Applications for the 2020/21 academic year are closed. Check this space in October, 2020 for information about auditions for the 2021/22 academic year!

Student musician profile

CMPI is focused on supporting students from ethnic backgrounds that are under-represented in the professional orchestra field, including African-American, Latinx, American Indian, Alaskan Native, and/or South Asian and Pacific Islander. Students who are not part of one of those ethnic groups may also qualify if their family is low-income or will be the first in their family to attend college.

Dedicated and Driven

CMPI is a highly selective and intensive musical training program.  Students who apply must be highly driven and dedicated and aspire to a professional career in orchestral music.   Musicians should expect to practice at least ten hours each week outside of rehearsal and lesson time. This program also requires students to attend concerts, engage with professional musician mentors, and attend other events aimed at helping students to prepare for college and beyond.

Music Experience

Although there is no specific requirement for years of playing experience, students should carefully review the suggested repertoire and pre-screening guide for both the pre-screening and final audition.  Students should be comfortable performing the requirements which are outlined if they are considering an audition in the spring.

Instrument Eligibility

This program is for regular orchestral instruments:

  • Violin, viola, cello, double bass
  • Flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon
  • Trumpet, horn, trombone/bass trombone, tuba
  • Percussion, harp

Note: This program is not for students whose primary instruments are euphonium, saxophone, piano, guitar or voice 

key dates – 2020/21 Academic Year

Important update: In light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, CMPI’s application process for the 2020/21 cohort will be held remotely.

Please note: CMPI will be holding a new round of auditions for rising 9th-11th grade students only. The timeline for this new round is as follows:

  • Submit an online application by September 4, 2020.
  • Attend a mandatory Zoom information session in September(applicants need only attend one session):
    • Sunday, September 6, 2020, 6:00pm CST
    • Monday, September 7, 2020 6:00pm CST
    • Tuesday, September 8, 2020 6:00pm CST
  • Submit a pre-screening audition video by Friday September 11, 2020 (see video guidelines below)
  • Applicants who are selected as semifinalists must then participate in a Zoom home visit and submit letters of recommendation as well as income verification documents
  • Submit a final audition video by Wednesday, September 30 (see video guidelines below)

Decisions will be announced in early October.

Audition video guidelines

General information

  • You may use a smartphone, tablet, computer with a webcam, or any other device that can record both audio and video. 
  • Video length should not exceed 10 minutes. If the total length of your audition music exceeds 10 minutes, please perform shorter selections of your solo music.
  • Audition videos must be shot in one continuous take and include your scale, 2 contrasting solo pieces and orchestral excerpts (depending on your grade level).
  • Absolutely no editing or sound enhancements of any kind are permitted.
  • You will also need to submit scans or photographs of your sheet music via email for our judging panel. We recommend using an app such as Genius Scan to scan your music.

What should be on your recording

  • Announce your full name and current grade at the beginning of the video
  • Before playing each solo or excerpt, announce the title and composer.
    • Example: “This is Concertino Basso by Richard Lieb” or “These are excerpts from Wagner’s Die Meistersinger Overture”
  • Please play your audition requirements in the following order:
    • Scale (one scale of your choice)
    • Etude (grades 9-11)
    • 2 contrasting solo pieces
    • Orchestral excerpts, if applicable.

How to submit

  • Upload your video to YouTube:
    • Click the “+” button on the main page and select your video file.
    • On the first page (“Details”) choose the option “No, it’s not made for kids” at the bottom of the screen.
    • On the third page (“Visibility”) choose “Unlisted”
    • Make sure to save the video link.
  • Please send us scans (or clear photos taken with a phone) of the sheet music for your audition music. Genius Scan is a good application to use for scanning the documents.
  • Send an email to jhall@chicagopathways.org with the subject line “CMPI video audition: [your name]”. In the body of the email, include the link to your video audition. Include the photos of your sheet music as attachments.

 

Audition repertoire and pre-screening guide

See below for suggested repertoire by instrument. However, we will listen to the solo/etude literature that you have prepared. Direct questions to info@chicagopathways.org.

