AUDITION INFORMATION

UPDATE 5/19/25: Bassoon, Percussion, and Trombone auditions for the 2025-26 Season are STILL OPEN!

We appreciate your interest in the Orange County Youth Symphony (OCYS) and String Ensemble (OCYSE)! While our general auditions have closed at this time for both OCYS and OCYSE, we are still looking for a select few instruments.

Our diverse roster represents student musicians from nearly 60 middle school, high school, and college programs throughout Orange County.

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the OCYS/E staff are committed to sharing the intercultural love of orchestral music and cultivating lifelong learning opportunities for young musicians in grades 5 through 13. OCYS and OCYSE proudly serve as music ambassadors to each other and our local schools, districts, and communities throughout Southern California.

All OCYS and OCYSE members are expected to take an active part in their school music programs. The Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the County Youth Symphony strongly support participation in school music programs.

Audition Application Deadline: General auditions for the 2025-2026 season were open as of Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and closed on Wednesday, May 14 at 11:59 PM PT. We are still seeking percussion, bassoon, and trombone players for the 2025-2026 season, and applications will remain open until filled.

Application Requirements: An audition fee of $40, an online application, and a video audition will be due.

Financial Assistance: For those seeking financial assistance for tuition and/or the tour, please submit your application here by Friday, May 16 at 11:59 PM PT.

Audition Process:

Download & practice the required audition excerpt(s) and scale(s) for OCYS or excerpt(s) and scale(s) for OCYSE. See below for all excerpt(s) and/or scale(s).
Select and practice a solo piece in under two minutes that best demonstrates your playing ability.
Play for friends and family to build confidence and refine your performance.
Record a practice audition video per the requirements below and review it. Check for the best picture and sound. Adjust the camera, lighting, and staging if needed.
Submit the audition fee at this link.
Complete the OCYS/E audition application linked at the bottom of the page, and submit your video via a link in the final question on the application.

We hope you enjoy the audition process. Best of luck to you in your musical endeavors!

AUDITION FLYER!

OCYS AUDITION EXCERPT(S) & SCALES

Musical excerpts are posted for each instrument below. Music does not need to be memorized.

Woodwinds

Bassoon

Brass

Trombone

Percussion

Percussion

VIDEO REQUIREMENTS

Please follow the following procedure while recording your audition video:

State your name, age, and year in school (as of the fall of the season you are applying to).
Perform audition excerpts in order as outlined in the audition information.
Create your live, continuous, unaccompanied audition video in one sitting. Videos should NOT be edited.
Students should upload their video to their Google Drive or a private YouTube account. Please do not use school accounts.
Ensure privacy settings are set so that the judges can view your video.
Copy the share link to the video and authorize permission to view.
Paste the link into your audition application. It will be the final question on the application, entitled ‘Audition Link.’

Submit your audition here!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any questions about our OCYS/E Audition Process? Check out our FAQs below:

OCYS (Orange County Youth Symphony) is our full orchestra program that includes strings, winds, brass, and percussion. It is our more advanced program and has a high standard for music ability and leadership. The group predominantly consists of high school and college students.

OCYSE (Orange County Youth String Ensemble) only includes strings, and allows for slightly lower level ability and a more relaxed schedule than its OCYS counterpart. The group historically is younger than OCYS, consisting of middle school and high school age students, however this is not always the case depending on audition level.

When auditioning as a string player, you have three choices:

Audition for OCYSE specifically, with according excerpts and scales that are slightly lower level than OCYS materials.
Audition for OCYS, with according excerpts and scales that are higher difficulty than OCYSE. In the application process, if you indicate that you would additionally like to be considered for OCYSE, you will be considered for the ensemble in the case you do not make the cut for OCYS.
Audition for OCYS, with according excerpts and scales that are higher difficulty than OCYSE. In the application process, if you indicate that you are only interested in OCYS, then you will not be contacted if there is availability in OCYSE.

The goal of the OCYS/E groups is to provide a continual experience to students across multiple years when possible, and so many OCYSE members end up moving up in seating to eventually be admitted to OCYS. Commitment to the orchestra over multiple terms is also taken into account during auditions.

Both OCYS and OCYSE members receive:

Dedicated and rigorous instruction from our leadership staff, as well as our team of experienced sectional coaches on a regular basis.
Multiple performance opportunities throughout the year at prestigious halls such as the Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and the Soka Performing Arts Center.
Volunteer and community service opportunities as both members of OCYS/E and supporters of Philharmonic Society of Orange County, which can include performances for children, masterclasses, and OCYS outreach.
Two (2) complimentary tickets to most Philharmonic Society concerts.
Exclusive engagements and masterclasses with presented, professional artists from around the world.
Engaging social events to bond with their fellow orchestra members throughout the season.

OCYS members also participate in:

A weekend-long mountain social retreat and rehearsal intensive in the fall.
A chance to compete against their fellow orchestra members in a concerto competition, cumultating in their piece being featured in our finale concert.
An international tour during June to France (at an additional fee), complete with tours of historic landmarks across the country, and multiple performance opportunities. See this page for more information. Please note: The tour is contingent on minimum sign-ups.

OCYS: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, French Horn, Trumpet, Tenor and Bass Trombone, Euphonium (as needed), Tuba, Harp (as needed), Mallet Percussion, and Percussion.

OCYSE: Strings Only: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

OCYS & OCYSE strings should audition with the excerpt(s) and/or scales(s) for the respective ensemble they are planning to audition for.

Excerpt Preparation: Listen to a recording of the required excerpts. This will assist you to understand the excerpt, tempos, style, and emotional intent.

What Judges Listen For: Musical maturity, note and rhythmic accuracy, articulation dynamics, and expression.

Attire: Dress in professional but comfortable playing attire.

Video Setting: Check the lighting and surroundings in your room. A blank wall with limited distractions is best. Check the placement of your camera, and aim lighting from behind the camera and a full view of you in playing position.

Record a Test Run: Review footage before you send for good sound, lighting, and positioning of your full playing position.

Results will be emailed to the email you list on this application by the end of June. Please set your email client and/or spam filter to accept any email from the e-domain @philharmonicsociety.org. Otherwise, you might miss crucial information.

In-person audition callbacks for Concert Master and/or Principals may be scheduled on an as-needed basis.

Final seating/adjustments will be determined at the first rehearsal.

OCYS tuition will be $1500 total.

To attend the OCYS international tour in the summer of 2026, it will cost an additional amount, to be communicated with accepted members.

OCYSE tuition will be $1300 total.

All tuition costs may fluctuate up until results are determined and sent out. Financial aid for both tuition and tour will be available; information and applications for financial aid will be sent out along with audition result information.

Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble