YMCG 2027 Application

We accept orchestral instrument players between the ages of 18 and 30.

Instrument Categories:

We will be auditioning for the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute (incl. piccolo), oboe (incl. English Horn), clarinets (incl. Eb and bass clarinets), bassoon (incl. contrabassoon), horn, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbal, triangle orchestra bells & snare drums), harp.

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Strings

Violin

The division between Violin 1 and 2 will be finalized once the results are shared.

Concerto:

First movement of a classical or romantic violin concerto (own choice) – [with or without accompanied piano – own choice]

Orchestra Excerpts (both):

1. STRAUSS – First violin parts of “Don Juan” (Beginning to letter D)
2. MOZART: First violin – Symphony No. 39 KV 543, (last Mvt. exposition)
3. MAHLER: First Violin – Symphony No. 2, Second movement figure 3 to 4 bars before figure 5

* All applicants are invited to submit a video (no longer than 5 minutes) of a recent live performance to boost their application regardless of if their audition video includes piano accompaniment or not, although this is not mandatory.

Viola
Concerto:
1. SCHUBERT: arpeggione 1st Mvt. until bar 72 – [with mandatory accompanied piano]

Concerto (choose 1 of 2):
1. Walton 1st movement until first beat of bar 69 (with piano if possible)
2. Bartok 1st movement until bar76 included (with piano if possible)
Excerpts:
1. MAHLER 2: 3 excerpts please see document

Cello

Concerto:
HADYN: 1ST Movement concerto in D Major with exposition and Cadenza of choice (with or without piano)
Excerpts
1. Mendelssohn midsummer night’s dream (letter N to O)
2. Malher 5 (11th bar of Figure 11 – 8th bar of figure 12)
* All applicants are invited to submit a video (no longer than 5 minutes) of a recent live performance to boost their application regardless of if their audition video includes piano accompaniment or not, although this is not mandatory.

Double Bass
Concerto:
Exposition of romantic concerto – [without accompanied piano]
Choose between:
1. BOTTESNINI
2. KOUSSEVITSKY
3. ROTA – piano accompanied or not [own choice]

Orchestra Excerpts (all of them):
1. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 (3rd Mvt., beginning to 5 after fig. A and Trio to 23 after fig. B)
2. MAHLER: Symphony No. 2. 1st Movement 1st page. Please see file including the audition pack

Woodwind

Flute

Concerto (Mandatory for everyone):
1. MOZART Concerto in G Major or D Major
Exposition of the first movement (with piano accompaniment)
Exposition of the second movement (with piano accompaniment)

Flute:
Orchestral Excerpts (all):
1. MENDELSSOHN – Scherzo from Midsummer Night’s Dream
a. The solo from 2 bars before P until the end of the Mvt.
2. BRAHMS – Symphony No. 4,
a. 4th movement, bars 97–105
3. HINDEMITH – Symphonic Metamorphosis Andantino,
a. 5 bars before C (9/8) to the end of the movement
4. MAHLER – Symphony No. 2 (Flute 1)
I. Figure 13 to 14
III. Figure 38 to 39
V. One bar before Figure 30 to Figure 31

Piccolo (Optional):
Orchestral Excerpts (all):
1. ROSSINI Semiramide Overture, Allegro
See sheet music
2. MAHLER – Symphony No. 2 (Piccolo 1)
IV. Figure 4 to 5
V. Figure 30 to Figure 31

* All applicants are invited to submit a video (no longer than 5 minutes) of a recent live performance to boost their application regardless of if their audition video includes piano accompaniment or not, although this is not mandatory
Oboe

Concerto:
1. MOZART: Oboe Concerto [1st and 2nd Mvt.] – [without accompanied piano]

Orchestra Excerpts:
1. MAHLER: symphonie 2, see attached document

Choose one of the two:
1. RAVEL: Le Tombeau de Couperin (Prelude and Menuet)
2. ROSSINI: Overture to La Scala de Seta (beginning to figure 3)

Choose one of the two:
1. BRAHMS: Violin Concerto (2nd Mvt., beginning to bar 32)
2. STRAUSS: Don Juan (figs. L – N)

English Horn (Optional)

Orchestra Excerpts (all):
1. DVORAK: Symphony No. 9 (2nd Mvt.)
2. RAVEL: Piano Concerto in G (2nd Mvt., figures 6 – 9)

Clarinet

Candidates can apply for all the instruments providing all the excerpts and Mozart Clarinet Concerto.
In case they want to apply only for Eb or Bass Cl, they must play Mozart Clarinet Concerto Exposition with A clarinet, and they don’t need to play the Clarinet Excerpts.

