BECOME A MEMBER OF THE GULF COAST SYMPHONY!
The Gulf Coast Symphony is proudly composed of a mix of paid and unpaid musicians, all expert players, who enjoy performing the vast orchestral classical and pops repertoire, and the experience of playing in a full-size symphony orchestra. The Gulf Coast Symphony maintains a professional rehearsal/performance schedule, and is a year-round ensemble.
Gulf Coast Symphony Member musicians sit side-by-side with our Orchestral Fellows and other professional musicians for performances with TONY Award winners and internationally acclaimed artists. For nearly three decades, our members have sustained and enhanced the quality of the performances we provide for our community at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall and the Music and Arts Community Center in Fort Myers, Florida. We value their commitment of time, talent, and treasure to this end.
Gulf Coast Symphony Members’ level of commitment can vary, depending on your schedule and your instrument! The Gulf Coast Symphony typically performs between 15 and 20 concerts each season. This is a fast-paced performance/rehearsal environment with only two to four rehearsals in the week prior to each performance. Because Gulf Coast Symphony prioritizes individual members’ calendars to schedule participation, Snowbirds are always welcomed to audition and join us!
We invite new members to participate in the required assessment auditions each season. Auditions are held in September and throughout the year on an as-needed, as-available basis. The audition is not about perfection, but rather about assessing if the Gulf Coast Symphony is right for you!
We ask that you submit a cover letter detailing your interest and resume of your performance experience to auditions@gulfcoastsymphony.org. Auditions will be held at the MACC on September 15.
Once accepted, Members pay a $150 tax-deductible donation for dues. As an appreciation, Members receive complimentary and discounted tickets to Gulf Coast Symphony productions and events.
CONTACT US for more details and to schedule an audition.
For Orchestra Fellowship and Substitute Musician auditions, please review requirements at Acceptd.com. These positions are paid, per service, and intended for musicians who make their living as performing artists. Substitute musicians are not guaranteed services, but hired on an as-needed, as-available basis.
GULF COAST SYMPHONY MEMBER AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
For each instrument, we would like to hear two solo selections of your choosing: one slow and one fast. Just a portion of longer solos is fine. If your solo selection contains both tempos, one piece is adequate. We want to hear you at your best, so play something with which you are entirely comfortable.
You will be asked to sight read a short selection from our upcoming repertoire. You will also be asked to prepare several short orchestral excerpts which will be provided by the Symphony. Please contact us for these excerpts, as they change on an annual basis.
In addition, you will be asked to play scales and arpeggios appropriate to your instrument—below are some suggestions for each instrument; you may also be coached to play either your solos or your scales in a variety of ways, e.g., legato, marcato, stacatto.
Violin: Major/minor scales up to 4 sharps and 3 flats, two octaves, followed by a two octave arpeggio for the major keys; for placement in the first violin section, three octave scales should be performed
Viola: Major/minor scales up to 4 sharps and 3 flats, two octaves, followed by a two octave arpeggio for the major keys
Cello: Major/minor scales up to 4 sharps and 3 flats, two octaves, followed by a two octave arpeggio for the major keys
Bass: Major/minor scales up to 3 sharps and 3 flats, one octave, followed by a one octave arpeggio for the major keys
Flute: 3 octaves: CM; 2 octaves: C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, B
Oboe: 2 octaves: Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F; 1 octave: F#, G, Ab, A
Clarinet: 3 octaves: E, F, F#, G; 2 octaves: Ab, A, Bb, B, C, C#, D, Eb
Bassoon: 3 octaves: Bb; 2 octaves: B, C, C#, D, Eb, E, F, F#, G, Ab, A
Horn: 2 octaves: F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb; 1 octave: B, C, C#, D, Eb, E
Trumpet: 2 octaves: F#, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C; 1 octave: C#, D, Eb, E, F
Trombone/Tuba: 2 octaves: E, F, F#, G, Ab, A, Bb; 1 octave: B, C, C#, D, Eb
Percussion: Solo material and any rudiments to be determined
Piano, Harp, Organ, and Synth: Solo material and any technique to be determined