The investigative cellist and the informed audition

This exegesis represents the documentation of the creative process undertaken in the preparation and informed execution of cello audition material. Specifically, the audition material examined is that requested by professional Australian symphony orchestras for the purpose of appointing tutti cellists. The issues addressed include the preparation of this material, identifying reasons for its selection, its challenges and the ways in which a cellist may overcome them with the aim of producing a professional quality audition. A survey of selected principal cellists from professional Australian orchestras was conducted to learn their views on the reasoning behind the selection of the excerpts and various assessment principles associated with the rounds of the audition event.