I was wondering what others thought is a normal amount of time to take to get settled and play a couple notes before starting the audition? What about between excerpts or when switching instruments (like oboe to English horn)?

I think being relaxed and focussed is in everyone's best interests, but taking too much time and annoying the committee certainly wouldn't be a good thing.

I've found copying all my excerpts and solo and putting it in a 3 ring binder is great for having everything together, making one waste less time on stage looking for the next excerpt. Any other good tips or suggestions?

The binder is a great idea.

Playing a few notes before starting helps me focus. And it's good to check, one more time, that my reed and everything is in place. But I always feel some embarassment doing it because I know that while I am trying to settle down with my little ritual, I feel as if I am revealing something intimate to the comittee. I hate the thought of being judged on that. So for me, a FEW notes is ideal.

I much prefer screened auditions for that reason. I am new to the U.S. Can anyone tell me which major orchestras use the screen even in the finals and which don't use it at all? I would really appreciate the info.

Singingintherain (now I'm gonna have that song stuck in my head), it really just depends on how many candidates they have for finals, & sometimes if someone in the orchestra is taking the audition. usually most rounds are screened except for finals, but in some cases where there may be more than 1 final round, the 1st final round may be screened & the last one open, which may only have 2 or 3 people. But others may also have semis unscreened, & the 1st final round unscreened (I have experienced that as well). And sometimes they change their mind about this from one audition to another, so whatever orchestras do or don't use a screen now, this may not apply by the time someone takes an audition.

Cleveland Symphony and LA Phil have completely open auditions (so I was told). Who else?

Most of our audition committees in Minnesota use a screen for prelims and semis, and will leave it up for at least one final round if someone from within the orchestra is playing. The exception is our cello section, which never uses a screen in any round, for reasons I've discussed on other threads.

Also, to respond to the original question on this thread: I can't imagine a committee tossing a qualified candidate because s/he took too much time between excerpts. Obviously, it's not a good idea to waste the committee's time unnecessarily, but if you're a good enough player to win the job, we're paying attention to that, not to counting the seconds of silence.

quote:

Originally posted by singingintherain:
Cleveland Symphony and LA Phil have completely open auditions (so I was told). Who else?

LA has a screen up until the 2nd final round. So, 3 rounds are behind a screen and the 4th is without.

quote:

Originally posted by singingintherain:
Cleveland Symphony and LA Phil have completely open auditions (so I was told). Who else?

um, Cleveland doesn't have an open audition, they've been highly selective about who they invite. unless you're talking about open, as in without a screen? LA has screens though, as rgflute pointed out. I know Chicago has open (no screen) finals. But most orchestras have no screens in the finals, so I think the question to ask rather is who has a total blind process, besides the Met.

Cleveland went to a screened first round at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season.

I have an audition for a small part in a independent film next week and I'm so nervous. I'll only be playing the busker in the background, but still. It's something and I've been really struggling lately trying to find gigs. wish me luck!! I'll be sure to post back what happens