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Who may join the orchestra?
The Mercury Orchestra is a community effort involving approximately one hundred instrumentalists of all ages from the greater Cambridge/Boston (Massachusetts) area. All orchestra positions are volunteer/no-pay/no-fee.
What orchestra positions are open?
The orchestra has several open positions in violin, viola, violoncello, contrabass, French horn, tenor trombone, and harp.
Rehearsal substitute positions are open for piccolo, oboe, English horn, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, trumpet, bass trombone, and percussion.
How do I audition?
The next auditions for new members and substitute members will be held in May 2017. Audition candidates should prepare one or two short (2–3 minute) unaccompanied solo or orchestral excerpt(s) that best demonstrates their musicianship and orchestral skill. There will also be a brief sight-reading exercise. All auditions are by appointment. To schedule an audition, please complete our form here.
To be notified of auditions in future seasons, please consider joining our auditions information list here.
When does the orchestra play?
The orchestra rehearses twice a week in the 4 to 5 weeks preceding each concert. The orchestra plays only during the summer. In 2017 the orchestra will perform on Saturday, July 15 at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, MA; Wednesday, July 26 at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Boston Esplanade; and Friday, August 12 at Kresge Auditorium at MIT in Cambridge. Members play in one or more concerts depending upon instrumentation and availability.
In 2017, the orchestra will rehearse at the Center for Arts at the Armory in Somerville and the
Cambridge Masonic Hall, 1950
Massachusetts Avenue, Porter Square, Cambridge, MA.
The rehearsal schedule is below:
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MERCURY ORCHESTRA 2017
Concert #1 — Saturday, July 15, 2017, 8:00 pm / Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA
With Chelsea Basler, soprano
Berg: Lulu: Suite (1928-1934; rev Suite: 1935)
Coloratura soprano
_3[1/pic1.2/pic2.3/pic3] 3[1.2.3.Eh] 4[1.2/Eb.3/Eb.bcl] 3[1.2.3/cbn]-4331-asx-tmp+3-hp-pf-str; perc: bd, cym, sd, tri, tamtam, gong, vib, sus cym
Strauss: Zueignung, TrV 141, op. 10 no. 1 (Devotion) (1885; rev (orchd) 1929)
solo voice
223[1.2.bcl]2-4210-tmp-hp-str
Strauss: Morgen, TrV 170, op. 27, no. 4 (1894; rev (orchd) 1897)
medium or high voice
0000-3000-hp-str
Strauss: Cäcilie, op. 27 (TrV 170), no. 2 (1894; rev (orchd) 1897)
high voice
2222-4231-tmp-hp-str
Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, TrV 227d, op. 59 (1945; 1909-1910)
3[1.2.3/pic] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 4[1.2.3/Eb.bcl] 3[1.2.3/cbn]-4331-tmp+5-1or2hp-cel-str; perc: bd, cym, sd, tri, tambn, glock, ratch
Rehearsals (Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville MA 02143):
-Mon Jun 19, 7:00-9:30 pm (* at Masonic Hall, 1950 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140)
-Thu Jun 22, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Sun Jun 25, 4:00-6:30 pm
-Thu Jun 29, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Thu Jul 6, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Sun Jul 9, 4:00-6:30 pm
-Thu Jul 13, 7:00-9:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal (Sanders Theatre):
-Fri Jul 14, 7:30-10:00 pm
Concert: Sat July 15 (6:50 pm call, 7:00 pm warmup, 8 pm concert)
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Concert #2 — Wednesday, July 26, 2017, 7:00 pm / Hatch Memorial Shell, Boston, MA
Wagner (arr. Henk de Vlieger): Meistersinger — An Orchestral Tribute
2[1.2.pic]222-4331-tmp+4-hp-str
Strauss: Suite from Der Rosenkavalier, TrV 227d, op. 59 (1945; 1909-1910)
3[1.2.3/pic] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 4[1.2.3/Eb.bcl] 3[1.2.3/cbn]-4331-tmp+5-1or2hp-cel-str
perc: bd, cym, sd, tri, tambn, glock, ratch
Rehearsals (Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville MA 02143):
-Mon Jun 19, 7:00-9:30 pm (* at Masonic Hall, 1950 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140)
-Thu Jun 22, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Sun Jun 25, 4:00-6:30 pm
-Thu Jun 29, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Thu Jul 6, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Sun Jul 9, 4:00-6:30 pm
-Thu Jul 13, 7:00-9:30 pm
-Thu Jul 20, 7:00-9:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal (Center for Arts at the Armory)
-Sun Jul 23, 4:00-6:30 pm
Concert: Wed July 26 (5:00 pm call, 5:15 pm soundcheck, 7:00 pm concert)
Rain location TBD
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Concert #3 — Saturday, August 12, 2017, 8:00 pm / Kresge Auditorium MIT
With Winner of 2017 Foundation for Chinese Performing Arts Concerto Competition (TBA)
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 34 (1934)
Solo piano
3[1.2.pic] 3[1.2.Eh] 22-4231-tmp+4-hp-str; perc: glock, sus cym, sd, tri, cym, bd
Rachmaninoff: Symphony No. 2, op. 27, in E minor (1906-1907)
3[1.2.3/pic] 3[1.2.3/Eh] 3[1.2.bcl] 2-4331-tmp+3-str; perc: bd, cym, sd, glock
Rehearsals (Masonic Hall):
-Thu Jul 27 7:00-9:30 pm
-Sun Jul 30 4:00-6:30 pm
-Thu Aug 3 7:00-9:30 pm
-Sun Aug 6 2:00-4:30 pm (Note earlier time)
-Thu Aug 10 7:00-9:30 pm
Dress Rehearsal (Kresge Auditorium MIT):
-Fri Aug 11, 7:30-10:00 pm
Concert: Sat Aug 12 (6:50 pm call, 7:00 pm warmup, 8 pm concert)
I am interested in singing with the Mercury Orchestra Chorale. How do I audition?
The Chorale has no programming for the 2017 season but will perform in later seasons. Please visit our Mercury Orchestra Chorale page here.
How can I find out more information?
Please contact our auditions coordinator at auditions@mercuryorchestra.org.
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