Audition & Member Information
All musicians interested in playing with the LSO must audition, even those who have played with us before.
The main auditions for the 2023-2024 season have concluded, however there are still immediate openings on violin. We may need additional musicians on other instruments for the spring concert. Pease contact us at [email protected] to arrange an audition.
If you have never played with the LSO, or if it has been more than two years since you played with the LSO, please complete our Prospective Member form to express interest.
The seating chart for the rehearsals leading to the Jan. 14 concert is here and the rehearsal schedule is below. Members have received a Member Handbook and a link for downloading music via email. Please email [email protected] if you know you need to miss or be late for a rehearsal.
By agreeing to join the LSO, members commit to attending all or nearly all rehearsals as well as the dress rehearsal and concert. See the 2023-2024 member schedule below. All members must pay dues of $75 for faculty/staff/alumni or $50 for students, for the year; those playing only one concert pay half this amount.
Direction for paying dues:
(Also available as a detailed PDF with screenshots)
Go to https://ssc.umich.edu/payments/pay-by-credit-card/.
Near the bottom of the page click the Pay Now button. Click the green button Go To Secure Payment Provider to Pay My Bill to access our secure vendor, Authorize.Net.
Enter the Amount of the payment (Student Rate $50, Faculty,staff, alumni and family rate $75), and the Security Code that is presented on the screen and click Continue.
Enter the following fields:
1. Invoice Number – Unique Identifier TYPE: LSOMember
2. Description – Enter the name of the Orchestra Member if different from name on the credit card
3. Card Number and Expiration Date
4. Email
5. Phone
(Address is not required)
Click Pay Now.
More about LSO audition eligibility and process:
Admission to the LSO is decided by the music director, in consultation with the assistant conductor and executive committee. In addition to U-M life science affiliation, admission and seating decisions involve playing ability and any past experience with the LSO. Please see our FAQ for full information on what we consider life sciences affiliation.
Important note: Undergraduates with no declared life science major, and individuals with no past or current connection to the U-M life science community (as defined in the FAQ), are asked to audition for other ensembles. In very limited cases, individuals who are not members of the U-M life sciences community may be allowed to audition after the main audition process has concluded, if their instrument is needed for the next performance. Please see the FAQ.
For your audition, please prepare the following:
- Two contrasting solo selections from classical works (concerto, sonata, orchestral solo passages, etc.). Each selection should be 1 to 3 minutes in length, however the music director may not need to hear the full prepared passage.
- In addition, all instruments except tuba, trombone and percussion should prepare the brief orchestral excerpt for their instrument available here; be prepared to play the section indicated with red brackets.
Audition slots are 8 minutes long, and those interested in first chair may be asked to sight read an excerpt. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointed time to check in and warm up in the designated room. If you find that you cannot make your audition time, it is your responsibility to let us know and to arrange another time if we can accommodate it.
Most auditions will be held at the School of Music (Earl V. Moore) building on North Campus except the Sept. 10 audition which will be at the Stearns Building. When you arrive at the Moore Bldg., go to the upper doors of the Moore building, near the sculpture of the two heads. At both locations member of the LSO Committee will just outside or inside the door. You must check in with them before proceeding to the warm-up room.
The LSO follows Michigan Medicine and SMTD COVID-19 protocols. If you are feeling unwell on the day of your scheduled audition, please email [email protected] to arrange an alternate time.
All are marked with brackets or notes indicating starting and ending points. No repeats should be taken.
There is no required audition excerpt for piccolo, E flat or bass clarinet, English horn, contrabassoon, trombone, tuba or percussion.
Rehearsals
All regular rehearsals are Sundays from 7:00-9:30 pm at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance’s Kevreson Rehearsal Hall (accessible via the new entrance of the Earl V. Moore Building), unless otherwise noted. Please arrive at 6:45 pm to set up and warm up.
We are following U-M COVID guidance for musical ensembles and expect all members to cooperate or face dismissal from the LSO. Do not come to rehearsal if you are feeling under the weather.
If you know in advance that you will need to miss a rehearsal, please email the date to [email protected] as soon as you know your plans. You should also send a message to that address about any unplanned absences. All musicians must make every effort to attend all rehearsals. Keep in mind that after three absences for any reason, your participation in the LSO concert will be at the discretion of the music director.
Find further information about being part of the LSO in our FAQ.
Fall rehearsals:
9/17
10/1
10/8
10/15
10/22
11/5
11/12
11/19
12/3
12/10
12/17
1/7
1/11 Note: this is a THURSDAY
Concert: Sunday, January 14 4 pm
Preconcert lecture 3:15-3:45
No dress rehearsal at Hill Auditorium; Members arrive 1:45 p.m. for sound check
Winter/spring rehearsals -
1/28
2/4
2/11
2/18
3/3
3/10
3/17
3/24
4/7
4/14
4/21
4/28
5/5
5/12
Dress rehearsal: Wednesday, May 15 6 pm
Concert: Thursday, May 16 - 7:30
NI-5E06, NIB
300 North Ingalls
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5470
