Audition Information

The 57th season of the York Junior Symphony Orchestra auditions will be held on Saturday, August 24, 2024 at Advent Lutheran Church, 1775 E Market St, York. All audition applications must be submitted online by August 17, 2024. Please note that pre registration is required for all musicians. If you have a conflict with this date and need to arrange for an alternate audition, please contact YJSOBoard@gmail.com before August 17, 2024 to set up an appointment. 

There are openings in all sections of the orchestra. Everyone must audition in order to be accepted into the orchestra. Previous members of the orchestra are also required to audition. Membership and seat positions are not guaranteed to prior members. Prior to auditioning, please review membership rules on the YJSO website: They are strictly enforced.

ORCHESTRA REQUIREMENTS: 

Students must be in grades 5 through 8, or age 10 by Sept. 30th. It is recommended that students have ensemble training in school before auditioning for the York Junior Symphony Orchestra. It is further required that students study privately with a teacher who specializes in their given instrument. All musicians must belong and be in good standing with their school orchestra/band. If no school orchestra/band exists, complete the letter of recommendation found below and bring the signed letter to your audition. Home-schooled musicians that do not play in a school orchestra or band must complete the letter of recommendation signed by their private teacher and forward to YJSO. All letters of recommendation will be approved/denied by the conductor. If you are a past member and have submitted the recommendation letter in the past, you need not submit it again.

HOW TO AUDITION 

1.) Fill in the requested information and submit this Membership Registration Form.

2.) After Membership Registration Forms are completed and approved, an email will be sent with the Audition Sign Up Sheet link. Please select your time slot and you will receive confirmations by email of your submitted application and audition time.  

3.) Only if the musician is not a member of a school orchestra or band, print, sign, and bring with you Letter of Recommendation.

4.) PREPARE!!! Each participant, including percussionists MUST perform a prepared solo. It’s expected that musicians will provide the judges with a copy of their solo piece when they enter the audition room. Etudes are NOT acceptable in place of a solo. Music for sight-reading will be provided by the YJSO. Scales for all instruments are C, G, D, A, F, B flat, and E flat. Scales must be memorized. Students are encouraged to play two octaves, in some cases 3 where possible. Percussion must know the 26 Standard American drum rudiments and be able to demonstrate technique on bass drum, cymbals, and accessories. Mallet experience is a plus. 

5.) On audition day, plan on arriving at least 20 minutes prior to your audition time, give yourself plenty of time to warm-up and prepare. If you miss your audition time, you may be added to an open time or the end of the list of audition times at the discretion of the director.

8th grade students interested in auditioning for the York YOUTH Symphony Orchestra (YYSO) click here

What to expect when you are offered a position

The YJSO rehearses Saturday mornings 9-11 AM and concerts are Sunday afternoons. Near perfect attendance is required. All selected members will pay a tuition fee of $150.00 due at the parent meeting. Families with two or more members of YJSO will receive a discount. The first meeting of the group is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 9-11 AM. This will be a MANDATORY parent and student meeting. Every member must be represented by at least one parent at the first parent meeting. This meeting will cover details of the program, music distribution, and a student social. The schedule of rehearsal and concert dates is available on this website. Each member is required to check with his or her school music department for schedule conflicts. If no conflicts are reported after the first week, we will expect that no conflicts exist. Remember to check your email often for updates, news, and information – virtually all YJSO communication is done through email and REMIND. Remember to add yjsoboard@gmail.com to your address book so we are not blocked as spam.