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Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions

The Sphinx Orchestral Partners Auditions (SOPA) Excerpt Competition provides Black and Latinx orchestral musicians the unique opportunity to audition for a panel representing several orchestras seeking to identify musicians for invitation to auditions, pre-advancement at auditions and/or placement on substitute player lists. The panel will include excerpt competition judges who will select outstanding performances as winners of cash prizes ranging from $250 to $3,500. Initiated and designed by Weston Sprott and Titus Underwood in partnership with Sphinx Organization, the ultimate goal of this initiative is job placement for Black and Latinx musicians in American orchestras.

Excerpt Competition
Invited instrumentalists will have a chance to not only play for a panel of musicians representing dozens of orchestras for placement opportunities, but also to compete for cash prizes ranging from $250 to $3,500.

Round 1 of SOPA activities will be a digital upload submission (recorded submission on Sunday, November 5th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm ET), and Round 2 will take place live during the Sphinx Convening (live audition on January 24th, 2024 in Detroit, MI).

Applications will be open to the following instrument categories: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Percussion, Timpani, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, and Harp

Applications for the 2024 SOPA Excerpt Competition are now open. Apply now.

Round 1 and Round 2 repertoire will be taken from your instrument's full repertoire list, found in this folder.

Prizes

Every instrument will have a prize winner! Invited candidates will first compete against players of their own instrument during Round 1. The most outstanding candidate from each instrument category will win $250. Those that qualify will advance to Round 2 to compete for the first and second prizes in instrument-group categories.

Round 1 (recorded submission on Sunday, November 5th from 2:00pm to 4:00pm ET)
Outstanding Instrumentalist – $250 awards will be given to outstanding instrumentalists in each instrument category based on Round 1 performances. 

Round 2 (live audition on January 24th, 2024 during the Sphinx Convening in Detroit, MI)
First Prize – $3,500 award will be awarded to the winners of the Woodwinds, Strings and Harp, and Brass and Percussion categories respectively
Second Prize – $1,000 award will be awarded to the runner-ups of the Woodwinds, Strings and Harp, and Brass and Percussion categories respectively 

NOTE - To deliver an equitable and competitive environment, previous First Prize winners will no longer advance to the final round of SOPA. However, if you have won the top prize in a previous year, you will still be permitted to submit an audition recording for Round 1 so that you can be heard by dozens of orchestral representatives from upwards of 80+ orchestras all over the country to be considered for hiring opportunities next season.

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Bill Neri, Director of Ensemble Advancement