Andrew Pedersen recently won a position with the Houston Symphony.  He was a student of Tim Pitts at Rice and a student of Rob Kassinger's at DePaul. I actually had the chance to work with Andrew at Northwestern University’s now-defunct High School Music Institute back in 2011, and it was great watching him continue to grow as a player and musician during his years at DePaul. We dig into the nuts and bolts of Andrew’s Houston Symphony audition process, balancing playing in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago with being a student, Andrew’s audition preparation strategies, advice for his younger self (which I know you’re gong to love!), and much more. Follow along with all of our audition-related content at contrabassconversations.com/auditioning Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings! Thank you also to the Bass Violin Shop, which  offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others. Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!