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 study with a private teacher, and have had at least one year of lessons to be considered for placement.
Video Submissions Due March 30, 2021, 12pm PST
Explore our current openings and requirements for your specific interests
FOR THE CURRENT 20-21 SEASON: GSYO is still accepting video submissions for new member and promotion auditions for open positions for the current season. Fill out the application form and select "Current Season" to receive audition requirements from Deepika Kaiwar: deepika@gsyomusic.org
For the 2021-22 Season:
Audition requirements for the Spring New Member and Promotion Auditions are outlined below. During the Spring audition period, there are openings at ALL LEVELS for ALL INSTRUMENTS. Due to the ongoing Covid 19 pandemic, Spring auditions will again be held via video submission. Review the filming instructions and audition requirements carefully prior to preparing your video.
First round video auditions are due by 12pm (noon) PST on MARCH 30, 2021. Placement priority will be given to musicians who submit in the first round. Late submissions (received after noon on March 30th) will be held on a waiting list for the second round of evaluations. Please submit your video on time (or early!). Video submissions will be accepted starting March 15. You will receive an email with additional information about how to submit your video at that time. An audition application must be received prior to the video submission.
- Program Overview
- Filming Instructions
- Senior Symphony
- Sinfonietta Orchestra
- Wind Orchestra
- Galbraith Honor Strings
- Camerata Orchestra
- Chamber Players Orchestra
Requirements At A Glance
Explore the tabs above for detailed requirements of each Program
Senior Symphony | Sinfonietta Orchestra | 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 | ✔ | — | ✔ | — | ✔ | ✔ |
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 | 1+ |
Auditions should be recorded as if they were being performed live, in-person, in front of GSYO faculty. That means that all requirements should be played straight through, live, with no stops. There should be no editing of the video, no accompaniment, and only one video link will be accepted. If it appears that the video has been edited, it will affect your placement.
This recorded performance does not need to be "perfect." The first or second take is usually the best. We strongly encourage doing NO MORE than three takes! We understand that young musicians are still learning, and our goal is to get enough information to place them in an ensemble that is at their best learning level.
Notes for Filming Set Up & Recording
- Video should be taken in a well-lit room
- Musician should be visible from the waist up (their instrument, bow arm, fingerboard, and face should be visible and not blocked by the music stand). Violin, viola, and double bass players should stand. Cellists will be seated. Winds and brass can choose whether to sit or stand.
- No accompaniment is allowed and no editing is allowed. This should be performed as you would a live, in-person audition.
- Please start the video by saying your full name, grade level for Fall 2021, your current GSYO ensemble (if applicable) or current school/community orchestra (if applicable) and how long you've been playing your instrument.
- Before playing your prepared piece/solo, please say the name of the piece, the composer, the movement (if applicable), and/or the name of the book for the etude.
- When completed, the video should be uploaded to a streaming service (YouTube, Vimeo, etc). The video does not have to be "public," but it should be accessible without any sign-in or password required. This is to allow our faculty to access the video remotely and to view without downloading.
- Submit your video through our online form (link available starting March 15). Video should remain live until at least May 25, 2021.
Audition Expectations | Previous ensemble experience. See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. |
---|---|
Strings | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Woodwinds | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Brass | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Percussion | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Harp | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Current Instrument Openings* | All instruments |
Type of Orchestra |
Full |
# of Concerts a Year |
4+ |
Commitment Level |
Very High |
Practice Schedule |
Sunday | 3:15-6:15pm | 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 | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Woodwinds | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Brass | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Percussion | N/A |
Current Instrument Openings* | All Instruments |
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 | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Brass | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Percussion | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Current Instrument Openings* | All Instruments |
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 | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Winds/Brass | N/A |
Percussion | N/A |
Current Instrument Openings* | All Instruments |
Type of Orchestra |
String Instruments Only |
# of Concerts a Year |
3 |
Commitment Level |
Moderate-High |
Practice Schedule |
Monday | 6:00-8:00pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto |
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 | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Woodwinds | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Brass | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Percussion | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Current Instrument Openings* | All Instruments |
Type of Orchestra |
Full |
# of Concerts a Year |
3 |
Commitment Level |
Moderate-High |
Practice Schedule |
Monday | 6:30-8:30pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto |
Skill Level |
Beginning-Intermediate |
Years of Private Lessons |
2-3 |
Audition Expectations | See the requirements for each instrument group outlined below. Musicians must be reading music notes. |
---|---|
Strings | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Woodwinds | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Brass | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Percussion | All recordings should be UNEDITED to simulate a live audition. Please play the listed items in order.
|
Current Instrument Openings* | All Instruments |
Type of Orchestra |
Full |
# of Concerts a Year |
3 |
Commitment Level |
Moderate |
Practice Schedule |
Monday | 4:30-6:15pm Fletcher Middle School, Palo Alto |
Skill Level |
Beginning |
Years of Private Lessons |
1+ |