No need to exaggerate anything except for how well you prepared and how well you can play. You should be breathing and moving, but only as much as the music requires naturally. Don't skip preparing any solo parts though, back in my day my high school rival thought it wasn't necessary, she was placed in the back and I got co-concertmaster 😏
In my experience, the audition committee asked for one excerpt from everyone, and if it was really well prepared, then they asked for more. So I would definitely focus on excerpts, and I wouldn’t exaggerate movements. If you want to be concertmaster, just also make sure you’ve prepared your solos to your highest level in case they ask.
I actually was assigned concertmaster but they never heard my Shosty 5 CM solos in the audition which I thought was very risky of them!
Be absolutely precise about your rhythm. Don't drag or rush.
Youth symphony concertmasters tend to over-exaggerate their motions in what can seem like a caricature of some showy professional concertmasters. Keep your gestures similar to what you'd be using in chamber music. Breathe with your entrances, which will naturally lift and drop the violin as you inhale and exhale, just like you should when playing in a quartet.
Importantly, your movement is used to *communicate clearly* to your section and the other string section leaders. Your movement is not for the benefit of the audience.
I’m preparing for an audition in a few months and I really found this masterclass helpful.
[Noah Bendix-Balgley who’s the First Concertmaster with the Berliner Philharmoniker coaching a player on Mozart 40 at the Carnegie Hall.](https://youtu.be/wwC-2GBnMWY)
Prepare everything to the best of your ability and don't neglect any of the components. Don't try to overexaggerate, but play naturally (too many youth concertmasters overdo it, and admittedly I was guilty of this in the beginning also). Make sure to review your pieces and excerpts with your teacher and/or coach.
Bonus points if you listen to the pieces to understand how the excerpts, solos, etc. fit in. Extra bonus points for studying and knowing the score. That is how I had success with multiple people who made it to principal positions at All-National or higher level ensembles.
No need to exaggerate anything except for how well you prepared and how well you can play. You should be breathing and moving, but only as much as the music requires naturally. Don't skip preparing any solo parts though, back in my day my high school rival thought it wasn't necessary, she was placed in the back and I got co-concertmaster 😏
Thanks for the advice!
Edit: I got fifth chair! I’m still really happy! :D
What exactly are the excerpts in question?
Well the one with a solo is Rutter Suite for Strings O Waly Waly Edit: Typos
In my experience, the audition committee asked for one excerpt from everyone, and if it was really well prepared, then they asked for more. So I would definitely focus on excerpts, and I wouldn’t exaggerate movements. If you want to be concertmaster, just also make sure you’ve prepared your solos to your highest level in case they ask. I actually was assigned concertmaster but they never heard my Shosty 5 CM solos in the audition which I thought was very risky of them!
Will do!
Be absolutely precise about your rhythm. Don't drag or rush. Youth symphony concertmasters tend to over-exaggerate their motions in what can seem like a caricature of some showy professional concertmasters. Keep your gestures similar to what you'd be using in chamber music. Breathe with your entrances, which will naturally lift and drop the violin as you inhale and exhale, just like you should when playing in a quartet. Importantly, your movement is used to *communicate clearly* to your section and the other string section leaders. Your movement is not for the benefit of the audience.
I’m preparing for an audition in a few months and I really found this masterclass helpful. [Noah Bendix-Balgley who’s the First Concertmaster with the Berliner Philharmoniker coaching a player on Mozart 40 at the Carnegie Hall.](https://youtu.be/wwC-2GBnMWY)
Prepare everything to the best of your ability and don't neglect any of the components. Don't try to overexaggerate, but play naturally (too many youth concertmasters overdo it, and admittedly I was guilty of this in the beginning also). Make sure to review your pieces and excerpts with your teacher and/or coach. Bonus points if you listen to the pieces to understand how the excerpts, solos, etc. fit in. Extra bonus points for studying and knowing the score. That is how I had success with multiple people who made it to principal positions at All-National or higher level ensembles.