Audition & Member Information

All musicians interested in playing with the LSO must audition, even those who have played with us before.

Auditions have concluded, but the LSO has openings on violin, viola, double bass and French horn. Please email [email protected] to inquire about submitting a video audition on these instruments. 

We may have openings for additional players for the spring concert, and will hear auditions in January.

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.

If selected to join the LSO, members commit to attending all or nearly all rehearsals as well as the dress rehearsals and concerts. See the 2024-2025 member schedule below. 

If your work or academic schedule does not permit you to play one of the concerts, please say so when completing your audition signup.

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 are changing for this year; more information will be sent once the orchestra season has begun.
 

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 percussion should prepare the brief orchestral excerpts 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.

Auditions will be held at the School of Music (Earl V. Moore) building on North Campus. When you arrive at the Moore Bldg., go to the upper doors of the Moore building, near the sculpture of the two heads. A 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.