Camp Auditions

Very Important: All applicants should send the complete requirements for the audition that represent your highest performance in technical and musical abilities. This will enable the faculty to evaluate and place the applicant in a grouping with the best match. Melody or Harmony Camp will be assigned by audition evaluation by Faculty based on experience.

A Friendly Note: Even though our faculty will find out later how well you can sight-read when they help you with your prep-lesson and chamber music coaching, this audition helps the faculty determine who you’ll be in a chamber group and what music you’ll be playing.  If you will be in an orchestra, your seating will be decided from this audition as well. We want to hear you play your best, so it’s OK for your private teacher to help you decide which excerpts to play and to help you with them.

Audition Video Requirements

  1. Provide a 7 minutes (maximum) video on YouTube; “unlisted” or “public” setting
  2. Submit one to four audition videos with the following contents:
    • Up to three minutes solo of your choice. Pay special attention to your intonation, rhythm, dynamics, articulations, etc.
    • Performance of specific excerpt(s) (see links below). Try to play at the metronome speed as indicated.
    • Scales with metronome (see links below), recorded with metronome audible. Guitar students do not need to meet this requirement.

We are especially interested in rhythmic accuracy and tempo, so be sure to use your metronome as you learn the excerpts.

Violin

Any two of the excerpts posted below:

  1. Trio by Seitz
  2. Presto by Haydn
  3. Polka by Dussek
  4. Pax by McMichael
  5. Trio by Blanc
  6. Battaglia by Handel
  7. Trio by Haydn
  8. Serenade by Dohnanyi
  9. Quartet by Stamitz
  10. Slavonic Dance by Dvorak
  11. Quartet-by-Dancla
  12. Trio by Shostakovich
  13. Fantasie by Saint Saens

Scales with audible metronome: OPUS Violin Scales

Viola

Any two of the excerpts posted below:

  1. Polka by Dussek
  2. Exultation by Fackler
  3. Battaglia by Handel
  4. Quartet by Mozart
  5. Quartet Op-18 by Beethoven
  6. Quartet Op-59 by Beethoven
  7. Op-83 by Bruch
  8. Serenade by Dohnanyi

Scales with audible metronome: OPUS Viola Scales

Cello

There are TWO excerpts for each level – one Melodic and one Technique. Each excerpt has a metronome marking.

  • Each student should choose ONLY ONE level and play BOTH excerpts. DO NOT DO MORE THAN ONE LEVEL.
  • Student should learn to play just a few days before recording the audition video. The excerpts are not intended to be practiced for a long time.

Scales with audible metronome: OPUS Cello Scales

Bass

Your most comfortable/difficult excerpt(s)

  • Melody Camp Bass Students: Solo from George Vance Progressive Repertoire, Vol. 1, 2 or 3 OR etude from Simandl 30 Studies.
  • Harmony Camp Bass Students: Solo from George Vance Progressive Repertoire, Vol. 2 or 3 OR movement from sonatas by Marcello, Eccles, etc. OR movement from standard concerti or other solos by Capuzzi, Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, Bottesini, Koussevitzky, Rabbath, etc. OR etude from Simandl 30 Studies (Etude 10 & above) or etudes by Sturm, Storch-Hrabe, etc. OR excerpt from past IMEA audition requirements.

Scales with audible metronome: OPUS Bass Scales

Piano

Please follow the requirements are described in the file attached here.

Excerpts

Clarinet

The excerpt from Beethoven Symphony No.6 posted, at end of first movement, beginning 2 before K and big solo in the second movement, beginning one before D. Less advanced clarinet students – you have the option to play the above or you may elect to play another piece.

Clarinet Excerpt

Scales with audible metronome: OPUS Clarinet Scales

Harp

Please submit:

1. A solo of the student’s choice that best represents their current skills.

2. Play and video-record either A. “The Seal Song” harp part; Pleyel’s Andante harp part; or for advanced students: Movement 1 of the Mother Goose by M. Ravel; or 1st Movement of the “Trio-Serenade” by Anselme Vinee

3. Instead of a scale, the student could submit a short etude of their choice.. (examples: etude by Grossi, Pozzoli, Boscha, Dizi, Friou, or Naderman, etc.)

Flute

Please submit:

  1. A Chromatic Scale, ascending and descending, from the student’s lowest to highest note, played either in eighth notes or sixteenth notes with an audible metronome.
  2. Scale pattern with an audible metronome OPUS Flute Scales
  3. A solo or etude of the student’s choice that best represents their current skills; preferably a technical/fast selection, 2-3 minutes.
  4. Bizet – Minuet from L’Arlesienne Suite no. 2, through measure 42. Tempo recommendation is between 60-69 to the quarter note. Excerpt.

Guitar

Guitar

Submission of YouTube videos

All YouTube links should be sent via email to campdirector.opus@gmail.com. In the body of the email message, please include the following information:

  • Camper’s Name
  • Camper’s Instrument
  • Camper’s Grade as of Fall 2026
  • Link(s) to the YouTube video(s)

Note: YouTube videos may be deleted after July 31. If you are unable to record your audition and/or create your YouTube video yourself, OPUS staff members are available to help you for a small fee. Please contact musicdirector.opus@gmail.com for more information.

If you have any questions at all about the audition process, please email campdirector.opus@gmail.com.