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Odyssey is a production comprised of young women who possess the highest level of performance skill. The following audition
guidelines must be completed in full to be considered for
employment. Although we expect your audition video to adhere to
the requirements listed, do not loose sight of the fact that you are
auditioning to be a PERFORMER for an international touring show!
Those who “perform,” those who make what they have to offer
special, will always be given first priority.
Odyssey celebrates all types of women and will represent diverse
looks and personalities. To assure minimal injuries as well as
maintain the desired appearance on stage, all cast performers are
expected to maintain a physically fit and healthy appearance.
Performers may also be required to change other parts of their
appearance as well (hair length, color, etc.).
Your audition packet should contain the following:
- Application
- 2 copies of your Audition Video
- 1 page resume
- At least 1 letter of recommendation (from a professional who has
the background to verify your qualifications for this job)
- Current color headshot (no smaller than 5X7)
* All applicants must submit a valid passport (cannot expire before
2009) before their employment will be finalized. Some applicants may be asked
to attend a live callback audition in the Spring of 2008.
Please mail all materials to:
Odyssey Auditions: Brass
Attention: Ray Linkous
227-A Main Street Fort Mill, SC 29715
AUDITION VIDEO REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must submit an audition video in one of the following
formats: DVD-R (preferred method), Quicktime Movie format, or
VHS tape. *Please do NOT submit videos in mini-DV format or mini
CD.
Following the guidelines listed below, please prepare your video
audition in the following sequence:
1. Introduction
2. Singing demonstration
3. Acting example 1 & 2
4. (optional for musicians) Trained dance skill demonstration
5. Dance / movement demonstration while playing example 1 & 2
6. Primary skill demonstration
7. Extraordinary skills
INTRODUCTION (approx 3 minutes)
This portion of the video allows us to get to know you and your
personality.
• Clearly state your name, age, and hometown.
• Elaborate on your background, including both past and present
experiences.
• Tell us about your training in the area that you are applying
(performance ensembles, guard/dance experience, etc.), and
describe any special abilities, hobbies, and or “obsessions” you may
have.
• Explain to us why you are qualified for this position, and what
unique qualities you possess that makes you the best choice for a
role in the cast.
ACTING (each example approx 1-2 minutes)
Acting is an essential part of any stage production, and “spectacle”
theatre like Odyssey is no exception. Your ability to communicate
with the audience through gestures and nonverbal communication
is key toward the audience connecting to what is being conveyed on
stage. A cast performer in Odyssey must possess (or have the
potential to develop) acting skills that demonstrate a high level of
body awareness, emotional range, humor, and above all,
vulnerability.
Please select 2 of the following examples to be used in your video.
Each example should be acted out nonverbally. You are encouraged
to use your body as much as possible. The use of props is
acceptable but should be used frugally. Some examples are left
open-ended so you may make use of your creativity.
• You have been waiting to receive your college application results
in the mail for weeks - you have been wanting to go to this school
for years. It finally arrives in the mail.
• You are trying to hail a cab in crowded, downtown Chicago on a
windy, rainy, and extremely cold night.
• You are a magazine fashion model who discovers a pimple on her
forehead minutes before the shoot begins.
• You are sitting at the movies with your boyfriend. The theatre is
packed and he decides to dump you just before the movie starts.
• You are in the wilderness camping and you hear “strange” sounds
in the middle of the night.
VOCAL (approx 1 minute)
All cast performers must possess vocal skills. Accompaniment is
optional, but you must provide a starting pitch on a piano or
pitched instrument. Your selection should showcase your abilities,
but can be as simple or complex as you like. If you are skilled in a
pop or secular style, feel free to include a brief example.
DANCE (optional for musicians) (approx 3-5 minutes)
All cast performers who are trained musicians must possess (or
have the potential to develop) strong dance and movement skills.
Those that have formal training or strong background in dance are
highly encouraged to provide a sample of their skill. Please include
as many styles as possible and use either live or recorded
accompaniment.
DANCE & MOVEMENT (required) (approx 5 minutes)
It is essential that all musicians be able to move and play
simultaneously at a superior level. Experience in drum corps
and/or marching band is not required, but highly desirable. As
mentioned in the previous section, Odyssey will require the
musicians to perform various styles of movement and dance (ballet,
jazz, etc) as well as fast paced and kaleidoscopic “marching style”
choreography.
EXAMPLE 1: Your first example should demonstrate your marching
and playing capability. You must select 1 etude/rudimentary
excerpts (of your choice) that work well at the metronome markings
of 60 and 120 respectively (you may also select 2 different etudes
for each tempo marking). Each etude must be 64 counts long but
you may arrange/adjust the segment so that it fits within the count
structure. You will perform each of these excerpts while marching
the following box drill exercise: 8 counts to the right, 8 counts
backward, 8 counts to the left, 8 counts forward, then immediately
reverse direction (utilize a stop and go change of direction) to play
the second half of the excerpt, coming to a halt where you began.
Repeat the same box drill for the faster excerpt.
EXAMPLE 2: Your second example should demonstrate your ability
to play a piece of music while performing dance/expressive
movement. You may pick any soloistic etude of your choice. This
example should demonstrate your artistry through tempo, rubato,
and expressiveness both physically and musically. Movement
should include the upper body as well as the lower and you should
strive to create as much variety as possible through the sculpture of
your form (you do not want to look like you are just standing and
playing). The quality of your movement and the variety of that
quality are also important (hard, soft, angular, curved). Not all
motion must be fluid – angular, hard motions can also be musical.
