Applications for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, percussion, and timpani will be accepted for the 2026 Bursary Competition. Check back in December 2025 to apply!
Orchestral Exerpts
Orchestral excerpts are an integral part of the audition; practice and study of these elements should be given as much weight as the solo repertoire.
Please contact NACO Emerging Artist Programs Manager Kelly Symons (Kelly.Symons@nac-cna.ca) to obtain a copy of the booklet for your instrument.
Violin | Viola | Cello | Double Bass | Harp
Violin
**LUDWIG v. Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125. III. Adagio molto e cantabile, mm 99-115
JOHANNES Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98. I. Allegro non troppo, pickup to m145 to m188
**FELIX Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61. Scherzo, m17 to 16m before [E]
JESSIE MONTGOMERY, Coincident Dances mm 195-245
W.A. Mozart, Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K.543. I. Adagio; Allegro, mm 1-14, AND mm 26-82
RICHARD Strauss, Don Juan, Op. 20. Beginning to 13m after [C]
** Marked excerpts are required for the video-recorded preliminary audition round.
Viola
LUDWIG v. Beethoven, Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92. I. Vivace, mm 184-260
JOHANNES Brahms, Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98. IV. Allegro energico e passionato, mm 41-80
**FELIX Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Scherzo, -[D]
JESSIE MONTGOMERY, Strum. mm 210-262
**W.A. Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D major, K.385. I. Allegro con spirito, mm 13-58
RICHARD Strauss, Ein Heldenleben. [77] to 2m before [80]
** Marked excerpts are required for the video-recorded preliminary audition round.
Cello
**LUDWIG V. Beethoven, Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67. II. Andante con moto, mm 1-10, mm 49-59, and mm 98-106
JOHANNES Brahms, Symphony No. 2, Op. 73. II. Adagio non troppo, mm 1-15
**FELIX Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61. Scherzo, [E] to 9m after [H]
JOCELYN MORLOCK, My Name is Amanda Todd. mm 4-17
W. A. Mozart, Symphony No. 35 in D major, K.385. IV. Presto, mm 134-181
Richard STRAUSS, Don Juan, Op. 20. beginning to 4m before [D]
** Marked excerpts are required for the video-recorded preliminary audition round.
Double bass
**J.S. BACH, Orchestral Suite No.2 in B minor, BWV 1067. Badinerie (no repeat)
JOHANNES BRAHMS, Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68. I. Un poco sostenuto, [E] to m189
FRANZ JOSEF HAYDN, Symphony No.31 in D major, Hob.I:31. IV. Finale, Variation No. 7
**W.A. MOZART, Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K.543. I. Adagio;Allegro, m40 to 1m after [C]
Nicole Lizée, Keep Driving, I’m Dreaming. mm 582-586
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36. I. Andante sostenuto/Moderato con anima, 4m after to [C]
** Marked excerpts are required for the video-recorded preliminary audition round.
Harp
**HECTOR BERLIOZ, Symphonie fantastique, 1st harp. II. Un bal. Valse. Allegro non troppo. Beginning to 3m after [23]; AND 14m before [36] to end
BéLA BARTóK, Concerto for Orchestra, IV. Intermezzo Interrotto-Allegretto. mm 42-58
**BENJAMIN BRITTEN, A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Fugue 2. 14m after [M] to end
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY, Nutcracker – Waltz of the flowers. Cadenza
GIUSEPPE VERDI, Overture to La Forza del Destino, 1st harp. [G] to downbeat of [H]; AND [N] to [O]
RICHARD WAGNER, Tristan and Isolde Prelude and Isolde’s Liebestod [D] to the end
** Marked excerpts are required for the video-recorded preliminary audition round.