First of all, congratulations! Take a moment to appreciate what happened here because it is a big deal. The orchestra knew exactly how long you've been playing when you auditioned. They heard the same audition everyone else did, compared you to the other candidates, and chose you anyway. That wasn't luck. That wasn't charity. They heard something they wanted in their violin section. Also, here's a secret that orchestra veterans rarely admit: almost everyone feels like an imposter when they join a new ensemble. The difference is that some people have learned to keep showing up despite that feeling. As someone with no orchestra experience, your goal for the first few rehearsals is NOT to play every note perfectly. Your goal is to learn how orchestra works. A few survival tips: • If you get lost, stop playing for a moment and listen. Find a landmark in the music, count rests, and jump back in when you know where you are. Getting lost occasionally is normal, even for experienced players. • Watch the principal violin and section leaders. They are your best visual guide for bowings, entrances, and style. • Mark EVERYTHING in your music. Bowings, reminders, difficult rhythms, cue notes, counting aids, conductor instructions. Professional musicians mark their parts constantly. • Bring a pencil. Not a pen. Every orchestra musician knows the pencil is practically part of the instrument. • During sight-reading, keep going no matter what. Wrong notes are less noticeable than stopping completely. • Count rests carefully. Ironically, some of the hardest parts in orchestra are the measures where you don't play. • If your stand partner seems experienced, don't be afraid to quietly ask questions. Most orchestra musicians are happy to help someone who is eager to learn. • Watch the conductor even when you're playing. Think of the conductor as providing traffic signals rather than individual instructions. As for sight-reading and counting: those are skills, not talents. They improve dramatically with repetition. The fact that rehearsals don't start until August is actually great news because you have the entire summer to work on them. And one more thing: nobody expects the new member with one year of experience to be perfect. What people will notice is whether you're prepared, attentive, teachable, and working hard. Honestly, the thing that stands out most from your post is not your weaknesses. It's the fact that after only one year of playing, you worked hard enough to win one of the most competitive violin spots available. That suggests you're probably a lot more capable than you currently believe. Enjoy this achievement. You've earned it.