Audition registration is open for the 2025-2026 season.
Auditions will be held on Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The last day to register will be Wednesday, May 28.
Auditions will be held on Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31, 2025.
The last day to register will be Wednesday, May 28.
Audition Scheduling
Follow these 3 simple steps!
1) Fill out an online registration form:
2) Submit a non-refundable $20 audition fee.
3) Thanks! We will contact you via email to give you an audition time.
Audition Process
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Bowed string players (violinists, violists, cellists, or bassists), enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2025-2026 school year, who are also members of their school orchestra programs. (Homeschooled students of appropriate age, students who are enrolled in online school, and those whose schools do not have orchestra programs are also welcome to apply!)
Students do not need to have prior fiddling experience. We are looking for musicians who are eager to learn about our creative, collaborative approach to music-making and excited to perform for a variety of audiences.
NEW IN 2025-2026: Due to program growth and interest, we are excited to be launching a second high school program! Students in both high school groups will be in grades 9-12 and will develop similar skills. One group will be for newer fiddlers and/or those who are still developing their fiddling and technique; one group will be for more experienced fiddlers/performers.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
1) A required Audition Tune, to be learned by ear. (Recordings of the 2025 Audition Tune will be posted on May 18, 2025.)
This audition requirement helps students prepare for the way they will learn music in GTF. Recordings of the tune are posted two weeks prior to auditions. Recordings of the 2024 Audition Tune, for reference, are accessible here.
2) Scales and arpeggios, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats. All scales and arpeggios should be performed memorized, in at least 2 octaves.
Students will be asked to play up to 3 scales and 3 arpeggios. Additionally, students should be able to explain the key signatures for each scale (e.g., the key of D major has two sharps, F# and C#) and correctly name the pitches in an arpeggio (e.g., the D arpeggio is D, F#, and A).
Scales and arpeggios help us to gauge each student's technical proficiency and knowledge of music theory. Notably, having active knowledge of arpeggios helps students to more quickly learn and develop accompaniment skills like the ones used in GTF.
3) Musical material of the student's choice.
Students should prepare no more than 4 minutes of music (in addition to the required Audition Tune). We would like to hear whatever you think best showcases your musical strengths, interests, and abilities! This might include any of the following:
- a portion of a classical piece
- a fiddle tune
- an original composition
- a song
- a medley of melodies you assemble
- an improvised solo
- something fast and something slow
...or any combination of the above ideas! We encourage creativity in your preparation!
Remember, choose material that best showcases your musical strengths, interests, and abilities!
Note: sight reading is not a part of our auditions, as all music is learned and developed by ear.
4) A short chat, 3-5 minutes, with GTF Teaching Staff.
We are looking for enthusiastic, curious, community-minded musicians! Be prepared to talk briefly about your background and interests, both musical and otherwise.
WHAT TO WEAR
This is an informal audition. Feel free to dress comfortably, but appropriately.
WHERE TO GO
Auditions will be held in-person at Mesa Community College. After we receive your application, we will contact you with an audition time.
WHAT IF I'M OUT OF TOWN AND UNABLE TO MAKE AN IN-PERSON AUDITION?
Great question! We would love to find a time to connect with you about other audition options. Please fill out an Audition Registration Form and we'll be in touch!
Bowed string players (violinists, violists, cellists, or bassists), enrolled in grades 9-12 during the 2025-2026 school year, who are also members of their school orchestra programs. (Homeschooled students of appropriate age, students who are enrolled in online school, and those whose schools do not have orchestra programs are also welcome to apply!)
Students do not need to have prior fiddling experience. We are looking for musicians who are eager to learn about our creative, collaborative approach to music-making and excited to perform for a variety of audiences.
NEW IN 2025-2026: Due to program growth and interest, we are excited to be launching a second high school program! Students in both high school groups will be in grades 9-12 and will develop similar skills. One group will be for newer fiddlers and/or those who are still developing their fiddling and technique; one group will be for more experienced fiddlers/performers.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
1) A required Audition Tune, to be learned by ear. (Recordings of the 2025 Audition Tune will be posted on May 18, 2025.)
This audition requirement helps students prepare for the way they will learn music in GTF. Recordings of the tune are posted two weeks prior to auditions. Recordings of the 2024 Audition Tune, for reference, are accessible here.
2) Scales and arpeggios, up to 3 sharps and 3 flats. All scales and arpeggios should be performed memorized, in at least 2 octaves.
Students will be asked to play up to 3 scales and 3 arpeggios. Additionally, students should be able to explain the key signatures for each scale (e.g., the key of D major has two sharps, F# and C#) and correctly name the pitches in an arpeggio (e.g., the D arpeggio is D, F#, and A).
Scales and arpeggios help us to gauge each student's technical proficiency and knowledge of music theory. Notably, having active knowledge of arpeggios helps students to more quickly learn and develop accompaniment skills like the ones used in GTF.
3) Musical material of the student's choice.
Students should prepare no more than 4 minutes of music (in addition to the required Audition Tune). We would like to hear whatever you think best showcases your musical strengths, interests, and abilities! This might include any of the following:
- a portion of a classical piece
- a fiddle tune
- an original composition
- a song
- a medley of melodies you assemble
- an improvised solo
- something fast and something slow
...or any combination of the above ideas! We encourage creativity in your preparation!
Remember, choose material that best showcases your musical strengths, interests, and abilities!
Note: sight reading is not a part of our auditions, as all music is learned and developed by ear.
4) A short chat, 3-5 minutes, with GTF Teaching Staff.
We are looking for enthusiastic, curious, community-minded musicians! Be prepared to talk briefly about your background and interests, both musical and otherwise.
WHAT TO WEAR
This is an informal audition. Feel free to dress comfortably, but appropriately.
WHERE TO GO
Auditions will be held in-person at Mesa Community College. After we receive your application, we will contact you with an audition time.
WHAT IF I'M OUT OF TOWN AND UNABLE TO MAKE AN IN-PERSON AUDITION?
Great question! We would love to find a time to connect with you about other audition options. Please fill out an Audition Registration Form and we'll be in touch!
Tuition & Rehearsals
Tuition for the 2025-2026 season is $525 per student. Tuition is non-refundable.
Tuition includes: rehearsal costs/expenses, instruction during rehearsals, and private workshops with guest clinicians.
Tuition does not include: uniform, travel, food, and some expenses for the GTF Summer Retreat and Winter Summit. When these expenses arise, parents will be notified in advance. In future seasons, through community donations and grants, we hope to be able to cover these expenses for our students and offer tuition scholarships.
Tuition includes: rehearsal costs/expenses, instruction during rehearsals, and private workshops with guest clinicians.
Tuition does not include: uniform, travel, food, and some expenses for the GTF Summer Retreat and Winter Summit. When these expenses arise, parents will be notified in advance. In future seasons, through community donations and grants, we hope to be able to cover these expenses for our students and offer tuition scholarships.
Rehearsals are held on THURSDAY nights from 6:00-8:00 PM during the school year (August through May). Rehearsals will be held at Mesa Community College. Our first rehearsal of the 2025-2026 season will be in mid-August.
Returning students: please note the later rehearsal times for the 2025-2026 season.
Returning students: please note the later rehearsal times for the 2025-2026 season.