Last modified: February 10, 2025

Orchestra Information

Expected Skills for Each Orchestra at Centennial Middle School for 2024-25 School Year

Level 1 – Beginning Orchestra – No audition required

• Complete beginners who have never studied a string instrument before, OR people who have played for a year or two but who would like to start over from the beginning.
• We go over how to put together the instrument, how to hold the instrument and bow, how to sit properly, how to make a sound, how to read notes from the beginning, etc.

Level 2 – Intermediate Orchestra – No audition required

• Generally for people who have already played for 1 or 2 years.
• Prerequisite Skills
  • Proper instrument position and posture
  • Able to play 1 octave D major and G major scales
  • Play 8th note passages that include 8th notes after practicing

Level 3 – Symphonic Orchestra – VIDEO AUDITION REQUIRED by April 30th, 2024

• Audition materials can be found at Mr. Voght’s website (or see below in this document).
• 6th Grade students interested in auditioning for the 2024-25 school year will do so through video submission in Google Classroom.
• Sign up for the Google Classroom by going to the following link:
  • Google Classroom
  • Use the class code: bpncir3
• Generally for people who have already played for 2 to 3 years (there are exceptions of course).
• Prerequisite Skills
  • Displays acceptable behavior in previous orchestra classes or lessons (Mr. Voght may discuss with previous teachers).
  • Proper instrument position and posture
  • Able to tune their own instrument
  • Play with an acceptable tone quality (open, beautiful sound, without scratches and squeaks).
  • Able to identify by name and play all notes in first position on all strings, including all flat and sharp notes.
  • Able to play 1 octave D major, G major, C major, and A major scales.
  • Able to sight read music with 8th notes in the keys of D or G major with 80% or more accuracy of notes and rhythms.
  • Plays the Symphonic Orchestra audition sheet accurately.

Level 4 – Chamber Orchestra – VIDEO AUDITION REQUIRED by April 30th, 2024

• Audition materials can be found at Mr. Voght’s website (or see below in this document).
• 6th Grade students interested in auditioning for the 2024-25 school year will do so through video submission in Google Classroom.
• Sign up for the Google Classroom by going to the following link:
  • Google Classroom
  • Use the class code: bpncir3
• Generally for people who have already played for 3 or more years (there are exceptions of course), or who have taken private lessons for a year or more (not required).
• Prerequisite Skills
  • Displays acceptable behavior in previous orchestra classes or lessons (Mr. Voght may discuss with previous teachers).
  • Proper instrument position and posture
  • Able to tune their own instrument
  • Play with an acceptable tone quality (open, beautiful sound, without scratches and squeaks).
  • Able to identify by name and play all notes in first position on all strings, including all flat and sharp notes.
  • Two-octave scale, shifting where necessary:
    • Violin: two-octave D major scale
    • Viola/cello/bass: two-octave G major scale
  • Able to sight read music with 8th notes in the keys of D major, G major, C major, or A major with 80% or more accuracy of notes and rhythms.
  • Plays the Chamber Orchestra portion of the audition sheet accurately.
  • (Optional: The student may play 30 seconds of any additional material of their choice if they desire. This is totally optional and will not count against the student if they choose not to.)
• Download Orchestra Information Document for Audition Materials