HOW TO JOIN HCYO
Every year Hampshire County Youth Orchestra welcomes many new talented players into its ranks…
If you would like to be part of one of the country's top youth orchestras, get in touch right now with Hampshire Music Service (02380 652037, or email secretary@hcyo.co.uk) and ask for an application form. Alternatively you can download one here and send it in to: Penny Mead, Hampshire Music Service, Rookwood Centre, Eastleigh SO50 4RJ.
Below is some information which we hope will be useful to you. If you would like to know more about HCYO, email conductor@hcyo.co.uk
Who may audition?
Membership of the Orchestra is open to players of all orchestral instruments - strings, woodwind, brass, percussion, harp and piano. You need to be aged 19 or under, resident in Hampshire or at school in Hampshire, and in full-time school/college education
Why do we have auditions?
Auditions can be scary things ... but they can also be a really good way to express your musicianship in a short space of time. We try to make them as friendly and enjoyable as possible.
Everyone who wants to join HCYO, and existing members too, all take part in the audition process each summer. This ensures that the quality of the Orchestra as a whole remains at the highest possible level. We do everything we can to make sure that the audition process is fair and welcoming for everyone taking part, and that it works to the benefit of the Orchestra as a whole.
Hampshire County Youth Orchestra (part of Hampshire Music Service) is an umbrella organisation made up of a number of different orchestras: the County Youth Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra (and associated ensembles) and the String Orchestra. You may be offered a place in any of these, according to our assessment of your playing. One audition process covers all of the ensembles in the HCYO family.
The Wind Orchestra, until now part of the Youth Orchestra pyramid, is beginning a new independent life in September 2008, as Hampshire County Youth Wind Band. You can apply to join that too, as part of the same application process.
We recommend that you apply for membership of as many different school, area and county groups as possible: sometimes (especially if you play a popular instrument) certain sections of the Youth Orchestras get crowded, and it may be very hard to win a place. The more chances you give yourself, the more success you are likely to have to play with an ensemble in the coming year.
When do auditions happen?
Auditions take place at the end of the Summer term each year: late June and early July. Each player is sent full information about the date, time and venue of their audition, early in June. Auditions take place in or near Winchester.
Can I join during the school year?
This is possible in exceptional circumstances, and when there are vacancies. It is always worth getting in touch with Tom Seligman to see what the situation is: conductor@hcyo.co.uk.
What will your audition entail?
It is a chance to play to Tom Seligman (HCYO Director) and the appropriate HCYO tutor for your instrument. We ask you to prepare the following:
For all those not currently in HCYO:
two contrasting solo pieces, or a single piece with strongly contrasting sections in different tempos.For current members of Wind Orchestra:
two contrasting solo pieces, or a single piece with strongly contrasting sections in different tempos.For current members of String Orchestra:
a single solo piece with strongly contrasting sections in different tempos.For all current members of the County Youth Orchestra:
one solo piece.
You should choose music which you feel comfortable with, and which you feel expresses your musicianship and ability well. There is no accompaniment available; and you may be asked only to play some sections from your piece(s).
We may send players a short new piece of music to look at in the week before the audition: like prepared sight-reading, really
We may also, in some cases, ask you to do some sight-reading on the day, and a selection of scales appropriate to your current level.
Trumpeters wishing to be considered for the County Youth Orchestra will be asked to transpose (from Trumpet in C); trombonists wishing to be considered for the County Youth Orchestra will need to feel comfortable with parts in both tenor and bass clefs.
Current members of the County Youth Orchestra, Wind Orchestra or String Orchestra will be asked to play some excerpts from this yearıs orchestral repertoire. In most cases, string players will do this in small groups. Further details will be available nearer the time.
Timings: auditions for all new players, and for all wind, brass and percussion players, will last about 10 minutes. HCYO String players' auditions will be in two parts: a chance to play a piece on your own, and a chance to play some orchestral music with other players from your section. Because of the 'shared' time, the total audition will last longer than normal.
A really important part of the audition is being able to respond to input from the people listening to you. Don't be alarmed if we ask you to play things again, or in a different way ... or if we ask you to try new ideas out! It doesn't mean we are not enjoying your playing: we might just want to see and hear how responsive you can be.
How are decisions made?
They are made substantially on the basis of the quality and standard of your playing during the audition, and our assessment of your suitability for the demands of orchestral playing. (In the case of existing members of HCYO, the quality of their playing during the year, and their commitment and progress through the year, are also taken into account where possible.)
Hampshire County Youth Orchestra / Hampshire County Youth Brass Band - joint membership
Any brass players wishing to apply for joint membership of the County Youth Orchestra and County Youth Brass Band should get in touch with Jock McKenzie (director of HCYB) and Tom Seligman (director of HCYO) as soon as possible, if they have not done so already. The scheme is administered on a case by case basis. Jock and Tom can be contacted via Hampshire Music Service: 02380 652037.
CYO principals
Section Principals in the County Youth Orchestra are selected according to the strength and character of their playing and leadership. They are appointed as principals on a year by year basis, and not necessarily for the rest of their time in the Orchestra, as others might be given the opportunity to fill the position if appropriate. If a principalship is rotated in this way, it certainly does not mean that anything other than an excellent job has been done: it simply means that another person is being given the opportunity. Equally, some players may be asked to fulfil the role for a number of years, if we feel that is in the best interest of the section as a whole.
After the auditions ...
As soon as possible after all the auditions have been completed, you will be contacted with the results. This can be a difficult time: competition for places is often intense, and there are inevitably disappointments as well as joys in the audition process. We are well aware that a whole range of feelings can emerge, from delight on the one hand to gloom or frustration on the other. It is vital that any player or parent/carer should feel able to get in touch with Tom Seligman to talk things over or receive feedback at that stage if they wish to.
The new orchestral year begins in September.
We very much look forward to meeting you and hearing you play!
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