2025 Auditions
The University of South Carolina Symphony Orchestra is a course for credit in the USC School of Music, and rehearsals are held on Mondays (2:30 - 5:30 p.m.) and Wednesdays (2:30 - 4:30 p.m.). Membership in the USC Symphony Orchestra is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at USC, regardless of major or classification, and placement in the orchestra is through a blind audition in August. String players majoring in music and/or on a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship are required to audition for and be available to play in the USC Symphony Orchestra. Failure to audition for the ensemble will result in automatic placement in the USC Campus Orchestra and will likely result in loss of any orchestra scholarship, fellowship or assistantship that a student has.
The University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Winds are courses for credit in the USC School of Music, and rehearsals are held from 2:20 - 4:20 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Membership in these ensembles is open to all undergraduate and graduate students at USC, regardless of major or classification, and placement in these ensembles is through blind auditions in August and December. Woodwind, brass and percussion students on a scholarship or fellowship are required to audition for and be available to play in the USC Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Winds. Woodwind, brass and percussion students interested in also being considered for the orchestra rotation may indicate this to the proctor when arriving for their audition. To the extent possible, players doubling in the orchestra and the wind ensemble will receive lighter playing assignments in the wind ensemble than those playing in the wind ensemble only.
Audition Process
Auditions will be held live. Auditions are blind, and ensemble placement is determined
solely on the audition. In order to recreate the professional audition environment
and to preserve anonymity, the these guidelines must be followed by proctors, auditionees and the audition committee.
Audition Requirements and Prepared Excerpts
Prepared excerpts
Scales
Sight-reading
Solo of your choosing (up to one minute)
Prepared excerpts
Scales
Sight-reading
Prepared excerpts
Questions? Contact uscbands@mozart.sc.edu