Audition Information
Audition Information 2026-27
The West Hartford Camerata and I Giovani Solisti are chamber orchestras comprised of advanced string players from Conard and Hall High Schools in West Hartford, CT. Members are selected by audition, and they perform a wide range of challenging music from the string orchestra repertory. Students must currently participate in their school's performing arts program in order to be eligible to audition.
Students who are currently in Solisti or Camerata, and wish to continue in their current orchestra do not need to re-audition.
Camerata Director: Andrew Hopko
Rehearsals: 6:30-9:00, Thursdays
Members of the West Hartford Camerata are leaders in their other school ensembles, and serve as role models to other students in the orchestra program. You must take Concert Orchestra as a class in order to participate in Camerata.
There are limited openings for all string instruments for the 2025-2026 school year.
Solisti Director: Emmett Drake
Rehearsals: 6:30-9:00pm, Thursdays
In addition to evening rehearsals, Solisti is an honors-level class that meets during the day. Members of I Giovani Solisti are expected to not only perform at a high level musically, but they are also expected to meet the highest standards of citizenship and leadership in their music and school communities. Being a member of Solisti is a major commitment. The orchestra travels to Europe once every three years, and they have many performances and community service engagements. It is expected that members of this group are continually doing everything they can to improve as musicians.
Projected openings for 2026-2027: (Note: these are just estimates, and numbers may change based on the needs of the group)
- Violin: 4-6 openings
- Viola: 1-3 openings
- Cello: 0-3 openings
- Bass: 0-1 openings
Audition Process
Auditions are in-person, and by appointment only. Auditions will take place Thursday, Jan 22 at Conard and Friday, Jan 23 at Hall. You may audition on either day, regardless of which school you attend or plan to attend.
It is one audition for both Solisti and Camerata. Auditions will consist of the following components.
- Prepared three octave scale of the student’s choice. (Two octaves for Bass)
- Prepared solo of the student’s choice.
- Orchestral Excerpt (click here) (Excerpt only required if the student wishes to be considered for Solisti.)
- Sight-reading.
Guide to choosing solo repertoire:
Students should play a piece that they know well, a piece that represents their musical abilities in the best possible way. It is in the student’s best interest to perform a slightly less difficult piece well, rather than a more difficult piece that isn’t quite ready for performance.
**These pieces listed are for reference only, to give you and your teacher a general idea as to the level that students recently accepted to the groups are playing. There are no required pieces for these auditions, and playing these specific pieces will have no impact on a student’s placement.**
Violin:
Camerata: Concerto in A Minor, (any movement) Vivaldi
Solisti: Concerto in A Minor, Bach
Viola:
Camerata: Concerto in G Major, 2nd or 4th Movement, Telemann
Solisti: Prelude from Suite No. 1 in G Major, J.S. Bach
Cello:
Camerata: Sonata in C Major, Breval (Allegro)
Solisti: Sonata in G Minor, Eccles (2nd Movement)
Bass:
Camerata: Sonata in E minor, Vivaldi (2nd movement)
Solisti: Sonata in G Minor, Marcello (1st and 2nd movement)
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION