Auditions

If you are new to the audition process, or need some extra help with getting prepared, please visit our page on Audition Tips and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

We began accepting applications for the 2010-2011 season beginning on June 1st, 2010. If you wish to apply for one of our groups please fill out the online application below. Questions regarding audition times and the audition process may be sent to the music staff at auditions@cyosc.com. CYOSC requires all students to audition for placement and participation in our ensembles each year, and every applicant's audition is heard by a member of the music staff and/or the Music Director/Assistant Director.

 

Application

We have converted our application process entirely to an online format to reduce both errors in the applications and paper waste. Please fill out this application only one time by clicking on the following link:

ONLINE APPLICATION

There is no application fee for CYOSC. Once your application is processed, you will be contacted by our staff within a few days through email to confirm your information.

Audition day/time confirmations have been sent out. If you have not received your email to register for the audition day/time, please contact us at auditions@cyosc.com. Please check the "Schedule" page for directions to the audition sites. NOTE: Friday audition times are completely filled!

 

 

Ensemble Requirements

The technical and musical requirements of each ensemble are substantially different. We encourage all students applying for our ensembles to read the following very carefully and audition for the group that is most appropriate for their playing ability:

Sinfonia
This group is open to string students (violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, and piano) ages eight through fifteen by September 1st of the year, with no exceptions on the upper age range (younger students of appropriate ability and maturity may participate with permission of the music director). The minimum skill level required for this ensemble includes the ability to play two to three octave major and melodic minor scales in keys up to four sharps and four flats, and a concerto at or beyond the difficulty of works by Bach and Vivaldi. The Sinfonia is intended to be an artistically-demanding concert experience for this age group, and performs works for string orchestra that are challenging both technically and musically. The focus of the repertoire is on original works, and not arrangements.

Chamber Symphony
The Chamber Symphony is open to string players of high school and college age. Operating with limited rehearsal time and in a collaborative setting, participants will need to demonstrate the ability to learn new music quickly and function well as a team-player in a fast-paced and intensive rehearsal environment. At minimum, string players are expected to be able to play all major and melodic minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves, and be working on solo repertoire at or beyond the difficulty level of standard classical/romantic period concertos for their instrument and/or the Bach Solo Sonatas/Partitas (violin) or Solo Suites (viola/cello/bass). Without exception, applicants to the Chamber Symphony must have strong sight-reading skills, and several years of symphonic and/or chamber music experience.

 

 

Required Excerpts

A maximum of eight minutes is allotted for each student at the audition. You may be asked to play any or all of the following:

  1. Major and minor scales.
  2. Two to three minutes of a single piece of your choice that best demonstrates your current ability level.
  3. Excerpts listed below.
  4. Sight-reading.

These excerpts are in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. Unless bars are specified, please play the entire page, and the top line of any divided parts. You may skip multi-bar rests in excess of and including 3 bars in duration. Please contact the music staff if you have any problems viewing or printing these files, or have additional questions regarding the material in the excerpts.

Sinfonia Excerpts 2010-2011
updated 1 June 2010

Chamber Symphony Excerpts 2010-2011
updated 1 June 2010

 

Tuition

Our tuition fees are among the lowest in the state, if not the nation for comparable youth orchestra programs. Our current tuition is $250.00 for the year, and includes all rehearsals, performances, coaching, and an orchestra T-Shirt. Tuition is due at the first rehearsal of the season, and payment can be made out to Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California.

In addition to student fees, we also generate funds through the generous support of grant-making foundations and individual gifts to the orchestra by families and businesses. We do not engage our students in non-musical fundraising activities, and do not solicit their families for additional monetary support throughout the year. For over twenty years now we have operated this organization on a limited budget with absolutely no debt, and we plan to keep it that way!

What if I can't afford the tuition fee?

Thanks to a generous grant from the Hennings-Fischer Foundation, we are able to offer need-based scholarships that cover the entire amount of the tuition. Please send our staff an email at auditions@cyosc.com to inquire about qualifying for need-based financial aid. Your request will not affect the outcome of the audition or acceptance into the ensembles in any way, and we do not turn away qualified students because of financial considerations.

Do you offer any merit-based scholarships?

At this time, CYOSC does not offer any merit-based (performance) scholarships. Depending on the kind of donor support that the orchestra picks up the future, that may change.

Where does all this money go?

Teaching your kids! We believe in putting the majority of our funding towards things that directly affect our students in a positive way. The funds that are raised through all these sources go to paying for the rental of facilities, purchases of new music, upkeep of equipment (podium, music stands, electronic keyboard and amplifier), printing costs for programs, a limited amount of concert promotion, and most significantly the salaries of the music staff who work with students every single week.

The majority of our concerts are free to the public. Please note that along with the board of directors and advisors, our Music Director serves as an unpaid volunteer for the orchestra organization.