The MYO Experience

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York is committed to providing a rich, educational and collegial rehearsal and performance environment for the musical development of its members and for the cultural benefit of the people of the metropolitan area.The MYO organization includes five symphonic orchestras, one string orchestra, a four-part vocal chorale and a three children’s choirs. The 2010-11 season will begin with a total membership of over 650 young people between the ages of eight and eighteen. The Nassau Co. ensembles rehearse on Tuesday evenings throughout the school year and the Suffolk Co. ensembles rehearses on Thursdays. All ensembles perform three or four times a year at concerts scheduled throughout the metropolitan area. For the past several years many of the high school-aged members have participated on the MYO summer tour, taking them to countries throughout Europe and the Far East.

In 1993, MYO began with 15 musicians and a conductor in a church basement in Manhasset, NY.
Today MYO includes almost 600 musicians in ten different musical ensembles.

Nassau Principal Orchestra

The Nassau Principal Orchestra, led by Maestro Scott Stickley, is made up of some of the finest high school musicians in the metropolitan area. Many of the ..... Full Description

Long Island Youth Chorale

Led by Ed Norris, the fifty-member Youth Chorale is an SATB ensemble which... Full Description

Suffolk Principal Orchestra

Founded in 2008, the Suffolk Principal Orchestra includes 80 members under the direction of Maestro Phil Preddice... Full Description

Nassau Symphony Orchestra

The Nassau Symphony Orchestra, formerly called the Chamber Orchestra,, led by Maestra Patricia Koppeis, is an ensemble of ninety very advanced musicians. ... Full Description

Nassau & Suffolk Concert Orchestras

The Nassau and Suffolk Concert Orchestras, led by Peggy Ho and Scott Zarchy, respectively, are full symphonic ensembles...... Full Description

Nassau & Suffolk String Orchestra

The Nassau String Orchestra, led by Victoria Alaimo, is a string-only training ensemble which plays a wide variety of music...... Full Description

Children's Choruses

The Nassau Children's Choruses have been split into a Treble and Concert Choir. The newly-formed Suffolk Children's Choir is a growing group of young singers....... Full Description

Staff

Here you can see profiles of all of our conductors... Full Description

Each year almost two hundred new musicians join the MYO family through the spring and fall auditions.

The Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York holds annual auditions in May & June for the following year. Additional auditions are held in September and throughout the year until all positions are filled. There is a $20 Audition Fee.

WHEN:

Thursdays by Appointment - Suffolk Co.
Tuesdays by Appointment - Nassau Co.

WHERE:
Nassau Auditions
Herricks High School
100 Shelter Rock Rd
New Hyde Park, NY 11040

Suffolk Auditions
Sachem East High School
17 Granny Road
Farmingville, NY

A GUIDLINE OF MYO AUDITION LEVELS

MYO Nassau & Suffolk Principal and Nassau Chamber Orchestras: Auditionees should have successfully completed a NYSSMA* level 6 solo on a string, wind or percussion instrument, and be prepared to audition on a similar solo.

MYO Suffolk Concert Orchestra: Auditionees should have successfully completed a NYSSMA* level 5 solo on a string, wind or percussion instrument, and be prepared to audition on a similar solo.

Metropolitan Youth Chorale: Auditionees should have completed a Level 5 or 6 vocal NYSSMA* solo evaluation and be prepared to audition on a similar solo on the appropriate voice part.

MYO Nassau Concert Orchestra:Auditionees should have successfully completed a NYSSMA* level 5 or 6 solo on a string, wind or percussion instrument and be prepared to audition on a similar solo.

MYO Nassau String Orchestra: Auditionees should have successfully completed a NYSSMA* level 4 or 5 solo on a string instrument (all string ensemble)and be prepared to audition on a similar solo.

MYO Suffolk Children's Chorus (4-8), Nassau Treble Chorus (4-6), Nassau Concert Choir (7&8): Auditionees should be in grades 4-8 and be able to sing on pitch. A familiar song is sufficient for audition.

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE AUDITIONING

All Nassau MYO ensembles rehearse at Herricks High School or Middle School on Tuesday evenings, between 7 PM and 9:30 PM during the school year. Both schools are in Nassau County, on Long Island, near LIE exits 35 and 36.

The MYO Suffolk Orchestras & Choir rehearses at Sachem East High School on Thursday evenings from 7 PM to 9:30 PM. The school is near the LIE at exit 63.

The participation fee for the 2009-10 season is $475. There is a slight reduction for siblings and some scholarship funds are available, by application, in June.

Attendance at MYO rehearsals is critical and members should make a serious, personal commitment to attend all rehearsals and concerts prior to joining.

* NYSSMA refers to the New York State School Music Association's manual of graded solos for adjudication. Comparable solos are listed with New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut music educators associations.