Clarinet

Concerto (mandatory for everyone):
1. MOZART, Clarinet Concerto, 1st movement – Exposition (preferred with piano accompaniment)

Orchestral Excerpts (all):

1. BEETHOVEN, Symphony No.6:
a. Mvt I – Measure 474 to Measure 492 (in Bb)  
b. Mvt II – Measure 68 to Measure 77 (in Bb)  
c. Mvt III – Measure 114 to Measure 133 (in Bb)  
3. BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique,
a. Mvt III – 3 Bars after [43] to [44] (in Bb)
4. RESPIGHI : Pines of Rome,
a. Mvt. III – Pickup to Reh. #13 to Reh. #15 (in A)
5. KODÁLY: Dances of Galanta –
a. 31-65 (in A)

Eb Clarinet (Optional)

Orchestral Excerpts (All):
1. BERLIOZ: Symphonie Fantastique, Mvt V – #63 to 4 bars before #65
2. SHOSTAKOVICH: Symphony No. 5:  
a. Mvt II – Reh. #49 to Reh. #54  
b. Mvt II – Reh. #63 to 4 bars before Reh. #64 & Reh. #69 to Reh. #70  

Bass Clarinet (Optional)

Orchestral Excerpts (All):

1. MAHLER: Symphony No. 2,
a. Mvt I – 9 bars after #9 to #10
2. ERNANI – Parte Terza Preludio scena e cavatina
3. SHOSTAKOVICH: Violin Concerto No. 1,
a. Mvt II – Reh. #23 to 13 bars after Reh. #24

Bassoon / Contrabassoon

* All applicants are invited to submit a video (no longer than 5 minutes) of a recent live performance to boost their application regardless of if their audition video includes piano accompaniment or not, although this is not mandatory.

Concerto (Choose one of the two):
1. WEBER Bassoon Concerto in F major, 1st Mvt. mm.39-118 – [piano accompaniment preferred]
2. MOZART Bassoon Concerto Bb Major K.191, 1st Mvt. mm.32-109 – [piano accompaniment preferred]

Concerto:
1. MOZART: Bassoon Concerto Bb Major K.191, 2nd Mvt., mm.6-20 – [piano accompaniment preferred]
Orchestra Excerpts (all):
1. MOZART: Overture, The Marriage of Figaro (mm.101 – 123, 139 – 171)
2. WAGNER: Overture, Tannhäuser 2nd bassoon (mm. 1-16)
3. RAVEL: Boléro (figs. 2 to 3)
4. BEETHOVEN: Symphony no. 4, 4th movement (mm. 15-25, 184-190)
5. BRAHMS: Symphony no. 3 , 4th movement (mm.1-17)

Contrabassoon Orchestra Excerpt (Optional):

1. MAHLER: 2nd Symphony, Bassoon 3/contrabassoon 1, 3rd movement rehearsal 37-40

Brass

Horn
Applicants are welcome to apply for both High and Low horn

High horn (1,3,5,7,9,B) – Concerto:

STRAUSS: Horn Concerto No.1 – 1st Mvt. – [with or without accompanied piano – own choice]

High horn (1,3,5,7,9,B) – Orchestra Excerpts (all):

1. STRAUSS: Till Eulenspiegel
a. – opening to figure 1
2. BRAHMS: Symphony No. 3,
a. 3rd Mvt. solo figure F-G.
3. MAHLER: Symphony No. 5,
a. 3rd Mvt.: Scherzo bar 3 to bar 26

Low horn (2,4,6,8,10) – Concerto:

NEULING: ‘Bagatelle’, Beginning to ‘Tempo 1’ before fig.3. With or without piano.

Low horn (2,4,6,8,10) – Orchestra Excerpts (all):

1. BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 9,
a. 3rd Mvt. Upbeat to bar 83 until end of bar 98.
2. MAHLER: Symphony no.9
a. 2nd horn. Opening until fig.2 and 6 before fig 6 until tempo 1 subito
3. WAGNER: Das Rheingold
a. opening. 1st horn bar 36-52.

