NYO USA 2023 Clarinet Audition [ALTERNATE/WAITLISTED]😭

Hey guys this my audition for the NYO USA 2023 summer program. Although im not entirely happy with these videos, I still thought I would share this with you guys... Good luck to everyone else who applied!

Side note yes i know my intonation on bolero was horrible I was using my schools Eb 😭

Also i had to cut the solo piece short because they only allowed up to 3 minutes and the solo was 4 minutes long


Feedback:

Reviewer A

You have such confident musicianship and it is clear you have put a lot of thought into how you want to phrase things. Your sound has varied colors, and dynamics while staying rich. I really loved listening to the Kovacs. Very impressive technique!

While I can a tell you have a natural sense of musicianship, sometimes your phrasing sounds a bit too planned out (particularly in the Puccini and some of Kovacs). Sometimes adding lyrics to a phrase can help it sound more natural, I suggest trying this with the Puccini first. In fact, they already exist when the tenor comes in after the clarinet solo! My other suggestion is to really challenge yourself in softer dynamics as much as you do in the louder dynamics, particularly in the Mendelssohn. See how soft and mysterious you can get while maintaining rhythmic and articulation integrity. Great work!

Reviewer B

Your Kovacs performance was wonderfully passionate and exciting, and I enjoyed your pacing and playfulness throughout. The first movement of the Beethoven was very steady and had great dynamic contrast throughout. Your rhythm and legato were good in the second movement of the Beethoven. Your articulation speed and technique were very impressive in the Mendelssohn. The rubato in your Tosca performance was well-paced. You have a nice E-flat clarinet tone, and the excerpt was very soloistic.

In the Kovacs, exaggerate your softer colors and dynamics even more, and maintain the core in the sound in softer dynamics—at times it could have used even more support. In the first movement of the Beethoven, lift the eighth notes more in measures 475–476, and be careful the last note is not sharp. In the second movement of the Beethoven, the tone can be more relaxed, singing, and lyrical throughout—at times there was too much intensity in the tone for this movement's style. The Mendelssohn can be lighter and more mischievous. The Tosca excerpt can be more sustained and have more grief and anguish in the tone. In Bolero, find softer dynamics and colors to give your interpretation more direction, and be sure to subdivide carefully.

Timestamps
0:00 Hommage De Falla, Bella Kovacs
2:45 Beethoven Symphony no.6 Movement 2
3:39 Beethoven Symphony no.6 Movement 1
4:04 Mendelssohn Scherzo, a Midsummer Nights Dream
4:39 G. Puccini, Tosca (Act III)
6:07 Ravel, Bolero
6:55 Outro