Auditions for the orchestra are typically held during the first week of classes in the fall semester. Each audition lasts approximately 10 minutes. Come prepared to play a three-minute excerpt of a work of your choice — a piece that displays your best playing. You may bring a second contrasting piece, but this is not required. Most people who audition play excerpts of concerto or sonata movements. In addition, you may be asked to play scales and sight reading. Students who play both primary and secondary instruments (i.e., flute and piccolo, oboe and English horn, B flat clarinet and E flat and/or bass clarinet) are strongly encouraged to prepare auditions on both instruments.
The Brown University Orchestra has an annual membership of approximately 90 members. Generally, the numbers of members accepted in each section are: 4–5 students in each woodwind section, 5–6 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, 1 tuba. There are no set limits on timpani/percussion, harp, keyboard, and strings.
Yes. Auditions are conducted annually during the fall semester. Students are not required to reaudition in the spring.
All students at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, undergraduate and graduate, are eligible to audition, as are members of the faculty and staff of both institutions. Community members, students from other colleges and university, and talented high school students are also welcome to audition for the Brown Orchestra with the understanding that Brown and RISD students will be given first priority for membership.
The Brown University Orchestra possesses an inventory of high-quality instruments which are available for the use of orchestra members. These include a pair of clarinets in A, clarinet in E flat, bass clarinet in B flat (all Buffet instruments), English horn (Loree), bassoons (Fox, Polisi), contrabassoon (Polisi), harp (Lyon & Healy) and several double basses. The orchestra also possesses a full range of percussion instruments, including marimba.
Yes, in some cases. Contact Paul Phillips for more information.
Rehearsals are held in Alumnae Hall on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:15–9:45 PM.
The orchestra generally plays 2–3 different programs per semester, typically performing each program twice. In addition, special events are added to the schedule almost every year. These can include tours, recording, children’s concerts, musicals, dance performances, and opera.
Yes, but if you have space in your schedule, you should register for the course. If you don't have room in your schedule to register for Orchestra, you are strongly encouraged to sign up for MU63-64 as an "Audit".
Yes. The orchestra sponsors its annual Concerto Competition each fall. It is open to all members of the Brown University Orchestra. Also eligible to enter are pianists, vocalists and players of mainly non-orchestral instruments, including saxophone, guitar, and organ. Usually there are 2–3 winners chosen each year, and there is no limit to the number of times that students may enter and win the competition.
Send an e-mail to orchestra@brown.edu.