Auditions

Open Auditions — 2023-2024 Season

We need more horn players!

San Jose Wind Symphony is holding open auditions for its current concert season throughout the year. Auditions are held at:

Obi Studios
320 Piercy Rd
San Jose, CA  95138

Please click or tap here to apply on-line.

All players of modern wind ensemble instruments are welcome to audition. This year, we are particularly interested in the following instruments:

  • oboe

  • French horn

  • euphonium

  • trombone

  • tuba

  • percussion — players must demonstrate proficiency on wide range of percussion instruments, including mallets

    We also have substitute positions available for players of all instruments.

For the audition you will be asked to play major, minor and chromatic scales, as well as portions of one or more solo pieces for your instrument (see below for details). You will also be asked to sight read a selection, and to discuss your background and desire to play with SJWS with the audition committee. The audition takes approximately 10-15 minutes and will be attended by the music and artistic director, the section leader and the personnel manager.

If you are interested in auditioning to join the San Jose Wind Symphony — or you know someone who might be — please contact Matt Thornton or Nora Lemmon, SJWS personnel managers. 

Apply now on-line.

Matt Thornton email: matt@sjws.org
Nora Lemmon email: nora@sjws.org

Phone: 408-927-7597

About SJWS

SJWS performs five to nine concerts a year in a season that typically runs from late August to early July. Most of our performances take place at the McAfee Performing Arts Center on the campus of Saratoga High School. Since making McAfee Center our permanent home, we have developed a large and enthusiastic audience. We often bring in world-class soloists to perform with the band.

We rehearse every Tuesday from 7:30 to 10:00 PM at Obi Studios in San Jose. Our literature is challenging and eclectic, and we have a loyal core of outstanding musicians that have been with us for many years. We have a formal attendance policy in place and members are expected to prepare in advance for rehearsals. We have high standards and take our music seriously, but not too seriously — we program our concerts with the audience in mind, so our repertoire is enjoyable and engaging and we have a lot of fun performing it.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS BY INSTRUMENT

Piccolo

  • All major and melodic minor scales

  • Chromatic scale — normal range of the instrument

  • Stars and Stripes — choose ONE version:
    Db: Last 32 bars
    C: Grandioso to the end

Flute

  • All major and melodic minor scales

  • Chromatic scale — normal range of the instrument

  • Griffes Poem — A-C, D-F, L-O

  • Stars and Stripes — Grandiose to the end, play part marked flute / piccolo (C)

OBOE

  • All major and melodic minor scales

  • Chromatic scale — normal range of the instrument

  • Gabriel’s Oboe — beginning to end of m. 14

  • Etude #34

  • Handel Sonata
    Andante — beginning to 2 measures before letter G
    Presto — all

Clarinet

  • All major and melodic minor scales

  • Chromatic scale — normal range of the instrument

  • Mozart Concerto, beginning to end of m. 154

  • Rossini — Introduction, Theme & Variations, beginning to letter B

Trumpet

  • All major and melodic minor scales

  • Chromatic scale — normal range of the instrument

  • Etude

Horn

  • All major and melodic minor scales

  • Chromatic scale — normal range of the instrument

  • 2 Alphonse Etudes