Audition Requirements
Musicians ages 6 to 18 are invited to make an audition appointment with GSYO. Individual audition appointments are made year-round, based upon openings in the program. Candidates must have had years of private lessons or participation in their school music program to be considered for placement.
GSYO is now accepting applications for 2026-2027 Season!
Audition requirements are outlined under the tabs below.
Requirements at a Glance:
- Program Overview
- Senior Symphony
- Camilla Kolchinsky Orchestra
- El Camino Wind Orchestra
- Galbraith Honor Strings
- Camerata Orchestra
- Chamber Players Orchestra
Explore the tabs above for detailed requirements of each Program
| Senior Symphony | Camilla Kolchinsky Orchestra | El Camino Wind Orchestra | Galbraith Honor Strings | Camerata Orchestra | Chamber Players Orchestra | |
| Type of Orchestra | Full | Full | Wind, Brass, and Percussion Instruments Only | String Instruments Only | Full | Full |
| Strings | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Winds/Brass | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Percussion | ✔ | Timpani | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Skill Level | Most Advanced | Advanced | Intermediate | Intermediate | Beginning-Intermediate | Beginning |
| # of Concerts per Year | 4+ | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Commitment Level | Very High | High | Moderate-High | Moderate-High | Moderate-High | Moderate |
| Practice Days | Sunday | Tuesday | Tuesday | Monday | Monday | Monday |
| Years of Private Lessons | 4+ | 4+ | 3-4+ | 3-4+ | 2-3 or same # of years in school music program | 1+ or same # of years in school music program |
| Audition Expectations | Previous ensemble experience. See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. |
|---|---|
| Strings |
*Recommended books for reference: |
| Woodwinds |
|
| Brass |
|
| Percussion |
|
| Harp |
|
| Type of Orchestra |
| Full |
| # of Concerts a Year |
| 4+ |
| Commitment Level |
| Very High |
| Practice Schedule |
| Sunday | 3:30-6:30pm | Union Presbyterian Church, Los Altos |
| Skill Level |
| Most Advanced |
| Years of Private Lessons |
| 4+ |
| Audition Expectations | Previous ensemble experience. See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. |
|---|---|
| Strings |
*Recommended books for reference: |
| Woodwinds |
|
| Brass |
|
| Timpani |
|
| Harp |
|
| Type of Orchestra |
| Full |
| # of Concerts a Year |
| 4 |
| Commitment Level |
| High |
| Practice Schedule |
| Tuesday | 6:00-8:45pm | Union Presbyterian Church, Los Altos |
| Skill Level |
| Advanced |
| Years of Private Lessons |
| 4+ |
| Audition Expectations | Previous ensemble experience. See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. |
|---|---|
| Strings | N/A |
| Woodwinds |
|
| Brass |
|
| Percussion |
|
| Type of Orchestra |
| Wind and Percussion Instruments Only |
| # of Concerts a Year |
| 3 |
| Commitment Level |
| Moderate-High |
| Practice Schedule |
| Tuesday | 6:15-8:15pm | Union Presbyterian Church, Los Altos |
| Skill Level |
| Intermediate |
| Years of Private Lessons |
| 3-4+ |
| Audition Expectations | Previous ensemble experience. See the requirements outlined below. |
|---|---|
| Strings |
*Recommended books for reference: |
| Winds/Brass | N/A |
| Percussion | N/A |
| Type of Orchestra |
| String Instruments Only |
| # of Concerts a Year |
| 3 |
| Commitment Level |
| Moderate-High |
| Practice Schedule |
| Monday | 6:00-8:00pm | Shoup Garden House, Los Altos |
| Skill Level |
| Intermediate |
| Years of Private Lessons |
| 3-4+ |
| Audition Expectations | Previous ensemble experience preferred. See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. |
|---|---|
| Strings |
Recommended books for reference: |
| Woodwinds |
|
| Brass |
|
| Percussion |
|
| Type of Orchestra |
| Full |
| # of Concerts a Year |
| 3 |
| Commitment Level |
| Moderate-High |
| Practice Schedule |
| Monday | 6:30-8:30pm | Union Presbyterian Church, Los Altos |
| Skill Level |
| Beginning-Intermediate |
| Years of Private Lessons |
| 2-3 or same # of years in school music program |
| Audition Expectations | See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. Musicians must be reading music notes. |
|---|---|
| Strings |
Recommended books for reference: |
| Woodwinds |
|
| Brass |
|
| Percussion |
|
| Type of Orchestra |
| Full |
| # of Concerts a Year |
| 3 |
| Commitment Level |
| Moderate |
| Practice Schedule |
| Monday | 4:30-6:15pm | Union Presbyterian Church, Los Altos |
| Skill Level |
| Beginning |
| Years of Private Lessons |
| 1+ or same # of years in school music program |