Youth Orchestra Auditions
Any student who plays an orchestral instrument and is in the third grade or higher may audition for placement in the Sarasota Youth Orchestra Program.
All Youth Orchestra participants are required to play in their school's orchestra or band, in addition to this ensemble. All participants must audition each year.
Those interested in participating in any of the eight youth ensembles, must submit a Youth Orchestra application. If you are interested in financial assistance for either orchestra tuition or with private lessons, please fill out and submit the scholarship application (see Youth Orchestra Application).
Upcoming audition dates can be found below. All try-outs are held in the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The Sarasota Orchestra Education Department will notify you of your appointment time at least one week before your audition date. Placement will be mailed to you, please do not call the department for the results.
Helpful Audition Hints
The following tips are meant to help students have a positive Youth Orchestra audition:
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If you study privately, ask your teacher for help with your audition materials and orchestra music.
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Listen to recordings to help learn excerpts and how they fit into the rest of the piece. More than 18,000 recordings are available at the Sarasota Orchestra music archives in the Selby Library, or you can purchase recordings from online music sources or local music stores.
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Perform before various people such as friends and family prior to your audition.
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Remember that the audition committee will be listening for the correct notes and rhythms, intonation, tone quality, articulation, expression, musical style and consistency among other things. Pay close attention to detail. Music is a lifelong learning experience, perfection takes a lot of work and time.
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Try to relax before your audition. Focusing on your breath is a technique that helps some people calm their nerves. Another technique is to find a quiet place and imagine yourself playing your audition materials with confidence. Nerves are natural, but remember the purpose of an audition is to show what you already know.
The person who is well prepared has the greatest chance of performing well!
2020-2021 Audition Dates
As a result of the COVID-19 interrupted season, Sarasota Youth Orchestras is planning to start rehearsals on February 1, 2021 subject to public health trends. All rehearsals will be limited to 90 minutes to ensure we meet our organizational standards and protocols for health and safety. Chairs will be separated by at least six feet, which will reduce the number of students rehearsing at a dedicated location and time. All students, faculty and staff will be required to wear a face mask at all times in and around the Orchestra Center and maintain six feet of space between people. Specific details of our safety precautions and procedures can be found on page two of the application. Procedures will remain flexible in response to guidance from public health professionals.
All auditions will be recorded virtually using HeartOut app (free) January 7 – January 9.
Due to limited space and social distancing requirements in the Orchestra Center, we will offer two ensembles each night (four total ensembles). Using the audition requirements posted in March 2020, students are recommended to audition for the ensemble they feel best represents their playing. Based on the number of auditions, instrumentation and ability levels, students will be assigned to one of the four (newly created) ensembles. Each ensemble will represent a different ability level. As a result of the current public health conditions, participation is limited and we may not be able to accommodate every student that auditions.
PROPOSED ENSEMBLE REHEARSALS: (students will only be assigned to one day/time)
MONDAYS TUESDAYS
Ensemble A 5:30-7:00 Ensemble C 5:30-7:00
Ensemble B 6:00-7:30 Ensemble D 6:00-7:30
Updated Audition Requirements
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Youth Philharmonic |
Youth Symphony |
Symphonic Winds |
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Symphonic Strings |
Intermezzo Strings |
Camerata Strings |
Divertimento Strings |
Chamber Strings |
Apply Today!
The Youth Orchestra program has taught thousands of young people to become better musicians. Many become performers with the Sarasota Orchestra or major symphony orchestras throughout the country.
Seven different orchestras rehearse weekly from September through April. Students progress through the program from string ensembles up to full orchestras. Auditions are held every year.
* Private Lesson Progress / Reimbursement Form
Tuition
Each participant in the Youth Orchestra program pays $305 tuition. This is in addition to the $25 application fee and is due upon invoice. The $305 tuition is only a fraction of the actual cost to Sarasota Orchestra per student. We are grateful to the Sarasota Orchestra Friends and the generosity of donors and granting organizations that help keep the costs to students reasonable.
Recruitment Incentive
Do you know a student that would enjoy being a part of our program? Help us spread the word and receive $20 off your tuition for each new student. Example: Talk with 5 new students that meet the requirements below and receive $100 off your tuition.
Scholarships
The Sarasota Orchestra is fortunate to be able to offer several types of scholarships. Through the generosity of many donors and numerous foundations, we are able to off-set tuition expenses. We also strongly believe in the benefit of private lessons and are able to help subsidize students’ lesson expenses. In addition, we offer scholarships for summer music camps and college music majors.
TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS: Need-based tuition scholarships are awarded to cover a portion of program cost (between 10% and 75%). Please include a letter of explanation. These letters can greatly help the committee with their decisions.
SIBLING SCHOLARSHIPS: The Sarasota Orchestra understands that many families have more than one child in our program. To help off-set these expenses, we offer a reduced tuition rate to families with more than one student participating in the Youth Orchestra Program. Often these are 50% scholarships. For example, $305 for the first child, $152.50 for each additional child. You must request this scholarship on
the application.
FELLOWSHIPS: Need-based FULL TUITION scholarships (excluding application fee) are awarded to families having a combined income of $24,000 or less. Note: applicants for a full tuition scholarship must provide full income disclosure (IRS 1040 Form, page one, front and back) and explanation of scholarship need. Full scholarships cannot be granted without this documentation.
PRIVATE LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS: These are awarded to Youth Orchestra participants to help defray a percentage of the cost of private lessons (38 lesson maximum Sept.-June).
Young Person's Concerts
Each year, a different program is developed and delivered to nearly 10,000 Manatee and Sarasota County fourth- and fifth-graders.
Summer Music Camp
School-aged children on summer break can maintain or gain musical skills during the Sarasota Orchestra’s summer program.
Young Artists Competition
Each year, up-and-coming young musicians from across the region compete for the opportunity to perform as soloists in a concert with the Orchestra.
Youth Orchestras
Sarasota Orchestra's Youth Orchestra Program has been hailed as one of the most exemplary youth programs in the Southeast.
