NSW Department of Education
Instrumental Music Ensembles Audition
Information – String Instruments
Auditions will take place on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October 2025 at The Arts Unit
Lewisham.
The Arts Unit offers 6 weekly instrumental ensembles:
3 advanced ensembles:
• Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE) – Mondays 4.30pm – 7pm
• Symphony Orchestra – Thursdays 4.30pm – 7pm
• Jazz Orchestra – Tuesdays 4.30pm – 6.30pm
3 intermediate ensembles:
• Symphonic Wind Orchestra (SWO) – Mondays 4.30pm – 7pm
• String Sinfonia – Thursdays 4.30pm – 7pm
• Stage Band – Tuesdays 4.30pm – 6.30pm
There are 2 sets of audition requirements: Set A (advanced) and Set B (intermediate).
Instrumental Ensemble applicants are required to prepare either ‘Set A’ OR ‘Set B’.
Please choose the set that best demonstrates your current playing ability. It is highly
recommended that you discuss this with your instrumental teacher.
The audition will consist of: 1. Scales
2. Prepared piece – own choice
3. Prepared piece – set excerpt
4. Sight reading
For further information please contact us at [email protected]
education.nsw.gov.au
String Audition Requirements
1. Scales – Scales are listed in a table on the next 2 pages
You are required to prepare 4 scales only (2 major and 2 minor) of your choice from the
following ‘set A’ or ‘set B’ list. Accuracy, fluency and tempo will be assessed.
Violins and Violas preparing Set A please note you must prepare your scales in both
articulations as the panel will choose which articulation to play.
Viola’s are asked to prepare all scales.
2. Prepared Piece – Own Choice
Please prepare 1 piece or excerpt of your own choice (approx. 3 minutes long or less).
This piece should demonstrate your technical and musical ability on your chosen
instrument.
3. Prepared Piece – Set Excerpt
An excerpt for your instrument will be made available on The Arts Unit website two
weeks prior to your audition – a link will be emailed to you to access this.
You are required to prepare this excerpt as part of your audition submission. The
intention of this part of the audition is to ascertain your ability to prepare a difficult
excerpt in a short period of time. Again, this will demonstrate technical and musical
ability on your chosen instrument.
4. Sight reading
This will be provided during the audition.
education.nsw.gov.au
SET A – Advanced Ensembles
Choose 4 scales only (2 major and 2 minor), play each in 1 bowing pattern of your choice
from the list below. Violas and are asked to prepare all scales listed.
Bowing patterns:
• all slurred: 4 Quavers per bow (Crotchet = 85)
• detache: one quaver per note (Crotchet = 120)
• spiccato: three triplets per note (Crotchet = 100)
CELLO
Major Scales Harmonic Minor Scales
• C (4 Octaves) • C (4 Octaves)
• Ab (3 Octaves) • Ab (3 Octaves)
• F# (3 Octaves) • F (3 Octaves)
• Db (3 Octaves) • Db (3 Octaves)
DOUBLE BASS
Major Scales Harmonic Minor Scales
• A(2 Octaves) • A (2 Octaves)
• Bb (2 Octaves) • Bb (2 Octaves)
• B (2 Octaves) • B (2 Octaves)
• C (2 Octaves) • C (2 Octaves)
VIOLA
Articulations: Detache and Spiccato – the panel will choose which articulation you will play
Major Scales Minor Scales
• Eb Major (3 Octaves) • Eb Harmonic and Melodic Minor
(3 Octaves)
VIOLIN
Articulations: Slurred in 4s and Spiccato, 3 bows per note. – the panel will choose which
articulation you will play.
Major Scales Harmonic Minor Scales
• G (4 Octaves) • G (4 Octaves)
• B (3 Octaves) • Ab (3 Octaves)
• F# ( 3 Octaves) • F (3 Octaves)
• Eb (3 Octaves) • Eb (3 Octaves)
education.nsw.gov.au
SET B – Intermediate Ensembles
Cellos and Double Basses are expected to choose 4 scales only (2 major and 2 minor),
play each in 1 bowing pattern of your choice from the list below. Violas and Violins are
asked to prepare all scales listed.
Bowing patterns:
• all slurred: four notes to a bow (quavers at crotchet = 80)
• detache: one quaver per note (quavers at crotchet = 100)
• spiccato: three triplets per note (quavers at crotchet = 80 )
CELLO
Major Scales Harmonic Minor Scales
• C (3 Octaves) • C (2 Octaves)
• Eb (2 Octaves) • Eb (2 Octaves)
• D (2 Octaves) • D (2 Octaves)
• C Chromatic (2 Octaves)
DOUBLE BASS
Major Scales Harmonic Minor Scales
• E (2 Octaves) • E (2 Octaves)
• F (2 Octaves) • F (2 Octaves)
• G (2 Octaves) • G (2 Octaves)
• A Chromatic (1 Octaves)
VIOLA
Major Scales Minor Scales
• F (2 octaves in 3rd position) • C Melodic Minor (2 octaves)
• C Chromatic (2 octaves)
VIOLIN
Major Scales Harmonic Minor Scales
• G (3 octaves) • E (2 octaves in 4th position)
• G Chromatic (2 octaves)
education.nsw.gov.au
