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Audition requirements

NAC Orchestra Mentorship

Program
Application and audition
requirements
Who can apply?
Applications are open to instrumentalists aged 18+
who are completing their performance degree, are
on the audition circuit, or have recently started a
position in a professional orchestra. International
applicants welcome.

One participant for every NAC Orchestra member

(full string, full brass, full wind, and full
percussion/timpani sections) will be selected to
take part in the 2024 Program.

Conducting candidates should be in their final year

of study at one of the top schools of music’s
conducting program or in the early stages of their
career and have a wide knowledge of orchestral
repertoire. In 2024, this is open to Canadian
conducting candidates only.

Librarian and orchestra personnel manager

candidates must be Canadian and aged 18+ with
some experience in or understanding of these roles
and who are seeking to further their knowledge, to
hone their skills, and to gain valuable hands-on
experience.

How to apply
step 1
Record your audition materials in a video format
and upload to YouTube. Review the Audition
recording guidelines to ensure your submission
meets the criteria.
step 2
Complete and submit your application form
(including application fee) by 4 pm EST on
December 18, 2023. Application fee is $60 – apply
before November 1 and pay the early-bird fee of
$40.

2024 audition requirements

Strings | Brass | Woodwinds | Percussion

Instrumental candidates must submit a musician’s

CV and a video recording of new recordings of ALL
the audition materials for their instrument.

Follow the recording guidelines to ensure your

audition materials are accepted.

Conducting candidates must submit a video

recording, a CV or resume, a repertoire list, a
statement of philosophy, and at least one letter of
recommendation.

Library and orchestra personnel management

candidates must submit a CV showing all relevant
experience in their chosen field.

Apply by
December 18, 2023
(4 pm EST)
The application fee is $60 CAD*

Open to Canadian and international orchestral

musicians, and to Canadian conducting,
librarian, and orchestra personnel manager
candidates.

Record and upload your audition materials

before you complete your application form.

*apply before November 1 and pay the early-bird fee of $40.

Apply now!

Contact Us

NACO Mentorship 2023, Rachel Mercer and Evelyne Méthot © Curtis

Perry

NACO Mentorship 2023, Marjolaine Lambert and Daniel Fuchs © Greg

MacKay

NACO Mentorship 2023, Anna Dunlap and Angela Schwarzkopf © Curtis

Perry

Strings
Violin (up to 14 musicians will be selected)
Scores available upon upon request
(max 10 minutes)
SOLO: Exposition of the first movement W.A. MOZART Violin Concerto
No. 3 in G major, No. 4 in D major, or No. 5 in A major.

EXCERPTS:
1. IGOR STRAVINSKY Apollon Musagète, [71] to the grand pause a!er
[85]; omit 11 bars of rest at [73] and 8 bars of rest around [76]
2. FELIX MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo,
beginning to 15m before [ E ]
3. RICHARD STRAUSS Don Juan, 3m a!er [ Q ] to 4m a!er [ U ]
4. JESSIE MONTGOMERY Strum, [198] to end
5. JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 4, IV. Allegro energico, mm 33-64

Viola (4 musicians will be selected)

(max 10 minutes)
SOLO: First movement from a J.S. BACH Cello Suite or Violin Partita or
Sonata.

EXCERPTS:
1. LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3, Op. 55 “Eroica,” III.
Scherzo, m76 to the end of the Scherzo
2. JOHANNES BRAHMS Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Variation 7,
complete without repeats
3. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 1 in D major, “Titan,” IV. Sturmisch
bewegt, [45] to 1m a!er [46]
4. FELIX MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo, m 17 to
[D]

Cello (4 musicians will be selected)

(max 10 minutes)
SOLO: Up to 2 minutes of any solo piece or concerto that demonstrates
your range beyond the required excerpts.

EXCERPTS:
1. LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67, II.
Andante con moto, mm 1-10, 49-59, and 98-106
2. JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, II. Adagio
non troppo, mm 1-15
3. W.A. MOZART Symphony No. 35 in D major, K.385, IV. Presto, mm 134-
181
4. RICHARD STRAUSS Don Juan, beginning to 4m before [ D ]
5. JESSIE MONTGOMERY Starburst, mm 1-33 (score available upon
request)

Double bass (3 musicians will be selected)

(max 10 minutes)
SOLO: Up to 2 minutes of any solo piece or concerto that demonstrates
your range beyond the required excerpts

EXCERPTS:
1. W.A. MOZART Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550, I. Molto allegro,
mm 114-138
2. LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, I. Poco
sostenuto - Vivace, mm 275-300
3. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, II. Stürmisch
bewegt, mit größter Vehemenz, [33] for 12 measures
4. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, III Scherzo, [15]
to [17]
5. STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40, [40] to [41]

