Hi, can anyone recommend a good choice for one of those books which gives you the tricky/interesting bits of major symphonic works? I want to practise sightreading for my university orchestra auditions. I've done grade 8, and the sort of orchestras I'll try out for will play mainstream orchestral repertoire - but not the very hardest stuff, I guess. Also does anyone with experience of this sort of thing have any hints about excerpts that always come up in auditions?

Thanks,
Rosie.

There is a series actually called 'Test pieces for orchestral auditions'. I'm not sure who they are by, but I think they are Schott ed.
Rodney Friend has a series called the Orchestral Violinist.
Funnily enough I saw a book called Orchestral Excerpts' in a music shop today, but have no idea of the author or edition.
Another thing to do is to look at forthcoming events or concert lists for the orchestra you want to join as they often advertise what they will be playing in their next concert series, they will often audition on these pieces. Then if you can't find the music, you can at least give them a good listen.

I have Orchestral Violinist book 1. There is also a series called Orchestral Auditions which has at least 2 books in its series.

Thanks guys, I'll look into those.

There's a brown (Schott edition) I think which has the solo/leader parts in book 1 and the nasty tutti+orchestral excerps in the other. The other are the two Rodney Friend books which are very clearly annotated and have lots of helpful suggestions for what to think about and how to bring out the bowing and phrasing, as well as fingering. Different books have different extracts in so go to a good music shop and have a browse if you can. If only getting one to start with without any specific repertoire in mind I would suggest Rodney Friend book 1, otherwise obviously start with the book(s) that have a specific piece you need.

As soon as you find out what's on the programme, get listening to the pieces and get to know them aurally even before you get the music - especially helpful if it's something you've not come across before.

Good luck!