SYRACUSE YOUTH ORCHESTRAS
Audition dates and information for the 2025-2026 Season
NOW AVAILABLE!
The Syracuse Youth Orchestra gives students with a passion for music an opportunity to develop their skills, refine their musicianship and cultivate an overall appreciation for excellence in music with other similarly interested students.
ENSEMBLES
Syracuse Young Artists Orchestra (SYAO)
The Syracuse Young Artists Orchestra (SYAO) offers an elite orchestral experience for students with the most challenging, professional repertoire. SYAO is reserved for players whose commitment to practicing and preparedness, technical skills, and musicality are at the highest level.
In addition to 3 regular season concerts, students in SYAO will join their professional counterparts to perform with The Syracuse Orchestra during one of their concerts at Crouse-Hinds Theatre. SYAO is open to students up to age 22.
Youth Repertory Orchestra (SYRO)
The Youth Repertory Orchestra offers a full orchestra experience with three performances. The Youth Repertory Orchestra is open to students up to age 18.
Youth String Orchestra (SYSO)
The Youth String Orchestra brings together the most talented young string musicians in Central New York to practice and perform a wide variety of string repertoire. This orchestra is targeted for elementary and middle school students performing at NYSSMA level 3, 4, and 5.
'25-'26 Audition Dates
June 7 - Brass
June 14 - Violin & Viola
June 21 - Violin & Viola, and Woodwinds
June 22 - Cello & Bass, and Percussion
Auditions will be scheduled from 10a.m. - 6 p.m. and held at Onondaga Community College in the Academic II building.
These are the only dates available at this time. We can do our best to accommodate a specific time of day request. If there is something absolutely unavoidable for the entire day, we will do our best to accommodate an alternative date. Please email syo@syracuseorchestra.org to request either.
'25-'26 Audition Requirements
Audition requirements for the '25-'26 Season will be available soon. Please check back here for more information.
Admission to the SYO program is contingent on a successful audition. Following the audition, students will be placed in an appropriate orchestra based on your audition performance. Other factors such as instrumentation needs may be considered in your placement decision.
Previous participation in SYO does not guarantee placement. All placements are final and re-auditioning is not permitted
Audition Requirements for all SYO ensembles:
- Register via the online application
- For auditions, students will prepare:
- Most recent NYSSMA solo
- To be considered for each group, students must perform a solo of the following levels. Performing a solo at these levels does not guarantee placement within a specific group.
- SYSO: Level 3-5
- SYRO: Level 5-6
- SYAO: Level 6
- To be considered for each group, students must perform a solo of the following levels. Performing a solo at these levels does not guarantee placement within a specific group.
- The following scales based on level, group you're hoping to be seated in, and instrument
- SYSO
- Violins: 2 octave G major, 1 octave F, Bb, C, A, and D major scales
- Viola & Cello: 2 octave C major, 1 octave F, Bb, C, A, and D major scales
- Double Bass: 1 octave F, Bb, C, A, and D major, and one two octave scale of your choice
- SYRO
- Violin, Viola, Cello: All 2 octave major scales, One 3 octave scale of student's choice
- Double Bass: All 1 octave major scales, 2 octave E and G major
- Woodwinds: All 2 octave major scales + 2 octave chromatic (Flute: C to C; Oboe: C to C; Bassoon: F to F; Clarinet: E to E)
- Brass: All 1 octave Major scales + 2 octave chromatic (Trumpet: G to G; Horn: G to G; Trombone: F to F; Tuba: F to F)
- Percussion: All 2 octave Major scales & arpeggios and/or NYSSMA Level 5/6 rudiments
- SYAO
- Violin: All 2 octave major scales and the following 3 octave scales: G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C
- Viola & Cello: All 2 octave major scales and the following 3 octave scales: C, Db/C#, D, Eb, E, F
- Double Bass: All 1 octave major scales, 2 octave E, F, F#/Gb and G
- Woodwinds: All 2 octave major scales + 2 oct chromatic (Flute: C to C; Oboe: C to C; Bassoon: F to F; Clarinet: E to E)
- Brass: All 1 octave major scales + 2 oct chromatic (Trumpet: G to G; Horn: G to G; Trombone: F to F; Tuba: F to F)
- Percussion: All 2 octave major scales & arpeggios and/or NYSSMA Level 5/6 rudiments
- SYSO
- Most recent NYSSMA solo
Students interested in being considered for placement in SYAO must also fulfill the following:
- Perform an excerpt emailed to the student 2 weeks prior to the audition
- Clarinets should be able to transpose parts in A or own an A clarinet
- Horns should be able to independently transpose parts
- Trumpets should be able to independently transpose parts
- Trombones should be able to read bass clef, tenor clef, and alto clef
Application Deadline: May 30, 2025
Audition times will be emailed to the applicant no later than 1 week prior to the audition date. For upper strings, we'll provide a date as soon as possible of the two.