* All applicants are invited to submit a video (no longer than 5 minutes) of a recent live performance to boost their application regardless of if their audition video includes piano accompaniment or not, although this is not mandatory.

Trumpet:
*Applicants should apply playing on German Trumpet (C or B flat)

Concerto:
HAYDN Trumpet Concerto:
a. 1st movement (exposition, development, and cadenza)
b. 2nd movement (exposition and development)

Orchestral excerpts(all):
1. BEETHOVEN: Both *Leonore* calls.
2. BIZET: *Carmen* call and prelude.
3. MAHLER: Symphony No. 2
a. 1st Trumpet:
i. 1st movement: 9 bars after rehearsal mark 16 to 8 bars before mark 17
ii. 1st movement: Mark 25 to 8 bars before mark 26.
iii. 3rd movement; Pickup to mark 39 to 2nd bar after mark 41.
iv. 4th movement: *Urlicht*;
v. 5th movement: pickup to 5th bar after mark 5 to 2nd bar after mark 6;
vi. 5th movement: 9th bar after mark 26 to mark 27;
vii. 5th movement: Mark 33 to 6th bar after mark 33.
b. 2nd Trumpet:
i. 3rd movement, pickup to mark 39 to 4 bars before mark 40.
c. 5th Trumpet:
i. 5th movement, pickup to 3 bars before mark 12 to 5th bar after mark 13.
d. 1st Trumpet (offstage):
i. Mark 30 to mark 31.
e. 2nd Trumpet (offstage):
i. Mark 30 to 5 bars after mark 30.

Trombone / Bass Trombone

Concerto (mandatory for everyone):
DAVID: Trombone Concerto:
a. 1st Mvt. (without cadence) – [without accompanied piano]
*Bass Trombone, please play the Bb version.

Trombone

Orchestra Excerpts (all):
1. RAVEL: Boléro
a. [Solo First Trombone – 10-11]
2. MAHLER: Symphony No.2:
b. Last movement from 10 to 11 and from 25 to 8 after 26
3. MOZART: Requiem (Tuba Mirum)
4. ROSSINI: Overture to William Tell
a. (first entrance to 40 bars after)

Bass Trombone

Orchestra Excerpts (all):

HAYDN: The Creation (No 26) (beginning to fig. C)
MAHLER: Symphony No.2: Last movement from 10 to 11 and from 25 to 8 after 26
RESPIGHI: Pines of Rome: I Pini presso una catacomba
SCHUMANN: Symphony No. 3 (4th Mvt., beginning to 13 after fig. A)

Tuba

Concerto:
1. VAUGHAN WILLIAMS – 1st Mvt.

Orchestra Excerpts (all):
1. MAHLER: Symphony No. 1
a. Solo
2. MAHLER: Symphony No.2:
a. Last movement from 10 to 11 and from 25 to 8 after 26
3. WAGNER: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg Overture:
a. 158 to 188 see sheet music below

Timpani & Percussion

Timpani
Solo piece:
1. KRUGER 45
see sheet music
Orchestral Excerpts (all)
1. BARTÓK: Concerto for Orchestra
a. mvt 4, Pick up from Bar 42 until 51
2. BEETHOVEN Symphony no. 7
a. bars 409 to 450 the last exceprt
3. MAHLER symphony No. 5
a. 1st Movement 316–322
b. 5th Movement 760–779
4. FRANK MARTIN
a. Concerto four 7 wind instruments solo after figure 18 til 7 bars after figure 22.
5. BEETHOVEN symphony no. 5
a. Movement 3 letter C to Movement 4 to letter A
6. BRITTEN Four sea Interludes
a. IV Storm

Percussion
Excerpts (mandatory for everyone):

Excerpts (Snare):
1. LYLLOFF – Århus etude No. 9 (first 7 lines – please remove music from line 8 onwards)
2. PROKOFIEV- kijé
3. RIMSKY-KORSAKOW: Scheherazade (A+B)

Excerpts (Orchestra Bells):
1. MOZART: The magic flute

Excerpts (Triangle) – choose one:
2. ORFF – Etyde
3. HUMPERDINK – Etyde
4. TCHAIKOVSKY – Etyde
5. WAGNER – Etyde

Excerpts (Cymbals):
1. RACHMANINOV: Piano Concerto, No. 2 (3rd Mvt., figs. 32-33)

