Cambrian Symphony Musician Guidelines
Auditions and section assignments
Participation in Cambrian Symphony is by invitation or audition. We ask our players to observe the general guidelines below, and welcome auditions from all players who feel able to commit to these guidelines. Please note that instrumentation varies per set, and spots are filled on an as-needed basis by our section managers. Our winds and brass sections are generally full, but we often need subs and are delighted to take auditions for sub spots.
Confirming for sets
Please confirm your participation for sets via email to your personnel manager. Please let them know as soon as possible, but definitely by 4 weeks before the first rehearsal of each set if you will be able to play. Lining up players takes time and gets harder to do with less notice. We need to make sure that your part will be played, so if we have not heard from you by the specified date we may offer your spot to someone else. Similarly if something comes up and you are no longer able to join us, please let us know as soon as possible so that we will have time to find a replacement for you.
Section personnel managers:
Attendance
Cambrian Symphony has very few rehearsals compared to most groups. To make the most of this limited time, we hope that everyone will try to attend all rehearsals. We appreciate that our schedules are difficult and are happy to allow absences, but ask that you please make every effort not to miss more than one rehearsal per set. If you will need to miss two or more, we hope you will understand that in some cases it may be in the orchestra's best interest for us to line up another player. Please let us know and we will see what can be done. For winds and brass, it is very helpful for the group to have a sub on any days that you are absent. We will be very grateful if you can help us in lining up a sub.
Please be sure to let your personnel manager know if you need to miss a rehearsal.
Special notes for students
Because Cambrian Symphony has only 5 rehearsals per set and our repertoire is at the edge of students' technique, it is imperative that our students attend all 5 rehearsals. A single absence or late arrival may be acceptable, but if you miss multiple rehearsals in a set, we will ask you to sit out the concert. When you sign up to play, please be sure that you have cross referenced your calendar, and communicate any complications in advance to your section manager. Our goal is to prepare you for the future, and no shows and last minute notice are not acceptable in the professional world. Of course, illness is a separate consideration and will be handled on a case by case basis. Please note that any and all communication regarding attendance should be done with your personnel managers. It is your obligation to tell the manager of your section.
Student volunteering
Cambrian Symphony is a tuition-free experience for our student musicians. In place of tuition we ask for a commitment of 1 volunteer hour per set that you participate in. The volunteer hour may be fulfilled by you or a family member, and can be achieved by any of the below. We understand that many of you have community service requirements for your schools and will be happy to provide documentation in support of your volunteer hours.
Parts
We ask our players to print their music. We will provide links to IMSLP or will email you pdfs ahead of time. Please fully prepare your parts before rehearsal.
If you need help downloading parts from IMSLP, please check out this example.
Concert Dress
Our concert attire is "presentable black." Skirts should be long. Ties/jackets not required. If you are unsure, please see our group photo on our website. Please note that concert dress is not required for dress rehearsals.
Photos/Video
We require all players/their legal guardians to provide us their consent for us to use photos/video from our concerts for publicity purposes. Please see Aryn at rehearsal for a form to sign and return. A blank form can also be downloaded here. You will only need to turn in a consent form once.
Minors
Cambrian Symphony is proud of our many student musicians. To ensure the safety of our young players, we need everyone to observe these formal measures:
Participation in Cambrian Symphony is by invitation or audition. We ask our players to observe the general guidelines below, and welcome auditions from all players who feel able to commit to these guidelines. Please note that instrumentation varies per set, and spots are filled on an as-needed basis by our section managers. Our winds and brass sections are generally full, but we often need subs and are delighted to take auditions for sub spots.
Confirming for sets
Please confirm your participation for sets via email to your personnel manager. Please let them know as soon as possible, but definitely by 4 weeks before the first rehearsal of each set if you will be able to play. Lining up players takes time and gets harder to do with less notice. We need to make sure that your part will be played, so if we have not heard from you by the specified date we may offer your spot to someone else. Similarly if something comes up and you are no longer able to join us, please let us know as soon as possible so that we will have time to find a replacement for you.
Section personnel managers:
- Flutes - Amy
- Oboes - David
- Clarinets - Marcelo
- Bassoons - Lettie
- Horns - Joe
- Trumpets - Laura
- Trombones and Tuba - Jay
- Violins - Nina
- Violas - Jason
- Cellos - Sung
- Basses - Mica
- Percussion - Christine and Wendy
Attendance
Cambrian Symphony has very few rehearsals compared to most groups. To make the most of this limited time, we hope that everyone will try to attend all rehearsals. We appreciate that our schedules are difficult and are happy to allow absences, but ask that you please make every effort not to miss more than one rehearsal per set. If you will need to miss two or more, we hope you will understand that in some cases it may be in the orchestra's best interest for us to line up another player. Please let us know and we will see what can be done. For winds and brass, it is very helpful for the group to have a sub on any days that you are absent. We will be very grateful if you can help us in lining up a sub.
Please be sure to let your personnel manager know if you need to miss a rehearsal.
Special notes for students
Because Cambrian Symphony has only 5 rehearsals per set and our repertoire is at the edge of students' technique, it is imperative that our students attend all 5 rehearsals. A single absence or late arrival may be acceptable, but if you miss multiple rehearsals in a set, we will ask you to sit out the concert. When you sign up to play, please be sure that you have cross referenced your calendar, and communicate any complications in advance to your section manager. Our goal is to prepare you for the future, and no shows and last minute notice are not acceptable in the professional world. Of course, illness is a separate consideration and will be handled on a case by case basis. Please note that any and all communication regarding attendance should be done with your personnel managers. It is your obligation to tell the manager of your section.
Student volunteering
Cambrian Symphony is a tuition-free experience for our student musicians. In place of tuition we ask for a commitment of 1 volunteer hour per set that you participate in. The volunteer hour may be fulfilled by you or a family member, and can be achieved by any of the below. We understand that many of you have community service requirements for your schools and will be happy to provide documentation in support of your volunteer hours.
- Setting up for rehearsal twice
- Ushering/front of house at concert
- Contributing content for a social media post
- Other ideas welcome
Parts
We ask our players to print their music. We will provide links to IMSLP or will email you pdfs ahead of time. Please fully prepare your parts before rehearsal.
If you need help downloading parts from IMSLP, please check out this example.
Concert Dress
Our concert attire is "presentable black." Skirts should be long. Ties/jackets not required. If you are unsure, please see our group photo on our website. Please note that concert dress is not required for dress rehearsals.
Photos/Video
We require all players/their legal guardians to provide us their consent for us to use photos/video from our concerts for publicity purposes. Please see Aryn at rehearsal for a form to sign and return. A blank form can also be downloaded here. You will only need to turn in a consent form once.
Minors
Cambrian Symphony is proud of our many student musicians. To ensure the safety of our young players, we need everyone to observe these formal measures:
- For our players under 18, please be sure to have a buddy with you at all times, even when going to the restroom.
- At no time should an adult in the orchestra be alone with a minor.