When possible explore how you can play in unconventional
positions but keep in mind that how you get to that position is no
less important than the position itself.
PLAYING
TRUMPET
Odyssey trumpet players must have the ability to cover all parts in
the music ensemble. It is expected that players demonstrate high
levels of consistency and the ability to play and move seamlessly.
All players should be able to competently handle any musical style
required (classical, jazz, etc.) Any applicant who has exceptional
range capabilities, can play secondary instruments such as piccolo
trumpet and flugelhorn, and/or has the ability to improvise are
particularly desirable.
(accompaniment is acceptable)
• 2 solos (contrasting style) of your choice (3 minute cut each)
• Charlier Études Transcendantes No. 2; Select any Bitsch Étude (all)
• 1 jazz chart or ballad of your choice
• (optional) excerpt of your choice that demonstrates your ability on
piccolo and/or flugelhorn (3 minute cut)
FRENCH HORN
Odyssey french horn players must have the ability to cover all parts
in the music ensemble. All horn players are required to double on
mellophone using a mellophone-style mouthpiece and are expected
to be able to switch between both instruments quickly. Horn
players should demonstrate high levels of consistency and the
ability to play and move seamlessly. All players should be able to
competently handle any musical style required (classical, jazz, etc.)
(accompaniment is acceptable)
• 2 solos (contrasting style) of your choice (3 minute cut each)
• C. Kopprasch 60 Selected Studies (#24 mm 1-20; #49 all)
• Fanfare for the Common Man, Copland (all of Horn I)
• musical excerpt of your choice that demonstrates your ability on
mellophone (3 minute cut)
TROMBONE
Odyssey trombone players must have the ability to cover all parts in
the music ensemble. Special consideration is given to those that
can play bass trombone. All trombone players are expected to play
euphonium and marching baritone, therefore players are expected
to have excellent finger technique. It is expected that players
demonstrate high levels of consistency and the ability to play and
move seamlessly. All players should be able to competently handle
any musical style required (classical, jazz, etc.) Any applicant who
has exceptional range capabilities, can play secondary instruments
such as bass trombone or tuba, and/or has the ability to improvise
are particularly desirable. Those auditioning exclusively on bass
trombone may omit the tenor trombone requirements.
Tenor Trombone (accompaniment is acceptable)
• 2 solos (contrasting style) of your choice (3 minute cut each)
• Melodious Etudes for Trombone Book III, Rochut (#102 mm 26-
58; #67 mm 1-24)
• 1 jazz chart or ballad of your choice
• musical excerpt of your choice that demonstrates your ability on
euphonium (3 minute cut)
Bass Trombone (accompaniment is acceptable)
• 2 solos (contrasting style) of your choice (3 minute cut each)
• Marco Bordogni 43 Bel Canto Studies for Tuba or Bass Trombone
(#28 all)
• 1 jazz chart or ballad standard of your choice
• musical excerpt of your choice that demonstrates your ability on
euphonium (3 minute cut)
EUPHONIUM
Odyssey euphonium players must have the ability to play trombone,
therefore good slide technique is essential. All euphonium players
will also be expected to play marching baritone. It is expected that
players demonstrate high levels of consistency and the ability to
play and move seamlessly. All players should be able to
competently handle any musical style required (classical, jazz, etc.)
Any applicant who has exceptional range capabilities, can play
secondary instruments such as tuba, and/or has the ability to
improvise are particularly desirable.
(accompaniment is acceptable)
• 2 solos (contrasting style) of your choice (3 minute cut each)
• Believe Me if All Those Endearing Young Charms, Mantia – arr.
Werden [Var 1: pick up to D – F (take 2nd ending)]
• 1 jazz chart or ballad of your choice
• 2 contrasting musical excerpt of your choice that demonstrates
your ability on trombone (3 minute cut)
• (optional) musical excerpt of your choice that demonstrates your
ability on euphonium and/or bass trombone (3 minute cut)
TUBA
Odyssey tuba players must have extreme control of tone and pitch
throughout the range of the instrument – pedal through high range.
Special consideration is given to those that can play bass trombone
and euphonium. It is expected that players demonstrate high levels
of consistency and the ability to play and move seamlessly. All
players should be able to competently handle any musical style
required (classical, jazz, etc.) Any applicant who has the ability to
improvise is particularly desirable.
(accompaniment is acceptable)
• 2 solos (contrasting style) of your choice (3 minute cut each)
• Low Etudes for Tuba, Snedecor (#1-mm. 1-16; #2-mm 1-12)
• Marco Bordogni 43 Bel Canto Studies for Tuba or Bass Trombone
(#21 mm 1-28)
• (optional) musical excerpt of your choice that demonstrates your
ability on euphonium and/or bass trombone (3 minute cut)
EXTRAORDINARY SKILLS
This portion of your video should demonstrate any special abilities
or skills that you believe would add to your value as a stage
performer such as:
• musical skills (including woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings,
singing, etc.)
• baton twirling skills
• gymnastics & tumbling
• acrobatics
• juggling
• rollerblading/skateboarding
• stilt walking
• contortion
• ability to spin “non-traditional” implements
• martial arts
• traditional R.O.T.C. style color guard
• skill with ethnic and folk dance idioms
• advanced skills for manipulating objects through space such as:
Frisbee, pitching/throwing a ball with exceptional control, in-door
kites, boomerang throwing, etc.
