Audition Cafe

Written by conductor and clarinetist Carl Topilow. In his extensive career, he has heard more than 40,000 auditions. Carl serves as conductor of the National Repertory Orchestra, the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, and the Firelands Symphony Orchestra. As conductor and instructor of the master students in orchestral conducting at the Cleveland Institute of Music, his conducting students occupy, or have occupied, positions with the orchestras of Boston, Cleveland, Edmonton, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Louisville, Kansas City, Richmond, and many others.

All of us, from seasoned professional to total beginner, struggle with balancing the various elements that go into audition preparation. When should I start practicing? What solos should I choose for the audition? What are people listening for in auditions?

14 important tips to help preparing for that critical first rehearsal

If you think this post is a going to be a cleverly disguised list of things you should actually be considering for your audition preparations-think again! I don’t use cheap writing tactics and clickbait headlines just to get your attention. If that’s all you think this is, stop reading already. Aha! Still here, I see.

A ’90s style “Choose Your Own Adventure” game!

Co-authored by Nathan Cole, First Associate Concertmaster of the LA Phil
& Akiko Tarumoto, Assistant Concertmaster of the LA Phil

Board President, Minnesota Chorale and arts writer

Author of The Mask of The Flower Prince Blog

Principal Clarinetist, Houston Symphony
Former Clarinetist with the New York Philharmonic

International Horn Soloist and Former Member of Canadian Brass
Professor of Horn, Indiana University – Jacobs School of Music
www.JeffNelsen.com

Performance Anxiety Coach

www.performconfidently.com

Clarinet Fellow at New World Symphony

www.zachmanzi.com