Harp (1 musician will be selected)

(max 10 minutes)
SOLO: Up to 2 minutes of any solo piece or concerto that demonstrates
your range beyond the required excerpts

EXCERPTS:
1. 1st harp: LOUIS-HECTOR BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique in C major,
H 48, II. Un bal. Valse. Allegro non troppo, beginning to 4m a!er [23];
12m before [29] to 4m a!er [29]; and m32 to the end.
2. BENJAMIN BRITTEN The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op.
34, Cadenza and Fugue 2, 14m a!er [ M ] to the end.
3. RICHARD STRAUSS Don Juan, from [ D ] to 6m before [ G ].
4. PYOTR ILIYCH TCHAIKOVSKY The Nutcracker (suite), Op. 71a, III. Valse
des fleurs, Tempo di Valse, cadenza
5. 1st harp: GIUSEPPE VERDI La forza del destino, Overture, complete.
6. BÉLA BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, IV. Intermezzo
Interrotto. Allegretto, mm 42-58; and V. Finale. Pesante-Presto, mm 96-
112 and mm 345-356.
7. MAURICE RAVEL Tzigane in D major, cadenza.

NACO Mentorship 2023, Rachel O'Connor, French Horn © Curtis Perry

NACO Mentorship 2023, Peter Sullivan, Léonard Pineault Deault,

Alexander Mullins, Brandon Figueroa © Curtis Perry

Brass
Trumpet (2 musicians will be selected)
SOLO: HAYDN (end at measure 84) or HUMMEL (end at measure 147)
Concerti, 1st movement, exposition only

EXCERPTS:
1st trumpet excerpts
1. MODEST MUSSORGSKY Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade,
beginning to [2]
2. GEORGES BIZET Carmen, Prelude to Act I, complete (score available
upon request)

3. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, I. Trauermarsch,

beginning to 6m a!er [1]
4. IGOR STRAVINSKY Petroushka (1947), Ballerina’s dance, 1m before
[134] to [139]
5. ROBERT SCHUMANN Symphony No. 2 in C major, Op. 61, I. Sostenuto
assai – Un poco piu vivace – Allegro ma non troppo, beginning to 2m
before [ A ] (score available upon request)
6. 1st e-flat trumpet: RICHARD STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40, mm
49-55 and mm 81-83 (score available upon request)

French horn (4 musicians will be selected)

SOLO: Exposition from the first movement of any W.A. MOZART horn
concerto

EXCERPTS:
1. 1st horn: JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90,
III. Poco allegretto, mm 98-110
2. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor, III. Scherzo, [21]
to [22] (“corno obligato”)
3. 1st horn: DINUK WIJERATNE Polyphonic Lively, from m. 304 to the end
(score available upon request)
4. 2nd horn: LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major,
Op. 55, III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace - Trio, mm 171-205
5. 3rd horn: FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN Symphony No. 31 in D major,
Hob.1:31, II. Adagio, beginning to m7
6. 4th horn: GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 1 in D major, III. Feierlich
und gemessen, ohne zu schleppen, [13] to [15]

Trombone (2 musicians will be selected)

SOLO: FERDINAND DAVID Trombone Concertino in E-flat major, Op. 4, I.
Allegro maestoso, [ A ] to downbeat of [ D ]

EXCERPTS:
1. W.A. MOZART Requiem, Tuba Mirum, beginning to [ B ]
2. MAURICE RAVEL Bolero, [10] to [11]
3. GIOACHINO ROSSINI Guillaume Tell Overture, [ C ] to 9m a!er [ D ]
4. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 3 in D minor, I. Krä!ig, Entschieden,
1m before [58] to 13m a!er [61]
5. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5, I. Trauermarsch, [17] to 6m a!er
[18]; III. Scherzo, 13m a!er [15] to [17]
6. JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73, IV. Allegro
con spirito, [ O ] to the end
7. RICHARD WAGNER Die Walküre (Ride of the Valkyries), WWV 86b,
pickup to [3] to 2m a!er [6]; pickup to 8m before [11] to [12]

Bass trombone (1 musician will be selected)

SOLO: J.S. BACH Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011, Sarabande (no
repeats)

