Auditions

General Auditions

Auditions for the 2024-25 season are now open. Auditions will be held virtually, and in person.

Virtual Audition Submission Deadline: September 15th, 2024 11:59 PM EST

In-person auditions: September 15th, 2024 4-9PM EST, Perez Building, Room 109, University of Ottawa

Instrumentation: We are accepting auditions for all orchestral instruments, including strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, electric guitar, and electric bass. Please note that electric guitar and electric bass will only be needed for select concerts this season.

Vocalists Auditions: We welcome vocal reel submissions across various genres including classical opera, musical theatre, pop, rock, R&B, Soul, and world music. While immediate opportunities may not be available, all auditions will be acknowledged upon receipt. Only retained applicants will be contacted for future programs. If retained, your submission will be added to our artist database for future consideration. If unsuccessful, we encourage you to try again.

OPO Chorus: More details to come. If interested in joining, please send an email to auditions@ottawapopsorchestra.ca with your voice type and choral experience.

Audition Process:

  1. Prepare Your Audition Material: Read the audition requirements below. Choose contrasting pieces that showcases your musicality and technical proficiency. Your selection should highlight both your strengths and versatility as a musician. Please ensure that the chosen piece is appropriate for the instrument you are auditioning with.

  2. Record Your Audition: Record a video of your performance. Ensure that the audio and video quality are clear and well-lit, allowing our panel of judges to accurately evaluate your performance.

  3. Upload Your Audition: Submit your audition video by uploading it to a video-sharing platform (e.g., YouTube, Vimeo). Make sure the video is set to "unlisted" or "public," and provide the link during the submission process.

  4. Complete the Application Form: Fill out our online application form, which will include personal details, contact information, and the link to your audition video.

Seating and Waitlist:

While we welcome auditions for all orchestral instruments, seats in the orchestra will be filled based on vacancies and the specific needs of each section. Due to the competitive nature of auditions and the limited availability of positions, not all applicants may be immediately granted a seat, or perform in all concerts. However, we do maintain a waitlist, and exceptional musicians who are not initially selected may still have the chance to join us as vacancies arise.

Notification:

Applicants will be notified of their audition results via email within one week following the submission deadline. If you are selected to join our orchestra or placed on the waitlist, further instructions regarding rehearsals, schedules, and additional information will be provided at that time.

It is possible that successful musicians be called for all or some concerts.

All applicants will be made aware of which musicians class they have been selected to join (see musician policy below), as well as if they have been selected for the Orchestral Development Bursary or any other form of remuneration. Note that the orchestral development bursary is no currently being awarded.

We eagerly anticipate reviewing your auditions and thank you for considering joining our orchestra and being a part of our musical legacy.

Rehearsals and concerts:

Rehearsals are typically held Sunday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the University of Ottawa School of Music building (Perez). Mainstage performances will be at Carleton Dominion Chalmers Center for the Arts. Dress Rehearsals may be scheduled on Fridays from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Preliminary 2024-25 rehearsal and concert schedule

Audition Requirements:

ALL CANDIDATES must prepare two contrasting pieces not exceeding 6 minutes in total playing time, in addition to the requirements listed below. Applicants auditioning for doubling instrument positions should prepare one additional piece for each doubling instrument. Orchestral excerpts are acceptable.

Assistance

For any inquiries or assistance, please contact us at auditions@ottawapopsorchestra.ca

Membership Information

There is a $20 fee per musician per concert to cover the cost of rehearsal space, as well as a $20 membership fee for the season. 

The OPO is classified as a semi-professional orchestra consisting of a mixture of community and professional musicians. The OPO concert season runs from September to mid-May, with weekly rehearsals occurring on Sunday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (with occasional sectionals Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) in room 109 of Perez Hall, 610 Cumberland Street. Applicants are asked to ensure that they can fully commit to the concert schedule in which they are participating. Accepted musicians may not miss more than one rehearsal per concert period and are expected to find a replacement. Dress rehearsals are mandatory, no exceptions. Applicants should indicate at the audition if they have a scheduling conflict with dress rehearsals or concerts. 

Instrument-Specific Requirements

  • Applicants wishing to be considered for concertmaster or Principle second violin should prepare a video audition and send a YouTube link, sheet music, and CV to auditions@ottawapopsorchestra.ca. The successful candidate will receive a compensation of $150.00 (one hundred and fifty) CAD for each eligible service. Eligible services include all dress rehearsals and performances. All other rehearsals are not eligible for compensation. 

    Concertmaster Audition Requirements

    Scale :

    D-Major 3 octaves 

    Required Excerpts :

    Strauss - Don Juan, Op. 20, m. 1-62. 

    Mendelssohn - Midsummer Night’s Dream: Overture, mm 6-81. 

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Applicants wishing to be considered for principal viola should send their CV to auditions@ottawapopsorchestra.ca. The successful candidate will receive a compensation of $150.00 (one hundred and fifty) CAD for each eligible service. Eligible services include all dress rehearsals and performances. All other rehearsals are not eligible for compensation. 

    Principal Viola Audition Requirements

    Scale :

    G-Major 3 octaves 

    Required Excerpts :

    Strauss - Don Juan, Op. 20, Opening to D

    Mendelssohn - Midsummer Night’s Dream: Scherzo, Beginning to G

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Applicants wishing to be considered for principal cello should send their CV to auditions@ottawapopsorchestra.ca. The successful candidate will receive a compensation of $150.00 (one hundred and fifty) CAD for each eligible service. Eligible services include all dress rehearsals and performances. All other rehearsals are not eligible for compensation. 

    Principal Cello Audition Requirements

    Scale :

    D-Major 3 octaves 

    Required Excerpts :

    Strauss - Don Juan, Op. 20, Opening to 4 measures before D

    Mendelssohn - Midsummer Night’s Dream: Scherzo, opening to letter D

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Scales :

    All scales are to be played at BPM=60 (minimum) in 16th notes ascending and descending 8 to a bow. 

    Violin - D major 3 octaves 

    Viola - G major 3 octaves 

    Cello - D major 3 octaves 

    Bass - D major 3 octaves 

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Scale :

    All scales are to be played at BPM=60 (minimum) in 16th notes ascending and descending.

    Flute/piccolo - D major 3 octaves 

    Oboe/English horn - Eb major full range scale (starting on Eb4 up to F6 back down to Bb3 ending on Eb4)

    Clarinet/bass clarinet - F major 3 octaves 

    Bassoon - Bb major 3 octaves

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Scale :

    All scales are to be played at BPM=60 (minimum) in 16th notes ascending and descending.

    French Horn: Eb (A concert) major 2 octaves

    Trumpet: Bb major 2 octaves

    Trombone: G major 2 octaves

    Tuba: C major 2 octaves

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Percussionists must prepare a snare drum and a mallet excerpt at minimum. Applicants may prepare additional pieces on one or more instruments if they wish, so long as the total playing time does not exceed 10 minutes. 

    The OPO will not provide any sticks or mallets at the audition. Percussionists will be expected to help with equipment transport and set up.

  • Scale:

    Any scale 3 octaves, hands together, BPM 80+ 

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.

  • Scale :

    Ab major parallel motion scale 4 octaves hands together BPM=104. F# minor tonic four note chord broken alternate-note pattern 2 octaves (ending with I-IV-164-V-I chord progression) hand together BPM=80.

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time. 

  • Chromatic scale: 2 octaves - A to a'.

    I-IV-V7-I chord progression in a major or minor key up to and including four sharps and two flats. Chords may be fingered in open and/or closed positions.

    Two contrasting pieces not exceeding 10 minutes in total playing time.