How to Join

Auditions are not required to join the University Orchestra. Interested students for these ensembles should contact music@ku.edu for more information.

Auditions are required to join the KU Symphony Orchestra. For information on joining the KU Symphony Orchestra please see below:

Strings

For strings, seating and placement auditions take place the first week of each semester and are heard by the conductors and the string faculty. Auditions consist of prepared orchestral excerpts only. These excerpts are available for download below.

Auditions are required for placement into the KU Symphony Orchestra, and KUSO is open to all students subject to successful audition. Auditioning does not necessarily guarantee a place in the ensemble, and placement in the KU Symphony Orchestra or KU University Orchestra is at the discretion of the panel.

All instrumental music majors, MEMT and music education majors, music minors, and all music scholarship recipients are required to audition. In addition, nonmajors who would like to be considered KU Symphony also need audition.

Fall 2022 KUSO Audition Music

More information about audition dates and times during the first two days of the Fall semester will be posted by August 1, 2022.

Violin (pdf)

Viola (pdf)

Cello (pdf)

Double Bass (pdf)

Winds and Percussion

Auditions take place in conjunction with those of KU Concert Bands during the first week of classes on the afternoons of August 22-25, 2022. Sign up for an audition time the week in advance outside the KU Band Office in Murphy 124. Results will be posted later that week.