WSSYO Auditions
Join us! Auditions for the 24/25 season will be held on August 16-18, 2024 at Sedge Garden United Methodist Church in Kernersville. Unsure which ensemble to audition for? Please email Charley Bryant, Manager of the Winston-Salem Symphony Youth Orchestra’s Program, at cbryant@wssymphony.org
Want to up your auditioning skills?
Join us for an Audition Clinic on August 8.
What’s Required?
An audition fee must be received in order to reserve an audition time. You can pay securely online during registration.
Scholarships are available. To apply for a Youth Orchestras Program Tuition Scholarship, download and complete the following form and return as indicated with accompanying materials.
Quick links:
Premiere Strings | Chamber Sinfonia | Youth Philharmonic | Youth Symphony
Premiere Strings
- One octave scale of your choice.
- One prepared solo piece of your choice (no longer than 2 minutes), preferably not ensemble music.
- Example: A solo piece from Suzuki Book 1 or 2
- Example: A solo piece from Essential Elements Book 1 or 2
- Students will be asked to sight read a piece of music.
- Students must be able to identify notes on the D and A strings in first position.
An audition fee must be received in order to reserve an audition time. You can pay securely online during registration.
Chamber Sinfonia
All practical requirements can be found below, please click on your preferred instrument.
Students will be asked to sight read a piece of music and must identify the following within the sight reading:
- Time signature
- Key signature
- Tempo
- Dynamics
- Bowings
- Note names
- Note values
- Number of measures/bars within the piece
An audition fee must be received in order to reserve an audition time. You can pay securely online during registration.
Youth Philharmonic
All practical requirements can be found below, please click on your preferred instrument.
Students will be asked to sight read a piece of music.
Immediately following the practical auditions, each student will complete a very short (5 minute) theory test.
Upon registration for the audition, students will be emailed a PDF with all theory requirements and a study guide.
An audition fee must be received in order to reserve an audition time. You can pay securely online during registration.
Youth Symphony
All practical requirements can be found below, please click on your preferred instrument.
Students will be asked to sight read a piece of music.
Immediately following the practical audition, each student will complete a very short (5 minute) theory test.
Upon registration for the audition, students will be emailed a PDF with all theory requirements and a study guide.
An audition fee must be received in order to reserve an audition time. You can pay securely online during registration.
Other Information
If your child is not chosen for the ensemble they auditioned for, they will be offered a spot in the ensemble the directors best feel fits their ability. Please direct any questions to Rachel Watson or Charley Bryant via email: rwatson@wssymphony.org / cbryant@wssymphony.org.
Auditions
The Youth Orchestras Program regularly holds auditions in late August for the following academic year, and also holds a Summer Festival and an Audition Workshop in July/August.
History
Founded in 1973 under the auspices of the UNC School of the Arts, the Youth Orchestras became an official part of the Winston-Salem Symphony Association in 2007.
Conductors & Staff
Each conductor brings a wealth of experience in musicianship and education, guiding their respective orchestras to their full potential performance after performance.
2024/2025 Concerts
The Youth Orchestras perform several times throughout the year in exciting programs that are as fun to hear as they are to play:
Nov 18, 2024: Opening Concert
Dec 14, 2024: Holiday Concert
Mar 24, 2025: Midyear Concert (PS/CS/YP)
Mar 29, 2025: Concert for Community (YS)
May 12, 2025: Spring Finale
