ORCHESTRAS
AUDITION INFORMATIONAuditions for Penn State Philharmonic and/or Chamber Orchestra occur during the first week of classes each semester. Students are required to play two contrasting pieces from any sonata, concerto, suite, etc. and sight read a section from a standard orchestral work. Sign up for an audition time on the bulletin board outside 104 Music Building II. There are no auditions required for Sinfonietta.
PHILHARMONIC
The seventy-member Philharmonic, conducted by Gerardo Edelstein, presents five to six full concerts per academic year. Tours of the Philharmonic have included concerts throughout the eastern United States in such cities as Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In March 2006, the orchestra was invited to particiapte in the VI international orchestra festival in Zaragoza, Spain . The Philharmonic's repertoire from recent years has included works by Brahms, Debussy, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Beethoven, and Mahler. Enrollment, open to all University Park students, is by audition at the beginning of each semester.
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
An ensemble of varying size as dictated by the repertoire, the Chamber Orchestra performs works from the eighteenth through twentieth centuries. The Chamber Orchestra made its third European Tour in 1999. Repertoire from recent years has included works by Mozart, Copland, Haydn, Stravinsky, Schubert, Wagner, and Mendelssohn. Enrollment, open to all University Park students, is by audition at the beginning of each semester.
SINFONIETTA
A full-sized orchestra consisting mainly of non-music majors that rehearses once a week and performs one concert per semester.
Auditions are not required and all University Park students are encouraged to participate.