Become a part of our Tradition of Excellence
2008-2009 season Auditions begin April 6, 2008
AUDITIONS TIMELINE
February 16 ........... Applications Available
February 23 .............. Violin Preliminaries*
March 1 ........................ Excerpts Available
March 15 ................... Application Deadline
March 28 ..... Audition Schedule Announced
April 6 ............. Auditions begin (schedule)eligibility and
audition guidelines
Eligibility requirements have been developed in order to ensure the highest quality musical, educational and social setting for all members. Students and parents should have realistic expectations and should audition at the level most appropriate for their musical development. Consulting with a private teacher or school music teacher is recommended. WYSO is designed to be a sequential orchestral program; bypassing orchestras is not recommended. Due to the large number of violin applicants, current WYSO violin players who desire to bypass an orchestra level (i.e. moving from Sinfonietta to Philharmonia) may only audition at the advanced level upon recommendation of the WYSO conductors.*
Youth Orchestra
Youth Orchestra is open to string, woodwind, brass and percussion students who will be age 13 or older by September 1 of the new school year. The Youth Orchestra is WYSO's premiere orchestra, performing advanced orchestral literature. Applicants should have several years of band or orchestra experience and perform individually at a pre-college or college level.
Philharmonia Orchestra
Philharmonia Orchestra is open to string, woodwind, brass and percussion students who will be age 12 or older by September 1 of the new school year. Philharmonia performs orchestral literature at the high school and college level, and members receive regular sectional coaching on the repertoire being rehearsed. Applicants should have three or more years of band or orchestra experience and perform individually at an advanced high school level.
Concert Orchestra
Concert Orchestra is open to string, woodwind, brass and percussion students who will be ages 11 through 16 on September 1 of the new school year. This orchestra performs music for full orchestra at the high school and advanced middle school level, and members receive regular sectional coaching on the repertoire being rehearsed. Applicants should have two to three years of band or orchestra experience and perform individually at a standard high school or advanced middle school level.
Sinfonietta
Sinfonietta is open to string players who will be ages 10 through 14** on September 1 of the new school year. Sinfonietta performs various levels of string orchestra literature from standard middle school (class C) to high school (class A) level, and members receive regular sectional coaching on the repertoire being rehearsed. Applicants should have at least two years of private study or school string experience, along with some ensemble playing.
*Sinfonietta and Concert Orchestra violinists wishing to bypass an orchestra level must participate in preliminary auditions with their current conductor and the conductor of the advanced orchestra. The conductors will determine whether it is appropriate for the student to audition for the more advanced orchestra.
NOTE: Sinfonietta members are not permitted to audition for Youth Orchestra.
**Students who will be 9 years old on Sept. 1 may audition for Sinfonietta upon the recommendation of a private teacher. They must perform an outstanding audition and then meet individually with the Sinfonietta conductor to be considered for membership.
