please contact Professor John Martin [email protected].

Fall 2026 Audition Procedures - tentative

1. Students interested in auditioning must fill out the audition registration form at https://www.gvsu.edu/mtd/cms-form-edit.htm?formId=A4B1BD01-E6C3-257E-BFE22ECD0141E2B7
2. Audition excerpts for strings are available at https://www.gvsu.edu/mtd/wind-symphony-and-orchestra-audition-materials-96.htm
3. Audition excerpts for winds, brass, and percussion will be available August 1.
4. Questions regarding string auditions, please contact Professor Joel Schut [email protected].
5. Wind, Brass, and Percussion auditions, please contact Professor Tutt [email protected].
6. Students auditioning for Concert Band only will play the identified excerpt at the audition times during Concert Band. 

Friday, August 21 - PAC 1515 - For students auditioning for Orchestra or Wind Symphony!

9am – Trumpets
10:30am – Bass Trombone, followed by Tenor Trombone
11:15am – Flutes
BREAK
1:00 – Clarinets
2:00 – Horns
2:30 – Oboes
3:00 – Bassoons
3:20 – Percussion in Percussion Studio
 

Saturday, August 22 - PAC 1515 - For students auditioning for Orchestra or Wind Symphony!

10:00 am - Saxophone
11:30 am - Euphonium/Tuba

Monday, August 24

11:30 - 1:00 pm Cellos and Basses in PAC 1525 (Note: 1515 Rehearsal Hall available for open warm up)

1:00 - 2:30 pm Violins, and Violas, in PAC 1525 (Note: 1515 Rehearsal Hall available for open warm up)

Students only auditioning for Concert Band: Signup times will be posted for auditions. These will be during the first rehearsal in PAC 1515. Times TBA.

Anima Vocal Ensemble and Varsity Glee Club do not require auditions; students may sign up for these ensembles during their registration period. 

Auditions for University Arts Chorale will take place on Thursday, August 21st. Sign up for a time slot below:

Fall 2025 Choral Auditions