EXCERPTS:
1. LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, IV.
Andante maestoso, mm 595-626
2. FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN The Creation, Chorus No. 26, “Achieved is the
Glorious Work”, beginning until [ C ]
3. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5, II. Stürmisch bewegt, mit größter
Vehemenz, [19] to [20], AND 9m a!er [24] to [25]; III. Scherzo, 16m a!er
[15] to [16], AND pickup to [25] to [26]
4. ROBERT SCHUMANN Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 97,
“Rhenish,” IV. Feierlich, and Die Halben wie vorher die Viertel, mm 1-23
5. GIOACHINO ROSSINI Guillaume Tell Overture, [ C ] to 8m a!er [ D ]
6. RICHARD WAGNER Das Rheingold, Sc. IV “Entry of the Gods into
Valhalla”, mm 36-55 and final 18 measures

Tuba (1 musician will be selected)

SOLO: R. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS Tuba Concerto, I Prelude. Allegro
moderato in F minor, beginning to downbeat of [5] (score available
upon request)

EXCERPTS:
1. HECTOR BERLIOZ The Damnation of Faust, H.111, First part, Sc. 3,
Hungarian March, [4] to 2m a!er [5]
2. PAUL HINDEMITH Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl
Maria von Weber, II. Turandot, Scherzo, [ L ] to 3m a!er [ P ]
3. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 1 in D major, III. Feierlich und
gemessen, ohne zu schleppen, 4m before [3] to [4]
4. SERGEI PROKOFIEV Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 100, I.
Andante, [3] to 2m before [6]
5. RICHARD WAGNER Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, WWV 96, Vorspiel
(Prelude), from [ J ] to 1m a!er [ L ]
6. RICHARD WAGNER Die Walküre (Ride of the Valkyries), WWV 86b, pick-
up to [11] to 5m a!er [12]

NACO Mentorship 2023 © Curtis Perry

NACO Mentorship 2023 © Greg MacKay

Woodwinds
Flute and piccolo (2 musicians will be selected)
SOLOS:
W.A. MOZART Flute Concerto in G major, K.313/285c, I. Allegro
maestoso, OR W.A. MOZART Flute Concerto in D major, K.314/285d, I.
Allegro aperto, exposition only, with or without accompaniment

EXCERPTS:
1. FELIX MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo, pickup
to 1 bar before [ P ] to the end
2. GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 9, I. Andante comodo, Misterioso,
21st bar of [16] to Nicht mehr so langsam (14 bars in total)
3. MAURICE RAVEL Daphnis et Chloë, Suite No. 2, 3rd bar of [176] to 2
bars a!er [179]
4. JOHN ESTACIO I Lost My Talk, mm 8-17 (score available upon
request)
5. 2nd flute: MAURICE RAVEL Daphnis et Chloë, Suite No. 2, [155] to
[156] and [179] to [188]
*6. Piccolo: LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op.
125, IV. Presto, mm 343-421
*7. Piccolo: MAURICE RAVEL Daphnis et Chloë, Suite No. 2, [156] to
[158]

Oboe (2 musicians will be selected)

SOLO: W.A. MOZART Oboe Concerto in C major, K.314, I. Allegro aperto,
exposition only

EXCERPTS:
1. MAURICE RAVEL Le tombeau de Couperin, I. Prélude. Vif, beginning to
[2], and [8] to [9]
2. JOHANNES BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, II. Adagio,
solo mm 3-32
3. GIOACHINO ROSSINI La scala di Seta, beginning to [1]; pickup to [2]
to [3]
4. CLAUDE DEBUSSY La mer, II. Jeu de vagues, [17] to [18] and [25] to
[26] (play both 1st and 2nd parts on both solos)
5. IGOR STRAVINSKY Pulcinella Suite, K034b, II. Serenata, [8] to end of
1st bar of [10]

Clarinet (2 musicians will be selected)

SOLOS:
1. W.A. MOZART Clarinet Concerto in A major, K.622, I. Allegro, mm 57-
127; II. Adagio, beginning to m24, solo passages only
2. CLAUDE DEBUSSY Première rhapsodie, CD 124, [9] to end

EXCERPTS:
1. FELIX MENDELSSOHN A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61, I.
Scherzo, beginning to [ B ], and [ D ] to [ G ]
2. JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, I. Allegro con
brio, mm 36-46; II. Andante, mm 1-22
3. IGOR STRAVINSKY Firebird Suite (1919), Variation de l’Oiseau de feu

OPTIONAL EXCERPTS*:
The E-flat and bass clarinet excerpts are optional. Playing one or both
auxiliary instruments may increase one’s chance of being accepted.
IGOR STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring
• E-flat clarinet: 3mm a!er [9] to 5 mm a!er [11]; [48] to [49]
• Bass clarinet: from [5] to 4 mm a!er [6]; first 6mm of [48]

Bassoon (2 musicians will be selected)

