Spring Membership Drive
YPPLV is accepting new musicians this Spring. Join us!
We are currently accepting a limited number of strings for JSP, grades 5-8. We currently accept strings, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and horns for YPP grades 9 – 12.
If you have any questions, please email our Audition Coordinator, Caroline Dawson, at admin@ypplv.org.
To Join
You must fill out and submit an Audition Registration Form if you are:
- New to the Young People’s Philharmonic of the Lehigh Valley organization
- Currently in the Junior String Philharmonic and auditioning for promotion to join the Young People’s Philharmonic (for those entering 9th grade in the Fall of 2025).
Returning Students who are not in the above categories are not required to re-audition for membership. However, you must fill out and submit a Returning Student Registration Form.
Try YPP
Try YPP Night is March 18, 2025! You can come and play with YPP or JSP from 6:15-8:30 PM. Let us know if you’re coming! Register HERE.
Spring Tuition
Audition between now and March 31, 2025 and enroll this spring for a special pro-rated tuition of just $250 in either the Young People’s Philharmonic or the Junior String Philharmonic! It’s a great way to join now and try us out.
Financial Assistance is Available.
If you have any questions, please call Caroline Dawson at the office for more information at 610-868-9888, or reach out at admin@ypplv.org.
Audition Location
Auditions will be held at our usual rehearsal location:
Christ Lutheran Allentown
1245 Hamilton St,
Allentown, PA
18102
Instructions:
Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of your desired warm-up time (at least 30 minutes before your audition time).
Parking is across the Hamilton street in the Christ Lutheran Church lot.
Enter through the large red side-door on 13th Street. Make sure to check in when you get inside.
Audition for
Young People's Philharmonic
(Grades 9 – 12)
(Grades 9 – 12)
String
Wind
Brass
Percussion
String
STRING AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
1) ONE three-octave scale in a MAJOR key. This should be played with separate bows in 16th notes at Quarter Note=60
2) ONE three-octave scale in a MINOR key. This should be played with 4 quarter notes slurred per bow at Quarter Note=60
3) A solo work of your choice (no piano accompaniment, please)
4) The excerpt from Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4 that we have provided for your instrument. See below for the excerpt links.
Wind
Wind candidates should be prepared to:
- Play their own selection from the solo repertoire
- Prepare 2 scales in 2 octaves, preferably one major scale and one minor scale.
- Play the chosen excerpt that we have provided for your instrument. Please find the link below.
- Flute students will be asked to play a C Major scale in 3 octaves, and should be able to play or be willing to learn to play piccolo. If the student does play piccolo, please bring the instrument to the audition and be prepared to play a short solo or orchestral excerpt and scales.
- Oboe students should play or be willing to learn to play English horn. If the student does play English horn, please bring the instrument to the audition and be prepared to play a short solo or orchestral excerpt and scales.
- Clarinet students should be willing to learn A clarinet.
Brass
Brass candidates should be prepared to:
- Play their own selection from the solo repertoire
- Prepare 2 scales in 2 octaves, one major scale and one minor scale.
- Play the chosen excerpt that we have provided for your instrument. Please find the link below.
- Horn students should have begun to learn transposition.
- Trumpet students must have a Bb trumpet and, if possible, have access to a C trumpet and should have begun to learn transposition.
- Trombone students must be able to read bass and should have begun to learn tenor clef.
We are currently holding auditions for the following brass instruments: Horn
Brass excerpts below.
Tchaikovsky-Symphony No 4, mvmt 1, play from beginning to 6 after A
Tchaikovsky-Symphony No 4, mvmt 1, play from measure 7 to A
Rossini-William Tell Overture, play from letter C to D
Tuba*
Wagner-Ride of the Valkyries, please play everything between the brackets.
*We are not currently able to accept auditions for these instruments. Please check back later in the spring and send us your information so we can let you know when we are!
Percussion
Percussion candidates should be prepared to:
- Prepare a snare drum solo and/or timpani solo (if accessible)
- Play the chosen excerpt that we have provided for your instrument. Please find the link below.
- Should have begun learning mallet percussion. If you have begun learning mallet percussion you will be asked to play 4 octaves in a major scale
- Should be comfortable playing aux percussion
Percussion excerpts:
Tchaikovsky-Symphony 4, mvmt 4
Mussorgsky-Night on Bald Mountain
Prokofiev-Lt Kije Suite, mvmt 1
Audition for
Junior String Philharmonic
(Grades 5 – 9)
(Grades 5 – 9)
Scales
Solo Piece
Sight Reading
Virtual Audition Info
Scales
- One flat key and one sharp key
- Must be able to play a minimum of 2 octaves
Solo Piece
Each applicant will perform a solo piece of their choice.
Sight Reading
Applicants must be able to shift and read comfortably into Third Position and use vibrato as minimum requirements. It is important that students participate in their school ensembles as well as JSP if accepted.Virtual Audition Info
In addition to in-person auditions, we are still accepting virtual auditions if you prefer that format. Please let us know you prefer a virtual audition once you receive your initial welcome email.
See below for more details. Once we receive your Registration Form, you will be given a link to upload your audition video.
Please be sure to complete your solo, and scales in the same video. See below for complete instructions.
Please make sure your instrument can be seen clearly in the video you are submitting. The director must be able to see your hands and the entire instrument in the recording.
When setting up for the video recording, it is best not to be too far away from the mic source or too close; 5 or 6 feet away should be fine.
Results will be announced within the 2 weeks following the submission deadline.
Thank you and good luck!