Department of Music

Ensembles

Symphony Orchestra

The Towson University Symphony Orchestra is comprised of talented, enthusiastic and dedicated students from the university. Most of its members are Music Majors and are focusing their academic work on Music Education, Performance or Composition. A few positions, usually in the string section, are held by non-majors. All members join the orchestra through an audition process.

The orchestra performs one major on-campus concert per semester, as well as additional special performances both on campus and in the greater community. We frequently collaborate with guest artists such as Phil Munds (Prin. French Horn in the Baltimore Symphony), faculty soloists, the Towson University Chamber Singers, and the Towson University Jazz Orchestra to name a few. Highlights of concerts in the community include a performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC and a tour to New York City!

Information for Fall 2013 Auditions

Who Should Audition?

Everyone who wishes to play in the Towson University Symphony Orchestra must audition

When Are Auditions?

Auditions will be held on Thursday, August 29th, from 12:30 to 6:00pm. A sheet will be posted on Professor Mills’s door (2108) the week before auditions.

What Should I Prepare for Auditions?

Please be prepared to play all major scales, ascending and descending. You should also prepare the following excerpts given for your instrument. All of the music for the following excerpts may be found online under the following links (then click on "parts" listed in the scores section, if you have any trouble finding your part, please send an email at lmills@towson.edu)

**All excerpts are from the principal part (i.e. Flute I, Oboe I, etc.) unless otherwise noted.**

Dvorak Symphony No. 8
http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.8,_Op.88_%28Dvo%C5%99%C3%A1k,_Anton%C3%ADn%29

Concert Master (prepare in addition to Violin excerpts listed below)
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, letter [D] to letter [E], play “violin solo” part
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. IV, 12 measures before letter [G] to letter [G]

Violin (all excerpts from Violin I part)
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, 16 measures before letter [L] to 5 measures after letter [L]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, beginning to letter [A]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, beginning to letter [A]

Viola
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, 16 measures before letter [L] to 5 measures after letter [L]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, beginning to letter [A]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, 11 measures before letter [C] to letter [C]

Cello
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, beginning to measure 18
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, beginning to letter [A]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt IV, letter [A] to letter [C]

Bass
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, letter [G] to letter [J]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, letter [A] to letter [B]

Flute
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, letter [H] to letter [J]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, letter [C] through 6th bar of letter [D]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt IV, letter [D] (“solo”) to letter [E]

Oboe
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, letter [C] through 7th bar of letter [D]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, letter [C] through 18th bar of letter [D]

Clarinet
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, letter [M] through the 4th measure of letter [N]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, beginning to letter [A]

Bassoon
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, letter [E] to letter [F]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, CODA through end of movement

Horn
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, beginning to measure 16 (Hn. I part)
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. IV, letter [C] to letter [D] (Hn. I part)

Trumpet
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, 16 measures before letter [L] to three measures after letter [L]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. II, letter [E] to letter [F]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt IV, beginning through measure 18

Trombone
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, Letter [O] through the 16th measure of letter [O] (play 1st trombone part)
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. IV, 5th measure of letter [S] to end of movement (play 1st trombone part)

Bass Trombone
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt I, letter [O] to end of movement
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. IV, letter [R] to end of movement

Tuba
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, 16 measures before letter [L] to 3 measures after letter [L]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. IV, letter [R] to end of movement

Timpani
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. I, 5th measure of letter [N] through the 5th measure of letter [O]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt. III, letter [D] to letter [E]
Dvorak Symphony No. 8, Mvt IV, letter [R] to end of movement

Highlights of Recent Performances

Symphonic Works

Dvorak Mendelssohn Beethoven Schubert  Haydn

Symphony No. 9 in e minor, op. 95 (From the New World) Symphony No. 4 in A Major, op. 90 (Italian) Symphony No. 5 in c minor, op. 67 Symphony No. 8 in b minor, D. 759 (Unfinished) Symphony No. 101 in D Major (The Clock)

Concerti

Mozart Beethoven Tchaikovsky David, F Vivaldi Chopin

Horn Concerto No. 3 in E-flat Major, K. 447 Triple Concerto in C Major, op. 56 Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35 Concertino No. 4 in E-flat Major for Trombone, op. 4 Concerto in g minor for Two Cellos, RV 531 Concerto No 2 in f minor for Piano, op. 21

 

Overtures

Rossini Bernstein Mozart Rimsky-Korsakov Brahms Schubert Borodin Weber

William Tell Overture Candide Overture Overture to The Magic Flute, K. 620 Overture to The Czar’s Bride Academic Festival Overture Rosemunde Overture Prince Igor Overture Overture to Silvana

 

World Premiers

Nagle, Jody

A Ride Through the Nebula

 

Modern Premier

Mendez, Raphael

Romanza

 

Collaborations

Beethoven Ellington, Duke Schubert

Choral Fantasy, Op. 80 Night Creatures Mass in G

Additional Works

Bizet Copland Chabrier Sibelius Vaughan Williams

Carmen Suites 1 & 2 Four Dance Episodes Espana Karelia Suite Fantasia on Greensleeves

 

Department of Music
Center for the Arts, Room # 3095 (map)
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Phone: 410-704-2839
Fax: 410-704-2841