Скачать или смотреть NYO-USA 2026 Clarinet Audition (accepted)

So grateful for this opportunity! I hope that this video can be helpful as a reference for anyone planning to apply in the future, and feel free to reach out with any questions :)

NYO2 feedback this year (basically submitted the same excerpts plus Tosca):

Reviewer 1

Amazing audition! Your Copland concerto was stylistic, virtuosic and a joy to listen to. You have great musical instincts and I can tell you have worked very hard to develop as a clarinetist. Throughout your whole audition I could hear a great range of dynamics, colors, and articulation. I felt like I was listening to a professional clarinetist. Your internal sense of tempo and rhythm was great. Good luck in the future!

My main comment for you is that you need to develop some softness and mystery in your playing. I can hear hints of it in the beginning of the Copland cadenza and the Debussy, but experiment with warmer colors and softer dynamics. You don't always have to prove how beautiful and rich your sound is. As listeners we want to be drawn in more in excerpts like the Puccini.

Reviewer 2

You have a beautiful, confident sound, and the Copland Concerto, Gershwin, and Tosca really stood out in your performance. In the Copland Concerto, your jazzy character and energy were wonderful, and the ending was especially impressive. Your Gershwin glissandos and bold musical statements were very engaging, and in Tosca, your musical ideas, pacing, and expressive sound beautifully captured the passion and sadness of the excerpt.

I love the boldness, musicality, and willingness to take risks in your playing, and with a few adjustments, your performance can become even more polished. In the Copland Concerto, the opening of the cadenza could be more free and atmospheric to fully capture the improvisatory character. Be mindful to keep your tongue position high to eliminate undertones and ensure clarity in articulation. Additionally, bringing out the accents more in the articulated passages will allow the jazzy, playful character of the cadenza to come through, making the energy and style of the piece even more captivating.



NYO-USA feedback this year:

Reviewer 1
Your Copland performance was beautifully paced and expressive throughout; your musical personality shone through your interpretation. The Debussy excerpt at rehearsal 3 was very well counted and had nice character. The Debussy excerpt at rehearsal 6 was beautifully expressive and well-paced. Your Gershwin was very soloistic and commanding, and I enjoyed your use of vibrato in this piece. Your Kodaly performance was excellently paced and extremely expressive. The Berlioz had great rhythm and character.
In the Copland, continue working to support the articulated altissimo passages, bringing out the accents in the extended articulated passages, and maintaining an even more consistent core in the tone. In the Debussy excerpt at rehearsal 3, the printed dynamic contrasts can be more immediate and exaggerated. In the Debussy excerpt at rehearsal 6, the particulars of the dynamics can be even more precise, and the tone can have more ring to it. In the Kodaly, continue searching for even more details and colors to bring to the excerpt, and the tone can have even more depth and expression. Continue working to achieve lighter articulation on the E-flat clarinet.

Reviewer 2
A very expressive and musical performance with a strong understanding of style, timing, and structure. The pacing, pulse, and overall musical awareness show thoughtful preparation and excellent potential.
Copland Clarinet Concerto (Cadenza): Nice pacing of the cadenza, with a clear understanding of the work and beautifully handled transitions. Watch pitch tendencies in the throat tones, which tend to run sharp. At times I wonder if anchor tonguing may be limiting clarity at the beginnings of notes?more definition there would help. I'd also love to hear a warmer, more fluid sound overall, and especially stronger internal intonation--being more "in tune with yourself", will elevate this further. Debussy (First Excerpt): Nice shaping and a good pulse, though the approach feels a bit aggressive and fast. Allow the line to relax more into a Debussy-like fluidity. Debussy (Second Excerpt): Also a bit fast at the opening, with sharp throat-tone pitch again, though the pulse remains excellent through the end. I do particularly like the warmth of your A clarinet compared to the B-flat. Gershwin: Wonderfully played. There may be a tendency to overblow at times--centering the tone more with air rather than pressure on the reed could allow for longer, more fluid phrasing. Overall, you are a very expressive player with a strong understanding of the music and timing. Well done!