Bass

Grades 11 – 12
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto (Ex. Koussevitzky, Dittersdorf, Dragonetti)
  • 1 movement solo Bach
  • 1 standard etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 9 – 10
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 contrasting solo piece
  • 1 standard Etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces
  • Any scales the student has prepared

Bass Trombone

Grades 11 – 12
Grades 9 – 10
  • Any of the following selections: Telemann Sonata in F minor (mvmts. 1 & 2) OR Bass Trombone version of Galliard Sonata No. 1. (mvmts. 1 & 2) OR Lieb Concertino Basso (all three movements)
  • Bordogni (Rochut) etude No. 5 or 13; should be performed down one octave from written part
  • All major scales. Two octaves should be played to high F and down to pedal Bb
Grades 6 – 8
  • One etude from First Book of Practical Studies for Trombone by G. Bordner, one etude from 70 Progressive Etudes for Bass Trombone by L. Gillis
  • Bb, Eb, Ab, F Major scales one octave; C Major scale two octaves

Bassoon

Grades 11 – 12
Grades 9 – 10
  • 2 contrasting etudes from “5 Studies in Scales and Chords” Op. 24 or “50 Concert Studies” Op. 26 by L. Milde, or “The Bassoon Studies, Op. 8 by J. Weissenborn
  • All major scales; 2 octaves
  • Excerpt from Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces or etudes
  • 3 to 6 scales, one must be 2 octaves

Cello

Grades 11 – 12
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 movement solo Bach
  • 1 standard etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 9 – 10
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 contrasting solo piece
  • 1 standard Etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces
  • Any scales the student has prepared

Clarinet

Grades 11 – 12
Grades 9 – 10
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces or etudes
  • Major scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats, 2 octaves

Flute

Grades 11 – 12
  • 1st movement from Mozart Flute Concerto G Major K. 313, or D Major K. 314
  • 1 contrasting solo from “Flute Music by French Composers”, Ed. Louis Moyse
  • All major and minor (harmonic and melodic forms) scales with arpeggio over the full range of the instrument
  • Excerpts from Beethoven Leonore Overture; Debussy Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Grades 9 – 10
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting pieces selected from “36 Repertoire Pieces”, Ed. Donald Peck or “Concert and Contest Collection”, Ed. H. Voxman
  • Major scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats, 2 octaves

French Horn

Grades 11 – 12
  • 2 contrasting movements from a standard Concerto, Sonata, or etude such as Mozart Horn Concerto No.2, R. Strauss Horn Concerto No.1, Hindemith Sonata, or Dukas Villanelle
  • All Major and minor scales 2 octaves with arpeggio
  • Excerpts from R. Strauss Till Eulenspiegels…; Shostakovich Sym. no.5 1st Movement; Tchaikovsky Sym. no.5; Ravel Pavane
Grades 9 – 10
  • 2 contrasting etudes or solos
  • All Major scales 2 octaves
  • Excerpts from Tchaikovsky Symphony #4; Mendelssohn “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, Nocturne
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting pieces from “60 Selected Studies for Horn, Book 1” G. Kopprasch or “60 Selected Studies for Horn, Books 1-2” J.M. Maxine-Alphonse
  • Major scales to 3 sharps & flats; F, and G major scales 2 octaves

Harp

Grades 11 – 12
  • 2 contrasting movements or solo pieces
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 9 – 10
  • 2 contrasting movements or solo pieces
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting pieces
  • Major scales and minor scales

Oboe

Grades 11 – 12
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 Etude from “Complete Method for Oboe”, by A.M.S. Barret or “48 Etudes”, by F.W. Ferling
  • All major and minor (harmonic and melodic forms) scales with arpeggio over the full range of the instrument
  • Excerpts from Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4; Ravel Le Tombeau de Couperin
Grades 9 – 10
  • 2 contrasting etudes from “Complete Method for Oboe”, by A.M.S. Barret or “48 Etudes”, by F.W. Ferling
  • All major scales; 1 octave when appropriate
  • Excerpts from Beethoven Symphony #3 Marche Funebre
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces or etudes
  • 3 to 6 scales, one must be 2 octaves

