
Schedule your 2025-2026 audition
Welcome!
Percussionists from the Wind Symphony & National Concert Band of Cuba
2025-2026 Auditions
The Cornell Wind Symphony (Music 3631, 1 credit) is an auditioned ensemble open to all members of the Cornell campus community. The ensemble typically includes 60 members ranging from first-year to doctoral candidates, and most students have majors other than music.
The Wind Symphony rehearses Monday (4:45-6:25pm) and Wednesday (4:45-6:45pm) in Lincoln Hall and performs two concerts each semester. Click the Performances tab to view upcoming concert dates, repertoire, and 2025-2026 highlights, including a collaboration with the world-class wind quintet Splinter Reeds (November), our second community-engaged performance tour of Cuba (tentatively scheduled for January 11-17), and our collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Abels (March). Abels is perhaps best known for his sountracks for the Jordan Peele films Get Out, Us, and Nope.
Wind Symphony and Orchestra auditions are held concurrently. Register on this page and prepare the following excerpts if you wish to be considered for the Wind Symphony. If you wish to be considered for the Orchestra, register on the orchestra website and prepare the excerpts shown there. If you wish to be considered for either ensemble or do not have an ensemble preference, register on either page and prepare either set of excerpts (not both).
Please don’t worry about playing “perfectly”! Simply do your best.
Dress informally and comfortably.
Prepare by listening to at least one quality recording of the audition excerpts.
The Wind Symphony also has openings for double bass, piano and harp.
We strive to make auditions simple, straightforward, and, hopefully, fun! If you have any questions, contact Professor James Spinazzola, jms862@cornell.edu.
All auditions will be held in Lincoln Hall B20. We look forward to seeing you soon!
James Spinazzola, DMA
Director of Winds
Barbara & Richard T. Silver Associate Professor of Music
jms862@cornell.edu
UPDATE: We will host an optional informational Zoom meeting at 6:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, July 30. If you have signed up for an audition slot, you will automatically receive the Zoom link via your CU email address.
1) Complete the following information form
2) Find your audition group
Thursday, August 21
4:00-5:30pm - Piano and Harp
Friday, August 22
10:00am-12:00pm - Low Brass (trombones, euphoniums, tubas)
1:00-3:00pm - Trumpets
3:00-5:00pm - Horns
5:30-7:30pm - Percussion
Saturday, August 23
9:30-11:30am - Saxophones
12:00-3:00pm - Flutes & piccolo
3:30-7:00pm - Clarinets (including bass)
7:30-9:00pm - Oboes and bassoons
Sunday, August 24
12:00-3:30pm - Conflicts and overflow (winds & percussion)
Audition results will be posted on this page and via email no later than 6pm.
Monday, August 25
4:45-6:25pm - First rehearsal! (Lincoln Hall B20)
Friday, August 29
5:00pm - Welcome picnic on the Arts Quad
4) Prepare the required music
Performing with guest conductor Igor Corcuera Cáceres
Woodwinds and Brass
Prepare the required excerpts and the following scales.
Woodwinds: A chromatic scale, slurred, through your full comfortable range; and three major scales of your choice in at least 2 octaves, 3 if possible. (Any tempo and style are fine.)
Flutes: If you wish to audition for both flute and piccolo, sign up for only one audition slot and bring both instruments.
Brass: Three major scales of your choice in at least 2 octaves, 3 if possible. (Any tempo and style are fine.)
Double Bass, Piano, & Harp
Prepare the required excerpts.
Percussion
Cornell percussion instruments will be available for individual practice beginning with the first day of new student orientation. After signing up for your audition, you will receive an email with details. Please contact Dr. James Spinazzola (jms862@cornell.edu) if you have any questions.
If you wish to play percussion but are unfamiliar with one or more of the required instruments, prepare those with which you are comfortable.
Required Audition Excerpts
Piccolo: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Flute: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Oboe: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Bassoon: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Clarinet: excerpt 1, excerpt 2, excerpt 3
Bass clarinet: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Saxophone (all): excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Horn: excerpt 1, excerpt 2, excerpt 3
(Horns: The bass clef excerpt is in F. You need not prepare it if it is too low for you.)
Trumpet: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Trombone: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Euphonium: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Tuba: excerpts 1-3
Percussion
Harp: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Piano: excerpt 1, excerpt 2
Double bass: excerpt 1
We strongly encourage you to listen to at least one quality recording before practicing the excerpts.