The KVSO is pleased to announce auditions to fill the following positions in the String Section.
- Assistant Concertmaster
- Section Violin I
- Section Bass
Auditions will be held by appointment only on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in Kankakee, Illinois.
The Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra (KVSO) is a per service regional orchestra that has an annual concert season of 7 concerts which includes 5 subscription concerts, a Fourth of July Celebration and a Youth Concert. Totaling approximately 30 services per season, subscription concerts consist of 5 services each with 4 services for the Fourth of July and 1 service for the Youth Concert. The current per service rate for the Assistant Concertmaster position is $90 and section players receive $40.
Additional performance opportunities as a member of chamber music ensembles are available throughout the year.
AUDITION DATE: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Monday, August 10, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. CST
START DATE: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
LENGTH OF SEASON: September to April (plus summer concert in July)
AUDITION: The Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra encourages talented and dedicated musicians to audition. Musicians are judged on musicianship, preparation, tone quality and proficiency on their instrument.
Prior to the audition, candidates MUST COMPLETE AND SUBMIT the Audition Sign-up Form. To access the form, please click here.
AUDITION MATERIALS:
The Audition consists of the following:
- Prepared unaccompanied solo: 2 minutes in length to demonstrate instrument proficiency, tone quality, technique, and virtuosity (need not be memorized).
VIOLIN I:
- 1st movement (exposition only, no cadenza) of a Mozart or major Romantic concerto.
- Required excerpts:
- Beethoven: Symphony No. 3: Mvt. III: Beginning – m. 166
- Brahms: Symphony No. 2: Mt. I: [E] –[F]
- Mozart: Symphony No. 39: Mvt. IV: Beginning – m. 41 (downbeat)
BASS:
- 1st movement of a standard concerto of your choice (exposition only, no cadenza) or one movement from J.S. Bach: Six Suites for Solo Cello.
- Required excerpts:
- Brahms: Symphony No. 2: Mvt. IV, mm.244 – 279
- Mahler: Symphony No. 1: Mvt. III, Beginning – rehearsal [2]
- Mozart: Symphony No. 35: Mvt. I, Beginning – rehearsal [B]
Additional information:
- Excerpts are available online via IMSLP, orchestraexcerpts.com, etc.
- There may be more than one audition round depending on the number of qualified candidates.
- All persons hired will be required to verify identity & U.S. work eligibility and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
- Any questions should be directed to Sean Paul Mills, D.M.A., KVSO Artistic Director & Conductor, at [email protected]. No phone calls, please.
2026-2027 SEASON: “Beautiful Places”
CONCERT #1: “America The Beautiful”
- REED: A Festival Prelude; COPLAND: Clarinet Concerto [Bob EVANS, soloist]; COPLAND: A Lincoln Portrait[Rev. Dr. Daniel DISS, narrator]; BEACH: “Gaelic” Symphony
- Rehearsals: August 25; September 1; September 8; September 11
- Performance: Saturday, September 12
CONCERT #2: “¡Qué hermoso lugar!”
- RODRIGO: Tres Viejas Aires de Danza; LALO: Cello Concerto [Bob HAUSER, soloist]; ALBENIZ: Iberia: Evocation & La Fete Dieu a Seville: CHABRIER: Espana
- Rehearsals: September 29; October 6; October 13; October 16
- Performance: Saturday, October 17
CONCERT #3: A Baroque Christmas
- HANDEL: Concerto Grosso in G Major; PURCELL: O Sing Unto The Lord & Behold, I Bring You Glad Tidings; HAYDN: Symphony No. 88 in G Major
- Rehearsals: November 17; November 24; December 1; December 3
- Performance: Sunday, December 6
CONCERT #4: “Was für ein schöner Ort!”
- BEETHOVEN: Egmont Overture; BRAHMS: Double Concerto [Rebekah COPE-EVERS, violin & Patricia WHITE, cello]; SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 4 “Tragic”
- Rehearsals: February 9; February 16; February 23; February 26
- Performance: Saturday, February 27
CONCERT #5: “Quel bel endroit!”
- BOULANGER: D’un soir triste; FAURE: Requiem; FRANCK: Symphony in d minor
- Rehearsals: March 30; April 6; April 13; April 16
- Performance: Saturday, April 17
KIWANIS YOUTH CONCERT: Rehearsal & Performance: Monday, November 2: 8:00 a.m. – Noon