Minnesota Youth Symphonies

Audition requirements and registration are now available for the 2008-09 season! Just click on the link to the left to download the files.

General Information

Summer 2008 Audition Dates for the 2008-09 Season
August 19, 3:00-8:30pm viola, cello*, bass, flute*
August 20, 3:00-8:30pm viola, cello*, bass, clarinet, bassoon
August 21, 3:00-8:30pm violin, oboe, horn
August 22, 3:00-8:30pm violin, piano, percussion, harp
August 23, 8:30am-5:00pm violin, trumpet, trombone, tuba

*Cello and flute audition slots have filled up, and further audition registrations will be placed on a waiting list. Please register as soon as possible to reserve your audition time!

All auditions for each instrument must be completed by the last audition date for that instrument. If you are requesting a specific audition time or need two or more audition times together, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Auditions are held at St. Luke Lutheran Church at 1807 Field Avenue in St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood. Acceptance letters will be mailed to students 7-14 days after the last audition date. Seating is assigned at the first rehearsal. All orchestra placement decisions are final.

Download the 2008-09 MYS season schedule. All dates are subject to change and will be updated if changes are made. Note a new calendar with substantial changes has been posted on June 30th. Just click here to download.

MYS Tuition Assistance Programs

MYS offers tuition assistance programs to ensure that all qualified students may participate:

Installment Payment Plans
MYS offers installment plans enabling families to make trimester (3) or monthly (8) tuition payments. Families are asked to seriously consider this option before applying for the scholarship or tuition credit program.

MYS Tuition Credit Work Program
Students, parents and guardians may earn tuition credit in exchange for completing work assignments at MYS rehearsals, concerts and other activities, as required. Participation in this program is based on financial need, work experience, and the ability to meet assigned work requirements.

Carissa Hayen Memorial Scholarship Program
The Carissa Hayen Memorial Scholarship Program is a need-based financial assistance program to help with tuition expenses for qualifying MYS students. Awards are based solely on financial need and scholarship recipients may be required to perform work assignments similar to the Tuition Credit Work Program, above. In order to provide opportunities for as many students as possible, only partial scholarships are given.

Click here for the 2008-09 MYS Tuition Assistance Packet.

What To Expect

Your audition will take about ten minutes. There are four major components to each audition:
1. Prepared orchestral excerpts, Audition Requirements by Instrument (pdf)
2. A brief unaccompanied solo piece of your choice. (This means piano accompaniment is not allowed.) Remember, it is not what you play, but how well you play.
3. Scales and/or arpeggios
4. Sightreading

Review the specific requirements for each instrument at each level listed below. The MYS conducting staff auditions all students. You will be notified of your acceptance into an MYS orchestra by mail. Seating is assigned at the first rehearsal. All orchestra placements are final.

Students must audition each season, regardless of prior participation in MYS. Previous participation in MYS does not guarantee placement. Students are evaluated on the basis of what happens in their audition and placed in the appropriate orchestra level.

The expectations at Minnesota Youth Symphonies are high. Students must come prepared to meet the challenges that come when playing great symphonic literature. Students are required to play at concerts, performed at the end of each trimester, before a paying audience.

You can download a printable Audition Brochure here (pdf).