Harp

Harp

1 solo piece and the following orchestral excerpts

Orchestra excerpts

1. Georg Friedrich Händel, Concerto in B-flat major op.4, No. 6, HWV 294,
a. 1. Andante allegro (without repeats)
2. TCHAIKOVSKY – The Nutcracker,
a. cadenza
3. MAHLER – Symphony No. 5,
a. Adagietto: from the beginning to rehearsal number 2 (“Fliessender”)
4. Bartók – Concerto for Orchestra,
a. 4th movement: Intermezzo interrotto
5. Giuseppe Verdi, La forza del destino,
a. Overture (Allegro brillante)

Applications must be submitted online no later than 23:59, September 10th 2026（UTC+8）.

Please submit materials according to your personal circumstances:

(i) Resident of the Chinese Mainland, People’s Republic of China
① Electronic copy of ID photo
② Scanned copy of Mainland ID card (valid after July 25, 2027)
③ Scanned copy of Hong Kong and Macao Exit-Entry Permit (valid after July 25, 2027)
④ Scanned copy of academic qualification certificate
⑤ Scanned copy of professional certificate

(ii) Resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
① Electronic copy of ID photo
② Scanned copy of Hong Kong Resident ID Card or Passport (valid after July 25, 2027)
③ Scanned copy of academic qualification certificate
④ Scanned copy of professional certificate

(iii) Resident of the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
① Electronic copy of ID photo
② Scanned copy of Macao Resident ID Card / Macao Resident Travel Permit to Hong Kong / Passport (valid after July 25, 2027)
③ Scanned copy of academic qualification certificate
④ Scanned copy of professional certificate

(iv) Resident of the Taiwan Region of China
① Electronic copy of ID photo
② Scanned copy of Taiwan Compatriot Permit (valid after July 25, 2027)
③ Scanned copy of valid Taiwan travel document (including personal details, issue date, expiry date, and details of held re-entry visa) (valid after July 25, 2027)
④ Scanned copy of academic qualification certificate
⑤ Scanned copy of professional certificate
⑥ Household Registration Transcript (issued and certified by the Hong Kong Household Registration Office within the last 12 months; must show detailed remarks column. Submit the certified/stamped page simultaneously. Alternatively, the applicant’s latest electronic Household Registration Transcript showing detailed remarks and transcript verification number is accepted. Note: Household registration booklets and abbreviated transcripts are not accepted.)

(v) Foreign National
① Electronic copy of ID photo
② Scanned copy of Passport (valid after July 25, 2027)
③ Scanned copy of academic qualification certificate
④ Scanned copy of professional certificate

You should prepare a video of the concerto and excerpts listed for your instrument category. The solo concerto and excerpts can be recorded in separate videos. All excerpts should be recorded on the same video without pausing. Recordings conducted in a mid-sized room would be preferable to a practice room or concert hall. There should be no interruptions or outside disturbances throughout the duration of your recording.

YMCG 2027 is offering bespoke chamber group tuition and chamber concert performance to pre-existing chamber groups made up of successful YMCG applicants. Along with your application, please kindly include a document highlighting if you are part of a chamber group with other YMCG applicants, along with all the names and instruments of the members included in your chamber group. Please also suggest some repertoire that you would like to perform in YMCG 2027.

Please note, the success of your application will not be affected if other members of your chamber group are not accepted as part of YMCG 2027.

It is your responsibility to arrange a piano accompaniment if your audition requirements include one (see below).

We accept online video auditions only. You can send your audition video via your preferred file sharing service (Baidu Netdisk or Google Drive). Each video file must be renamed in English as “Instrument-Name-Repertoire”, for example “Cello-Zhang San-Excerpts”.

A single video file should not exceed 300 MB. After uploading, please paste the network disk link in the corresponding column in the registration form.

You can download the exam scores via the following links:

Google Drive
Baidu Pan

Fees:
Tuition, local accommodation, and meals during the music week will be covered by the event organizers. Participants are responsible for their own round-trip travel expenses between their home city and the host city of the music week.

*From the admitted participants, a select number will be awarded the YMCG Scholarship, which provides partial financial support for round-trip travel between their home city and the host city. We encourage applicants to upload any supplementary materials that may assist in securing the scholarship.

Contact:
If you wish to contact YMCG, please email ymcg@gso.org.cn