Audition Cafe

Overview

Minimum requirements: Candidates should hold a degree in Cello Performance. MM or DMA preferred.

The mission of the West Texas Symphony is to enhance the quality of life in West Texas through professional music performances and music education.

This position includes serving as Principal Cello with the West Texas Symphony (WTS) and the resident string quartet, the Permian Basin String Quartet (PBSQ). The first season is probationary with the possibility for more permanence. The position will commence with the 2025-2026 season.
Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate must reside in the greater Midland-Odessa area during the season (August through May).
Each season features a minimum of four Masterworks programs, three Pops & Family programs, and an annual cycle of The Nutcracker with the Midland Festival Ballet. Additional series include orchestral education programs alongside other potential collaborations. A typical season will hold around 40 orchestral services. Candidates must have excellent sight reading and chamber ensemble skills.
The Permian Basin String Quartet performs semi-annual formal quartet recitals and provides at least two quartet educational tours for the local ISDs (Midland and Ector counties). The Permian Basin String Quartet are typically engaged for three additional recitals hosted by a WTS contributor.
Beyond WTS engagements, there are numerous teaching and playing opportunities in the Midland-Odessa and West Texas area. As is in line with the WTS mission statement, local WTS musicians maintain pedagogic involvement with the community through avenues such as private teaching, instruction at institutions such as the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Midland College, Odessa College, clinics at junior high and high schools, and various other teaching positions. Coupled with the additional playing opportunities (both in town and the surrounding communities), the WTS musicians are highly valued. There is no shortage of supplemental work available.
Pay Scale: Principal orchestral pay scale is $100 per service. This position also includes an annual stipend of $14,744, paid in monthly installments during the course of the season (August 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026).
Application instructions are listed on the following page.
Visit www.wtxs.org for more information, or contact the WTS Audition Coordinator at auditions@wtxs.org
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must have appropriate documentation of their ability to reside and work in the U.S. The West Texas Symphony is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Principal Cello
2025 Application & Audition Protocol
Steps to apply:
1. Send a one-page resume* (see below) to auditions@wtxs.org
2. Candidates will be notified if invited by April 27th, 2025
3. If invited, a deposit check must be received by the WTS no later than May 2nd, 2025.
The deposit check should be made out to West Texas Symphony, with “cello audition” in the memo line. Please ensure that your name is clearly on the check, and that it will be received by the deadline (not merely postmarked). Checks will be returned at the audition or shredded if you cancel prior to May 2nd. Mail to:
West Texas Symphony
Principal Cello Audition
P.O. Box 60658
Midland, TX 79711
Resume Requirements
Include your current phone number, email and mailing address. List undergraduate and graduate degrees, as well as principal teachers. Succinctly outline performance and pedagogic experience (including lengths of engagements as applicable – e.g., ‘maintaining private studio from 2022 to present’). Limit length to one page.
Audition repertoire is listed on the following page.
Visit www.wtxs.org for more information, or contact the WTS Audition Coordinator at auditions@wtxs.org
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens must have appropriate documentation of their ability to reside and work in the U.S. The West Texas Symphony is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Principal Cello
2025 Audition Repertoire
Solo Repertoire – choose one movement from the following suggested works or from a comparable work:
Bach 1st Mvt AND one movement from one of the J.S. Bach unaccompanied cello suites
Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, mvt. III [D] to end
Strauss Don Quixote: Variation No. 1
Tchaikovsky Swan Lake Suite, No. 4 Scene
Orchestral Excerpts
Beethoven Symphony No. 5: II. Measure 1-10 and 49-59 and 98-106
Brahms Symphony No. 2: II. Beginning to measure 15
Debussy La Mer, mvt 1, top line only 2 mm. before [9] to downbeat of 6 mm. before [10]
Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Scherzo: [C] to [D] and [N] to [O]
Mozart Symphony No. 35, K. 385 Movement IV mm.134-197
Rossini William Tell Overture: Opening Solo
Shostakovich Symphony No. 5: mvt. 3 rehearsal 89 through 7 after rehearsal 91
Strauss Don Juan: Beginning to D
String Quartet
Fanny Mendelssohn String Quartet in E-flat Major mvts. 1 and 2
Sight-reading of string quartet literature may be requested in the final round