Orchestra

A vibrant performing ensemble, the University Symphony Orchestra is made up of student musicians from throughout the university. The USO presents a minimum of two concerts per semester, covering a wide range of repertoire from Bach through the present day, including the great masterpieces of symphonic literature. Concerts take place in the Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center on the University of Arkansas campus. Recent performances have included Stravinsky’s “Firebird,” Mussourgsky’s “Picture’s at an Exhibition,’ Shostakovitch’s Symphony No. 10, and a special performance of Bach and Beethoven at the Fulbright Exchange Anniversary with President Bill Clinton and the German Ambassador.  University Symphony Orchestra continues to thrive as one of the university’s premier ensembles.

In keeping with our commitment to a comprehensive orchestral experience for our music majors, the USO does collaborations with Schola Cantorum and Opera Theater. The annual Concerto-Aria competition is open to all music majors, and the winner is a featured soloist with the USO on one of its spring concerts.

Students do not need to be music majors to participate in orchestra.  The USO welcomes students from all disciplines, who play an orchestral instrument, to audition. The USO gives approximately four concerts per year, as well as accompany the opera once per year.

Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal Schedule

• MWF 2:30-3:50

Symphony Orchestra is listed as MUEN 14301, 24301, 34301, 44301, 46301, 54301.  Freshmen enroll in the 10000 level, sophomores in the 20000 level, etc.

Audition Information

All students who are registered for orchestra, or who would like to participate in orchestra, must play an audition for seating.  If you are a new student, and you auditioned in the spring, please note that this audition is different from the audition that you had for admission and scholarship!  Seating auditions will take place immediately before classes start and on the first day of classes. 

Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion placements will serve as auditions for orchestra.  Students who are not auditioning for Marching Band but are still interested in playing for orchestra should contact Dr. Jessica Morel.

 

Audition Requirements

- 3 minutes of a solo piece or etude of your choice. This should display your technical abilities, rather than something that is slow and lyrical. The 3 minutes of your playing can start at any point in your piece or etude; it does not have to start at the beginning. Choose something that you have already been working on.

- The required orchestral excerpt from Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, listed below. Students should play at the tempo designated below – only play at a faster speed (recording tempo) if you feel like you can perform it well at that faster tempo. Here is a reference recording.

Required Orchestral Excerpts Orchestral Excerpts can be found here.

Violin I = Scheherazade, Mvt. IV, A – F (minimum tempo: bar = 62 bpm)

Violin II = Scheherazade, Mvt. IV, A – F (minimum tempo: bar = 62 bpm)

Viola = Scheherazade, Mvt. IV, 4 before M – 3 after N (minimum tempo: bar = 76 bpm)

Cello = Scheherazade, Mvt. IV, 4 before M – 3 after N (minimum tempo: bar = 76 bpm)

Bass = Scheherazade, Mvt. IV, Piu Stretto after V – W (minimum tempo: bar = 76 bpm)

Violins are encouraged to audition on the first violin part. If you feel more comfortable playing the second violin part, you can audition for second violin. Students will only be considered for placement in the first violin section if they audition on the first violin part.

If you have any questions about the audition process or audition materials, please feel free to contact Dr. Jessica Morel – jmorel@uark.edu. Or you can reach out to your private teacher.

Orchestra dress for concerts:

Men: black tuxedo with white shirt and black bow tie, black socks and shoes.  No tennis shoes.

Women: long black dress or long black skirt or NICE dressy black pants with black dressy blouse.  Sleeves must be ¾ length.  No spaghetti straps, strapless, or short sleeves.  Black hose/socks and black shoes.  No tennis shoes.