Monash Academy Orchestra
Be part of something special.
Experience extraordinary music first hand.

Monash Academy Orchestra

Monash Academy Orchestra (MAO) is a symphony orchestra based on the Monash University Clayton campus providing a unique musical journey for students within the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance as well as musicians from the wider university community. You will have the opportunity to meet and work with like-minded musicians, and experience extraordinary music first hand. Entry to the orchestra is by audition, and is open to all Monash students – students do not necessarily need to be enrolled in a Bachelor of Music in order to be eligible to audition. The orchestra currently has a large number of members from a range of different faculties, including Arts, Medicine, Law, Commerce, Engineering and Education. The MAO is committed to performing the work of Australian composers. To this end, a new work from an Australian composer is commissioned by Monash Performing Arts Centres each year, and premiered by the MAO.

Auditions FAQs

Monash Academy Performances 2024
Sunday 14 April, 2:30pm

Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No.1 ‘Classical’
Elena Kats-Chernin Force Majeure for piano and chamber orchestra
Joseph Haydn Symphony No.95

Roger Benedict conductor
Lisa Moore piano
Members of the Monash Academy Orchestra

Sunday 12 May, 2:30pm

Zoltán Kodály Dances of Galánta
Arr. Yin, Liu, Chu, Sheng, Shi and Xu Yellow River Piano Concerto
Margaret Bonds Montgomery Variations
Huang Ruo Folk Songs for Orchestra

Carolyn Watson conductor
Vincent Xue* piano

*Winner of the 2023 Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance Concerto Competition

Sunday 25 August, 2:30pm

Aaron Wyatt New Work*
Manuel de Falla Nights in the Gardens of Spain
Anna Meredith Nautilus
Dmitri Shostakovich Symphony No.9

Benjamin Northey conductor
Angela Li piano

*Monash University Ed Byrne Commission 2024

2024 Auditions

Entry to the orchestra is by audition – all members must audition for a position each year. Auditions for the 2024 season have officially closed, however some vacancies may exist, depending on the instrument. Please contact the Orchestra Administrator, Hannah Trinca, for further details: hannah.trinca@monash.edu

 

2024 Audition Excerpts


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  • Flute – Download
  • Piccolo – Download
  • Oboe – Download
  • Cor anglais – Download
  • Clarinet – Download
  • Eb Clarinet – Download
  • Bass Clarinet – Download
  • Bassoon – Download
  • Contra Bassoon – Download
  • French Horn – Download
  • Trumpet – Download
  • Tenor Trombone – Download
  • Bass Trombone – Download
  • Tuba – Download
  • Percussion and Timpani – Download
  • Harp – Download
  • Concertmaster – Download
  • Violin – Download
  • Viola – Download
  • Cello – Download
  • Double Bass – Download

Do I have to be a music student to audition for MAO?
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No, any student from any faculty can audition for a position in the orchestra.

I was a member of MAO last year. Do I need to re-audition?
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At the start of each year, all positions in the orchestra are declared vacant. Members must re-audition for a position every year.

Do I need an accompanist?
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Only those students invited to audition for the concertmaster position need an accompanist.

Will auditions take place in person?
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No, auditions for 2024 will be conducted via ‘blind’ video recordings. Audition recording tips can be found on the Phone Filming Techniques document.

I am unable to submit a recorded audition by the due date. Am I still able to audition?
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It may be possible to organise a late audition, depending on your instrument. Please contact the orchestra administrator for further details.

When do rehearsals take place?
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Rehearsals are project-based and commence 2-3 weeks before a concert. Rehearsals are held in the evenings and on weekends (to avoid clashes with scheduled classes). This simulates the orchestral rehearsal process in the industry and produces the best performance outcome for all involved.

Where do rehearsals take place?
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Full orchestral rehearsals usually take place in the Robert Blackwood Hall on the Clayton campus. Various rooms in the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance and The Ian Potter Centre for Performing Arts are used for tutorials and sectionals.