Results will be emailed out no later than July 31, 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does SYO cost?
Tuition for the 2025-2026 season is $525 for all groups. Payment plans and tuition assistance applications are available. Once accepted to the orchestra, a form will be provided that can be completed to request assistance.
How much is the audition fee?
There is a $20 audition fee. You will receive an invoice via email in the days leading up to your audition. Paying the invoice is required in order to know the results of your audition. If you require financial assistance for this, please email syo@syracuseorchestra.org after you submit your registration form and we are happy to help!
What is the rehearsal schedule?
Each ensemble rehearses once a week on Sundays at Onondaga Community College. SYSO and SYRO from 1-3 p.m. and SYAO from 4-6:30 p.m.
What is the attendance policy? Attendance at all rehearsals and concerts is essential to the success of the orchestra. Unexcused absences are not allowed.
Excused Absences: Illness, emergencies, family obligations, required educational activities, official music performance activities associated with the student’s school instrumental ensemble, and other musical activities which substantially benefit the student’s musical development count as excused absences. Students are allowed no more than 2 excused absences per cycle.
To request an excused absence, the Absence Request Form must be completed no later than 1 hour prior to the start of rehearsal. Absence Request Forms submitted later than this will be considered unexcused. Please submit all known absences at the beginning of the season.
Students are required to be present for all dress rehearsals (the rehearsal 1 week prior to the concert), rehearsal on concert day (if applicable), and performances, unless there is an unavoidable obstacle, extreme illness, or emergency.
Unexcused absences, frequent tardiness, or exceeding the allotted number of excused absences could result in reseating, removal from the upcoming concert, or removal from the ensemble at the discretion of the Music Director, Conductor, and SYO Manager.
Attendance exceptions will be provided for students who are performing in the New York State Field Band Championships on October 26 and/or the 2025 NYSSMA Festival on December 6 and 7.
What are the expectations for School Participation for students enrolled in SYO?
We expect you to participate in your school music programs when such programs exist. By participating in your school music program, you benefit by playing every day, becoming a better sight-reader, and playing an important part in helping to build meaningful music programs in your school and communities. Limited exceptions apply for students who are home schooled, or have an academic requirement that prohibits participation. These should be discussed with the Youth Orchestra Manager.
Do I need to take private lessons to participate in SYO?
Private lessons are required to be eligible for SYAO. Teacher name and contact information will be provided in the registration process and confirmation will be made with the teacher.
For students auditioning for SYRO and SYSO, private lessons are not required although they are highly recommended.
Do I need to play my solo from memory?
No. It isn’t required to play your solo from memory.
Do I need to provide a copy of my music for the panel?
No. The panel does not need a copy of your music.
Does the audition committee select which orchestra I should be in or do I have to choose?
The audition committee will decide which orchestra is the best fit. The conductor’s selections are the final decisions unless an opening becomes available. At that time, the conductor may select a student or students to invite for the next orchestra.
Can I play a solo that doesn’t have a NYSSMA level specified?
For students who are new to New York State and will be playing their most recent solo from another state will be able to audition with that piece. Sometimes, a quick google search of the piece title, composer, and "NYSSMA" will tell you it's level though! Otherwise, students are expected to audition with their 2025 NYSSMA solo for the 2025-2026 Season.
How soon will I hear about the audition results?
The audition results will be sent via email to the student and parent email address(es) provided in registration. These will be sent as soon as all decisions are made, and no later than the end of July 2025.
Can I participate in multiple ensembles?
Students may be permitted to audition for 2 ensembles on different instruments. Audition and tuition fees must be paid for each separate audition and each ensemble enrolled in.
On select occasions, students will be asked by the Music Director to provide assistance, support, and coverage of a part in another ensemble. In these instances, additional tuition payment will not be required.
Please don't hesitate to contact us at SYO@SyracuseOrchestra.org