UI Symphony Orchestra
The University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra has been hailed as one of the finest university orchestras in the U.S. In addition, this organization is one of the leaders in the premiering and promoting of new literature.
UISO audition process
The spring 2025 seating auditions will be held through audio submissions.
Sign up for your audition slot
Audition Repertoire for Music Majors:
Non-Majors:
Prepare 1-2 pieces of your choice OR prepare the required music major excerpts.
Campus Symphony Orchestra
Designed specifically for non-music majors who wish to continue playing their instrument while studying at the University, audition will be required for winds and percussion as the number of players is limited (a scale and a short excerpt of your choice). We will welcome up to three flutes, three oboes, three clarinets, three bassoons, five horns, two trumpets, three trombones, two tenor and one bass), one tuba, one timpani, and two percussion players. No audition is required for strings to be admitted into the ensemble, however, there will be a short audition for seating arrangement only (a scale and short excerpt of your choice). This unique experience includes students from diverse academic pursuits throughout the university.
The CSO performs one concert per semester and various community service-oriented performances on a request basis. CSO is conducted by graduate conducting majors. This group meets on Tuesdays, from 6-7:20 p.m. in VOX 2400.
Join us and bring a friend!
CSO audition process
Auditions for CSO are not required if you've participated in CSO during the Fall 2024 semester.
If you did not participate in CSO during the Fall 2024 semester but would like to audition, please email samuel-chen@uiowa.edu, matthew-clarke@uiowa.edu, and yifei-sun-1@uiowa.edu to set up an in-person audition time during Tuesday, January 21, 2025 to Friday, January 24, 2025.
For the audition, please prepare a scale and a short excerpt that best demonstrates your musicianship. The scale, number of octaves, and excerpt is of your choice. The excerpt should be roughly 1-2 minutes long. The auditions will take place in VOX 4415.
The first rehearsal will begin on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 in VOX 2400 at 6:00 PM - 7:20 PM.
Please let us know if you have any questions and we look forward to hearing from you!
Concert schedule for the 2024-2025 Season
Fall 2024
Cycle 1 - UISO
- September 25, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
Andy Akiho - Translucent
G.F. Telemann - Oboe Concerto in c minor (David Cyzak, Oboe)
P.I. Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 5
Cycle 2 - UISO
- October 23, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
- Unsuk Chin - Subito con forza
- L.v. Beethoven - Coriolan Overture, Op. 62
- Anna Clyne - Stride
- M. Mussorgsky (arr. Ravel) - Pictures at an Exhibition
Cycle 3 - Opera
- November 15 and 16, 7:30pm | Coralville Center for Performing Arts
- November 17, 2:00pm | Coralville Center for Performing Arts
- W.A. Mozart - Così fan tutte
Cycle 4 - Graduate Conductors Concert
- December 6, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
- I. Stravinsky - Suite from L'Histoire du Soldat
- A. Copland - Appalachian Spring
- Other works TBA
CSO Fall Concert
- December 11, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
- Works TBA
Spring 2025
Cycle 5: Requiem to Revival - Jessie Montgomery Residency
February 19, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
B. Britten - Sinfonia da Requiem
J. Montgomery - Shift, Change, Turn
G. Gershwin - American in Paris
Cycle 6: Concerto/Aria Competition Winners’ Concert
March 31, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
M. Ponce - Piano Concerto No. 1, "Romantico"
Eric Newton, Piano
J. Sibelius - Violin Concerto, I. Allegro Moderato
Yestyn Griffiths, Violin
G. Puccini - "Che gelida manina" from La Boheme | "E lucevan le stelle" from Tosca | "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot
Foo Chen Gui, Tenor
M. Daugherty - Trail of Tears for Flute and Chamber Orchestra
I-Ling (Emily) Ho, Flute
Opera: Rita & La Colombe
April 11 and 12, 7:30pm | Coralville Center for Performing Arts
April 13, 2:00pm | Coralville Center for Performing Arts
Matthew Clarke and Yifei Sun, Conductors
Campus Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert
April 16, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
Cycle 7: Birds, Winds, and Titans
May 7, 7:30pm | Vox Concert Hall
G. Smith - Tumblebird Contrails
G. Mahler - Symphony No. 1, “Titan”