Returning members do not need to complete an online application form. They will be contacted by the MYO office directly regarding their audition requirements and placement for the 2019-2020 season.

No.  Auditions should be performed unaccompanied (a cappella). For Treble Choir auditions, a piano accompanist is not required, but auditionees are welcome to provide a recording of their accompaniment (CD player or iPod) to perform with.

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.

NYSSMA participation is not an audition requirement for MYO. The NYSSMA Manual of graded solos is used as a standard of pieces that are characteristic of certain levels of musical skill development. Solos not listed in the manual are also acceptable for a MYO audition. The adjudicator will make a determination as to the appropriate level of musical skill.

It is good to know your scales, but you will not be asked to perform them during your audition.

Yes. If you are auditioning for placement in a MYO Orchestra, you will be asked to sightread selections from the standard orchestral repertoire. If you are auditioning for placement in a MYO Choir, you may be asked to match pitch, follow pitch patterns, vocalize, and/or sightread based on the requirements of each choir. Please see the Audition Guidelines for specific vocal sightreading requirements.

Auditions are usually 5-8 minutes in length.

Yes, for the convenience of our music directors, please supply a second copy of your audition music.

NYSSMA Level 4 students should prepare a solo/study on one or more of the following instruments:
timpani, snare drum, mallet instrument*

NYSSMA Level 5 students should prepare a solo/study on two or more of the following instruments:
timpani, snare drum, mallet instrument*

NYSSMA Level 6 students should prepare a solo/study on three or more of the following instruments:
timpani, snare drum, mallet instrument*

*Mallet instruments include glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, or vibraphone

Please bring your own mallets to the audition, thank you.
Sight reading may be asked in all areas of the audition.

Please Note: Percussionists should be prepared to play cymbals, chimes, and triangle in our MYO orchestras, in addition to snare drum, mallet instruments, and timpani, as they are used throughout the orchestral literature.

The Nassau MYO Choirs (Concert Choir, NEW Men’s Choir, Symphonic Choir, and Chamber Chorale) rehearse at Herricks High School on Monday evenings and the Nassau MYO Orchestras and Treble Choir rehearse at Herricks Middle School (Nassau String and Concert Orchestras and Nassau Treble Choir) and Herricks High School (Nassau Symphony and Principal Orchestras) on Tuesday evenings, from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM* during the school year. (*Actual end-time varies by ensemble)

Both schools are in Nassau County, Long Island near LIE exits 35 eastbound; 36 westbound.

The Suffolk MYO ensembles rehearse at Patchogue-Medford High School (Suffolk Symphony and Principal Orchestras on Monday evenings) and at Connetquot High School (Suffolk Concert Orchestra and all Suffolk Choirs including NEW Women’s Choir on Thursday evenings) from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM* during the school year. (*Actual end-time varies ensemble)

Both schools are in Suffolk County, Long Island, near LIE exit 64 (Patchogue-Medford High School) and exit 57 (Connetquot High School).

We try to maintain a skill level and age level balance in each of the instrumental ensembles.  The normal progression through orchestras begins with String (in Nassau County only), then Concert, Symphony, and Principal Orchestras.

Choral members are currently placed in their ensembles by age and grade level, except for the Nassau Chamber Chorale, which is by audition and for 11th and 12th grade members only.

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

MYO is a tuition-based program. Tuition for the 2019-2020 season varies by ensemble and is based on the length of the weekly rehearsals and the number of guest coaches. Please see our MYO Fees page for more information.