Join the Life Sciences Orchestra
Audition & Member Information
All musicians interested in playing with the LSO must audition, even those who have played with us before.
Auditions to join the LSO in February to perform in the April 14 concert will be held in late January. Email [email protected] to express interest.
Please note: Auditions are held at the Moore Building (School of Music, Theatre & Dance) on North Campus; it is accessible by bus.
If you have never played with the LSO, or if it has been more than two years since you played with the LSO, please complete our Prospective Member form to express interest.
If selected to join the LSO, members commit to attending all or nearly all rehearsals as well as the dress rehearsals and concerts. See the 2025-2026 member schedule below.
If your work or academic schedule does not permit you to play one of the concerts, please say so when completing your audition signup.
All members must pay dues of $100 for faculty/staff/alumni or $50 for students, for the year; those playing only one concert pay half this amount. Dues payment information will be available when rehearsals begin.
More about LSO audition eligibility and process:
Admission to the LSO is decided by the music director, in consultation with the assistant conductor and executive committee. In addition to U-M life science affiliation, admission and seating decisions involve playing ability and any past experience with the LSO.
Please see our FAQ for full information on what we consider life sciences affiliation.
Important note: Undergraduates with no declared life science major, and individuals with no past or current connection to the U-M life science community (as defined in the FAQ), are asked to audition for other ensembles. In very limited cases, individuals who are not members of the U-M life sciences community may be allowed to audition after the main audition process has concluded, if their instrument is needed for the next performance. Please see the FAQ.
For your audition, please prepare the following:
- Two contrasting solo selections from classical works (concerto, sonata, orchestral solo passages, etc.). Each selection should be 1 to 3 minutes in length, however the music director may not need to hear the full prepared passage.
- In addition, all instruments except percussion should prepare the brief orchestral excerpts for their instrument; be prepared to play the section indicated with red brackets.
Audition slots are 8 minutes long, and those interested in first chair may be asked to sight read an excerpt. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointed time to check in and warm up in the designated room. If you find that you cannot make your audition time, it is your responsibility to let us know and to arrange another time if we can accommodate it.
The LSO follows Michigan Medicine and SMTD COVID-19 protocols. If you are feeling unwell on the day of your scheduled audition, please email [email protected] to arrange an alternate time.
Audition Excerpts
All auditionees except percussion must play the excerpts for their instrument; these will be marked with brackets or notes indicating starting and ending points. No repeats should be taken.
Rehearsals
All regular rehearsals are Sundays from 7:00-9:30 pm at the School of Music, Theatre & Dance’s Kevreson Rehearsal Hall (accessible via the new entrance of the Earl V. Moore Building), unless otherwise noted. Please arrive at 6:45 pm to set up and warm up.
We are following U-M COVID-19 guidance for returning to work after an infection and expect all members to cooperate or face dismissal from the LSO. Do not come to rehearsal if you are feeling under the weather, even if you have tested negative on a rapid test.
If you know in advance that you will need to miss a rehearsal, please email the date to [email protected] as soon as you know your plans. You should also send a message to that address about any unplanned absences. All musicians must make every effort to attend all rehearsals. Keep in mind that after three absences for any reason, your participation in the LSO concert will be at the discretion of the music director.
Find further information about being part of the LSO in our FAQ.
Fall rehearsals:
9/21
9/28
10/5
10/12
10/19
11/2
11/9
11/16
11/23
12/7
12/14
1/4
1/11
1/18
Dress rehearsal: Friday, Jan. 23, 6 pm (Member call time 5:45 p.m.; Stage setup and pizza party before)
Concert: Sunday, January 25 4 pm (Members arrive 2:45 p.m. for a 3 p.m. warmup)
Preconcert lecture for audience 3:15-3:45 in lower level of Hill Auditorium lobby
Winter/spring rehearsals -
2/1
2/8
2/15
2/22
3/1
3/8
3/15
3/22
3/29
4/11 (SATURDAY) Rehearsal with UMS Choral Union - 2-4:30 p.m.
4/12 Rehearsal with Choral Union - 7.30-10 p.m.
4/13 (MONDAY) Dress Rehearsal - 7:30-10 p.m.
4/14 Concert - Sound Check (5-6pm), Concert (7.30pm) Hill Auditorium
Contact Us
NI-5E06, NIB
300 North Ingalls
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5470
