The Kent State University Orchestra performs the great symphonic and string orchestra literature.

Performances

Each year, the orchestra performs a wide range of repertoire from the Baroque period to the present. The orchestra performs a Subscription Series of five concerts, as well as the annual Evening with the Orchestra event, Kent State  Opera performances, and other special events. Soloists appearing with the orchestra include members of our performance faculty and winners of the annual Student Concerto Competition. Kent State choral ensembles often collaborate with the orchestra in the presentation of major works for chorus and orchestra. 

Rehearsals

Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, from 2:15-4:10 p.m. in Ludwig Recital Hall. 

membership

• Open to all Kent State undergraduate and graduate students regardless of major!
• Anyone interested in joining needs to audition on their instrument (strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion).

Auditions

• Auditions typically happen during the first week of classes. 
• String Players
  • Repertoire usually includes select orchestra excerpts and an optional solo piece of your choice. 
  • All string players who wish to play in the orchestra need to audition -- even if you were already a member in a previous semester.
  • Find more specific information, excerpts, and sign-up to audition here.
• Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Instrumentalists
  • A single audition is used for placement in both the concert bands and the orchestra.
  • Find more specific information, excerpts, and sign-up to audition here.

audition preparation advice

• Don't stress! 
• Find recordings of the piece, if you don't already know it.
• Learn what the whole orchestra sounds like in each excerpt.
• Practice musically and expressively--not just technically.
• Sometimes the excerpts don't show the tempo; you need to find the whole part on IMSLP.org, or listen to some recordings to get a good idea of how fast you should play each excerpt.  
• You should also be aware of how these excerpts fit into the whole piece.
• You can download the entire part for your instrument for this symphony here.  If you're completely unfamiliar with the idea of auditioning on orchestral excerpts, please read this brief article which offers some good preparation suggestions.

Questions?

Contact
Dr. Jungho Kim, Director of Orchestra
jkim73@kent.edu | 330-672-9235

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TICKET INFORMATION

Please click here for ticket and subscription information