Percussion

Grades 11 – 12
  • Mallets: All major and minor scales, straight through with eighth notes with quarter note=120; Keyboard solo or etude, may be performed on either marimba or xylophone. Excerpt: Gershwin, Porgy and Bess
  • Timpani: demonstration of tuning ability Excerpt: Beethoven Symphony No. 9
  • Snare: Snare drum solo or etude; Demonstration of selected rudiments (see attached pdf) Excerpt: Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade
Grades 9 – 10
  • Mallets: All major scales, two octaves, straight through with eighth notes with quarter note=80; Keyboard solo or etude, may be performed on either marimba or xylophone
  • Snare: Demonstration of selected rudiments (download here); snare drum solo or etude
Grades 6 – 8
  • Mallets: 1 mallet etude; C, F, B-flat, E-flat, G major scales
  • Snare: 1 snare etude; Demonstration of buzz roll; demonstration of open roll (pp to ff)

Trombone

Grades 11 – 12
Grades 9 – 10
  • Any of the following selections: Telemann Sonata in F minor (mvmts. 1 & 2); Galliard Sonata No. 1. (mvmts. 1 & 2); Lieb Concertino Basso (all three movements); Ropartz Andante and Allegro; Marcello Sonata in F Major mvmts. (1, 2, and 4)
  • Bordogni (Rochut) etude No. 5 or 13
  • All major scales; Two octaves should be played to high Bb
Grades 6 – 8
  • One etude from First Book of Practical Studies for Trombone by G. Bordner, One contrasting etude from VanderCook Etudes for Trombone
  • C, Bb, Eb, Ab Major scales one octave; F Major scale two octaves

Trumpet

Grades 11 – 12
  • 2 contrasting movements from a standard solo or etudes such as Hummell Trumpet Concerto Op. 49, Haydn Trumpet Concerto : VIIe/1, Arutunian Concerto for Trumpet, Kennan Sonata for Trumpet, Hindemith Sonata for Trumpet, or Charlier Transcendental Etudes)
  • All Major and minor scales; 2 octaves Gb through C, 1 octave Db through F
  • Excerpts from Mussorgsky/Ravel “Pictures at an Exhibition” Promenade; Beethoven Leonore Overture 2 and Leonore Overture 3; Gershwin An American in Paris
Grades 9 – 10
  • 2 contrasting etudes or solos (Ex. “Andante et Allegro” by Ropartz, Concert Etude by Goedicke, “Practical Etudes” by Robert Getchell)
  • All major scales; 2 octaves; 2 octaves Gb through C, 1 octave Db through F
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting etudes (Ex. “Practical Etudes” by Robert Getchell, “32 Etudes” by Sigmond Herring)
  • Major scales through 3 sharps and 3 flats, G and A major scales 2 octaves

Tuba

Grades 11 – 12
Grades 9 – 10
  • 2 contrasting movements, solos or etudes (Ex: 2 movements from Vaughn-Williams Six Studies in English Folk Song, Advanced etudes from Marco Bordogni or Vladislav Blazevich)
  • All major scales, two octaves to high Bb
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solos or etudes (Ex: Marcello Sonata in F, early Bordogni etudes (no.1 through no. 5), Honor and Arms by Handel
  • C, Bb, Eb, Ab Major scales, one octave up to F

Viola

Grades 11 – 12
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 movement solo Bach
  • 1 standard etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 9 – 10
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 contrasting solo piece
  • 1 standard Etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces
  • Any scales the student has prepared

Violin

Grades 11 – 12
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 movement solo Bach
  • 1 standard etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 9 – 10
  • 1 movement from a standard concerto
  • 1 contrasting solo piece
  • 1 standard Etude
    Students may pick 2 of the three selections from the above list, but are highly encouraged to prepare all three. The number of prepared selections presented will be considered alongside other factors
  • All Major and minor scales
Grades 6 – 8
  • 2 contrasting solo pieces
  • Any scales the student has prepared

Program Components

What is required of students once selected to the program?

Once selected to the program, CMPI student musicians will join a dynamic and rigorous musical training program. Various elements of the program will be tailored to each students’ specific needs, including support for an upgraded instrument or repairs, tuition assistance for summer camps/festivals, assistance with travel and audition expenses.  Students will take weekly private lessons throughout the school year and summer, participate in a large ensemble program, chamber music (at appropriate levels), music theory/music literacy, and more. These activities will be subsidized based on a sliding financial need scale. In short, this is for serious young musicians who have the talent and aptitude required for success.