The Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra will hold auditions for its 13th season on Wednesday, Aug. 31 beginning at 6 p.m. for Junior and Senior Preparatory Orchestra members at the Shepherd University Frank Creative Arts Center. (submitted)

The Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra will hold auditions for its 13th season on Wednesday, Aug. 31 beginning at 6 p.m. for Junior and Senior Preparatory Orchestra members at the Shepherd University Frank Creative Arts Center. Positions are open in all string sections in both orchestras.

This fall the Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra begins its 13th season at Shepherd and is pleased to welcome interim director Jeffry Newberger.

Students auditioning for the Junior Youth Orchestra are asked to prepare a solo and scale of their choice to perform at the audition and should be able to sight-read music at a beginner to early intermediate level.

Students auditioning for the Senior Youth Orchestra are asked to prepare a solo of their choice and will be asked to play scales and sight-read.

Students wishing to audition on violin or viola will be heard from 6 to 8 p.m. Students wishing to audition on cello or bass will be heard from 8 to 9 p.m. All students will be auditioned on a first-come, first-serve basis during the scheduled audition time for their instrument. Other audition times may be arranged with the consent of the orchestra director.

The Shepherd Preparatory Orchestra meets Wednesday evenings for rehearsals throughout the school year. Each group also presents two concerts during the school year. The orchestra is made up of student members from Washington County, Maryland and Berkeley and Jefferson counties in West Virginia as well as students from Shepherd University. The tuition fee for the Shepherd Youth Orchestra is $125 per semester and will include two complimentary family member admissions to each concert. Please contact Lisa Oswald at 304-876-5555 or email loswald@shepherd.edu. For additional information about the Preparatory Orchestra visit www.shepherd.edu/musicweb/preparatory.html.