Mercury Orchestra | Auditions

Who may join the orchestra?
The Mercury Orchestra is a community effort involving approximately one hundred advanced instrumentalists of all ages from the greater Cambridge/Boston (Massachusetts) area. Programming from prior years is available on our Concerts page. 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, and harp.

Rehearsal substitute positions are open for piccolo, oboe, English horn, clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, French horn, trumpet, tenor trombone, bass trombone, and percussion.

How do I audition?
The next auditions for new members and substitute members will be held Monday, June 11, 2018. Audition candidates should prepare two contrasting selections of 3-5 minutes each, preferably including the first movement of a romantic concerto or sonata, and 2-3 orchestral excerpts (which may but need not be selected from this season's repertoire). There will also be a brief sight-reading exercise. All auditions are by appointment and will be heard by an audition committee. 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 2018 the orchestra will perform three different programs: on Saturday, July 14 and Saturday, August 11 in Sanders Theatre in Cambridge, MA; and Wednesday, August 29 at the Hatch Memorial Shell on the Boston Esplanade. Members typically play in one or more concerts depending upon instrumentation and availability.

In 2018, 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. Rehearsals are typically Sunday afternoons and Wednesday or Thursday evenings.

CONCERT #1 — Saturday, July 14, 2018, 8:00 pm / Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA Bernstein: Symphony No. 1 “Jeremiah” <1943> solo mezzo-soprano 3[1.2.3/picc] 3[1.2.Eh] 3p[1.2.Ebcl/bcl] 3[1.2.cbn]–4 3 3 1–tmp+4–pf–str perc: bd, cym, sd, tri, woodblk, marac (on tmp) Hindemith: Mathis der Maler (Symphony) <1933-1934> 2[1.2/pic] 2 2 2–4 2 3 1–tmp+3–str perc: field dr, 2sd Rehearsals (Masonic Hall, 1950 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140): Sun 17 Jun 1-3:30 pm Thu 21 Jun 7-9:30 pm Sun 24 Jun 3-5:30 pm Tue 26 Jun 7-9:30 pm Sun 1 Jul 3-5:30 pm Tue 3 Jul 7-9:30 pm Sun 8 Jul 3-5:30 pm Thu 12 Jul 7-9:30 pm Dress Rehearsal (Sanders Theatre): Fri 13 Jul 7:30-10:00 pm Concert: Sat July 14 (6:50 pm call, 7:00 pm warmup, 8 pm concert) _______________________________________________________ CONCERT #2 — Saturday, August 11, 2018, 8:00 pm / Sanders Theatre, Cambridge, MA Schumann: Overture to Genoveva, op. 81 <1847-1848> 2 2 2 2–4 2 3 0–tmp–str Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor, op. 54 <1841-1845> 2 2 2 2–2 2 0 0–tmp–str Schumann: Symphony No. 2 in C Major, op. 61 <1845-1846> 2 2 2 2–2 2 3 0–tmp–str Rehearsals (Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville MA 02143): Thu 19 Jul 7-9:30 pm Sun 22 Jul 3-5:30 pm Sun 29 Jul 12:30-3:00 pm Thu 2 Aug 7-9:30 pm Sun 5 Aug 2-4:30 pm Thu 9 Aug 7-9:30 pm Dress Rehearsal (Sanders Theatre): Fri 10 Aug 7:30-10:00 pm Concert: Sat 11 Aug (6:50 pm call, 7:00 pm warmup, 8 pm concert) _______________________________________________________ CONCERT #3 — Wednesday, August 29, 2018, 7:00 pm / Hatch Memorial Shell, Boston, MA Shostakovich: Festive Overture, op. 96 <1954> 3[1.2.pic] 3 3 3[1.2.cbn]–4 3 3 1–opt banda[brass 4 3 3 0]–tmp+4–str perc: tri, sd, cym, bd Borodin: Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor <1869-1887> chorus 3[1.2.pic] 2[1.2/Eh] 2 2–4 2 3 1–tmp+4–str perc: tambn, sd, cym, bd Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 5 in E minor, op. 64, TH 29 <1888> 3[1.2.pic] 2 2 2–4 2 3 1–tmp+3–str perc: tri, bd, cym Rehearsals (Center for Arts at the Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville MA 02143): Thu 26 Jul 7-9:30 pm Thu 16 Aug 7-9:30 pm Sat 18 Aug 9:30 am-12 pm Sat 18 Aug 1-3:30 pm Thu 23 Aug 7-9:30 pm Sun 26 Aug 3-5:30 pm Tue 28 Aug 7-9:30 pm Concert: Wed 29 Aug (5:00 pm call, 5:15 pm soundcheck, 7:00 pm concert) Rain location TBD

How can I find out more information?
Please contact our auditions coordinator at auditions@mercuryorchestra.org.