top of page
Marble Surface

Overture and Allegretto Audition Registration 
2023-24

Click Here!​

Please reach out to Nextgen Program Director, Caitlin Jodoin, if you've missed the registration deadline.

​

Please read all attendance policies and review the rehearsal/performance schedule carefully before completing your registration and committing to perform with Nextgen.

All students will be emailed with a time once their registration has been submitted. Please wait up to 24 business hours for an update.

​

Options to audition:

​

1) An Overture only audition requires a solo or excerpt of a solo that demonstrates their ability and how it corresponds to the technical abilities and expectations of the ensemble. If students are unsure which solo to prepare, we have listed possible suggested string solos piece collections below. Solos from higher level volumes of these collections would also be acceptable. Sight reading will also be part of the audition.

​

2) An Allegretto only audition requires a solo or etude at a difficulty similar to the Pennsylvania Music EducatorsAssociation (PMEA) District audition repertoire. The district audition solo piece is acceptable. In addition, once registered for an audition, students will also receive an orchestral excerpt(s) to also present in the audition. Sight reading will also be part of the audition.

​

3) An audition for both Overture and Allegretto, requires that the student should prepare at the

level of Allegretto, but if not accepted in Allegretto, would be seated in Overture. If a

student chooses to only audition for Allegretto and is not accepted into the ensemble, they will 

not be seated in Overture. Please note that choosing to audition for both ensembles indicates you feel prepared to audition on the materials required for performance in Allegretto and that this may take more preparation time.

 

All students audition for both ensembles every season, both returning musicians and new. Being a member in an Allegro Nextgen ensemble in one season is not a guarantee to be accepted again in another season.

OVERTURE EXPECTATIONS
Membership Requirements

Membership is open to high school age and advanced eighth grade students. Both ensembles perform three major concerts each season with six rehearsals to prepare each performance. Overture performs repertoire appropriate for high school age students and is generally larger than 40 musicians. This ensemble is the normal next level in Nextgen for students who participated in Intermezzo Strings and Winds.

​

Technical Abilities and Expectations

  • Rhythm - Students should be proficient on dotted and syncopated rhythms

  • Meters - Students should be proficient on simple and compound meters.  Students should have introductory experience in complex or mixed meters.

  • Key signature - Students should be proficient in major and minor keys that have up to 3 sharps or flats.  Students should have basic understanding of keys with 4 sharps or flats.

  • Shifting (Strings) - Violin/viola: students should be proficient in 3rd position and have introductory ability in 5th position, Cello/Bass: students should be proficient in positions 1 - 4.  

  • Percussion - students should be proficient on timpani and/or mallets and/or battery and snare.
     

Audition Requirements

To audition for Overture students should prepare a solo or excerpt of a solo that demonstrates their ability and how it corresponds to the technical abilities and expectations of the ensemble. If students are unsure which solo to prepare, here is a list of possible suggested string solos piece collections. Solos from higher level volumes of these collections would also be acceptable. Sight reading will also be part of the audition. If you are unsure if your solo meets the audition requirements, please email Dr. Levi.

​

Violin

  • Solos for Young Violinists Volume 2 - Barbara Barber, Published by Summy-Birchard

  • Solo Time for Strings Book 2 - Etling

  • Suzuki Book 3

  • Masterworks for the Young Violinist - S. Applebaum

 

Viola

  • Solos for Young Violists Volume 2 - Barbara Barber, Published by Summy-Birchard

  • Solo Time for Strings Book 2 - Etling

  • Suzuki Book 3

  • Classical Highlights - K. Mitchell, Published by Schirmer 

 

Cello

  • Solos for the Intermediate Cellist - D. Kelley, Published by Last Resort 

  • Solo Time for Strings Book 2 - Etling

  • Suzuki Book 3

  • Solos for Young Cellists Volume 2 - Carey Cheney, Published by Summy-Birchard

 

Bass

  • String Festival Solos Volume 2 - S. Applebaum

  • Festival Performance Solos Volume 1 - A. Balent

  • Progressive Repertoire for the Double Bass Volume 1 - G. Vance

  • Solo Time for Strings Book 2 - Etling

ALLEGRETTO EXPECTATIONS
Membership Requirements

Membership is open to high school age and advanced eighth grade students. Both ensembles perform three major concerts each season with six rehearsals to prepare each performance. Allegretto is the most highly select ensemble in Nextgen, performing professional level repertoire and is generally 35 to 40 musicians.

​

Technical Abilities and Expectations

  • Rhythm - Students should be expert on dotted and syncopated rhythms

  • Meters - Students should be expert on simple and compound meters and mixed meters.

  • Key signatures - Students should be proficient in all major and minor keys.

  • Strings: able to perform in all positions. Cellos should be familiar and competent in tenor clef.

  • Woodwinds: able to perform in all major and minor keys, with full range on their instrument. Clarinets should have access to an “A” clarinet. Bassoons should be familiar and competent with tenor clef.

  • Brass: able to perform in all major and minor keys, with full range on their instrument and be familiar and competent with transposition.
     

Audition Requirements

To audition for Allegretto, students must perform a solo or etude of their choosing (which should be comparable to a county audition piece or District audition level solo), perform a provided orchestral excerpt, and sight read.

bottom of page