SOLO: W.A. MOZART Bassoon Concerto in B-flat major, K.191/186e, mm
35-97

EXCERPTS:
1. LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60, IV.
Allegro ma non troppo, mm 184-187, 300-302, 348-355
2. W.A. MOZART Le nozze di Figaro, K.492, Overture, mm 139-171
3. SERGEI PROKOFIEV Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67, 1m before [15] to 4m
a!er [16]
4. NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade, Op. 35, II. The Legend of
the Kalendar Prince, opening solo and cadenza
5. IGOR STRAVINSKY The Rite of Spring, opening solo, beginning to 2m
before [4]
6. PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 4, Op. 36, II. Andantino in
modo di Canzona, m274 to end

NACO Mentorship 2023, Leigh Wilson, percussion © Greg MacKay

NACO Mentorship 2023, Hamza Able, timpani © Greggory Clark

Percussion & timpani

(3 musicians will be selected)

Please submit ALL of the following solos and

excerpts.

Snare drum
SOLO: Study #25, “Advanced Snare Drum Studies,” Mitchell Peters

EXCERPTS:
1. SERGEI PROKOFIEV Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67, mm 49-51
2. SERGEI PROKOFIEV Lieutenant Kijé Suite, Op. 60, I. Birth of Kijé, reh
#1 to reh #2
3. NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Scheherazade, Op. 35, IV. Festival at
Baghdad, [ P ] to [ R ]

Xylophone
SOLO: Candidate’s choice of one George Hamilton Green’s “Rags” or
similar (no repeats)

EXCERPTS (can be found in the Goldenberg book):

1. GEORGE GERSHWIN Porgy and Bess, opening
2. DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH The Golden Age (ballet), Op. 22, III. Polka
(Allegretto)

Glockenspiel
EXCERPTS:
1. W.A. MOZART Die Zauberflöte, K.260, Act I, VIII. Finale

Timpani
SOLO: XV from “The Solo Timpanist” by Vic Firth

EXCERPTS:
1. BELA BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116, IV. Intermezzo
Interrotto. Allegretto, mm 42-50
2. LUDWIG van BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92, I. Poco
sostenuto - Vivace, mm 89-110; IV. Allegro con brio, 12m before [ C ] to
19m a!er [ C ], no repeats, play 2nd ending; 3m before [ K ] to the end

Audition recording
guidelines
Video recording
All instrumental applicants must submit a video
recording. All video recordings must meet the
following criteria:

Auditions for the NAC Orchestra Mentorship

Program will be completely anonymous (audio
will be stripped from your video for jury
purposes). To ensure a truly blind audition,
completely refrain from speaking during your
recording.

Please start the video recording by holding up a

sign with your name on it and the date, without
speaking.

Your audition recording must be a new

recording.

Record your audition materials in the order

given.

Excerpts are to be recorded in one take.

The panel may not consider incomplete

auditions, auditions in a di#erent order, or
auditions with edits.

Additional materials included other than the

requested materials will not be considered.

Your video must be from a single video camera,

with the same shot for the entire video.

Your full body must be in the video shot.

Recording setting recommendations

Use an external microphone if you have access
to one.

Do some test recordings beforehand to find just

the right microphone placement and audio
settings.

Distortion may be easily fixed by aiming away

from the microphone or moving it farther away.

If recording with a phone, use a wired

microphone to avoid synchronization issues.

Record in a space with minimal noise bleed from

surrounding spaces. Be aware of ambient noise
such as tra#ic or indoor heating systems and try
to minimize it.

Review your recording all the way through

before submitting it.

The sole purpose of the video is to ensure that

you are the one playing your audition. If you
must choose between amazing audio and
amazing video, please choose amazing audio.

Preparing your recording materials for

review
If you have created one recording of excerpts
and a second (and possibly third) recording of
your solo work, you must combine these into
one file then upload to YouTube so that you
have one single YouTube video.

Upload your audition video to YouTube. Please

refer to YouTube’s instructions for uploading
your audition recording video.

Your YouTube upload must be set to “unlisted”

or “public”.

You may enter your repertoire with time stamps

in the description field.

You should now have ONE YouTube link that contains

all your audition materials, and that you will include
in your application form.

Complete and submit your application form

Fill out this online application form. Make sure to
click Submit when finished.

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

The National Arts Centre Foundation would like to thank the

RBC Foundation, Presenting Partner of the NAC Orchestra
Mentorship Program. Thank you also to lead donor Dasha
Shenkman, OBE, Hon RCM, and The Azrieli Foundation, The
Crabtree Foundation, The Vered Family, and the Council for
Canadian American Relations Young Artist Scholarship for
their generous support.

Presenting Partners Major Partner

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