Audition Cafe

The first entry of our blog for the socially distanced musician! We’re celebrating the end of Women’s History Month by sharing inspiring projects that a few female musicians have done or started this March.

Founder & CEO of Contrabass Conversations
www.contrabassconversations.com

First Associate Concertmaster, Los Angeles Philharmonic
www.natesviolin.com

Meet Erich Rieppel, the recently appointed Timpanist of the Minnesota Orchestra and an alum of the New World Symphony.  We ask Erich about how he prepared for his audition, his experience with Minnesota and for general audition advice. How many auditions had you taken before the Minnesota Audition? I believe 24 if we’re counting regional,

How to prepare multiple auditions at the same time

First Associate Concertmaster, Los Angeles Philharmonic
www.natesviolin.com

Written by conductor and clarinetist Carl Topilow. In his extensive career, he has heard more than 40,000 auditions. Carl serves as conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and the Firelands Symphony Orchestra. As conductor and instructor of the master students in orchestral conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music, his conducting students occupy, or have occupied, positions with the orchestras of Boston, Cleveland, Edmonton, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Louisville, Kansas City, Richmond, and many others.

All of us, from seasoned professional to total beginner, struggle with balancing the various elements that go into audition preparation. When should I start practicing? What solos should I choose for the audition? What are people listening for in auditions?

14 important tips to help preparing for that critical first rehearsal

If you think this post is a going to be a cleverly disguised list of things you should actually be considering for your audition preparations-think again! I don’t use cheap writing tactics and clickbait headlines just to get your attention. If that’s all you think this is, stop reading already. Aha! Still here, I see.