Frequently Asked Questions

Any student age 7 to 18 who plays violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, euphonium, trombone, tuba, percussion, or harp.

String players usually have two years’ playing experience before auditioning for GTCYS. Woodwind, brass, and percussion players typically have at least one year of playing experience before auditioning for GTCYS.

All students audition once each season regardless of previous GTCYS participation.

The main auditions for GTCYS’ school-year orchestras are held each spring. All other auditions are reviewed on a rolling basis and placed according to instrument needs and openings. See more details here.

• Spring Auditions:
  • Mid-February: Audition registration opens for the 2025-26 school year.
  • May 21, 2025: Deadline to register and submit audition videos.
  • June: Placement results sent for the 2025-26 season.
• August Auditions:
  • Audition videos due for first-time students auditioning for any current openings.
• December Auditions:
  • Audition videos due for first-time students auditioning for any current openings.

GTCYS has 11 school-year orchestras which range from beginning to pre-professional. While there are specific audition requirements for each orchestra, auditions are for entry into the program and judges will place students based on their ability.

Students should pick ONE of the audition levels below based on their abilities and experience:

• Beginning skills: Philharmonia (strings only), Sinfonia (winds, brass, percussion)
• Developing skills: Sinfonia / Concertino (strings), Concertino (winds, brass, percussion)
• Advanced skills: Camerata / Concert Orchestra (all)
• Most advanced skills: Philharmonic / Symphony (all)

Please prepare only ONE set of audition requirements from the levels below. If a student feels like their abilities are currently between two of the levels, choose the set of requirements that best demonstrates their musicianship.

A student’s chosen audition level doesn’t guarantee or limit their placement. Students are placed based on the overall audition.

Audition requirements are grouped by orchestras based on ability and experience level:

• Beginning skills: Philharmonia (strings only), Sinfonia (winds, brass, percussion)
• Developing skills: Sinfonia / Concertino (strings), Concertino (winds, brass, percussion)
• Advanced skills: Camerata / Concert Orchestra (all)
• Most advanced skills: Philharmonic / Symphony (all)

Please refer to your full instrument requirements here. Every audition includes:

1. Scales
   • Prepare and record all scales listed in the instrument packet for your audition level. Use the listed tempos as a guide.
   • Scales are written out for some levels. You can choose any articulation.
   • Minor scales can be performed in any form (natural, harmonic, or melodic), unless otherwise stated.
2. Solo
   • Prepare a piece of music that demonstrates your best playing Selection can include a solo, etude, school ensemble music, or other piece of music.
   • Record your solo without piano accompaniment, keeping it under 3 minutes. If needed, select a shorter section of your piece to fit the time limit.
3. Excerpts
   • Excerpts are short sections from larger pieces of music.
   • Prepare all excerpts for your audition level and follow the Look up any unfamiliar musical terms so you can play confidently.
   • Listen to recordings (YouTube, Spotify, etc.) to understand tempos, musicality, and phrasing – judges will evaluate your performance on all artistic elements, not just note accuracy.

Students are placed in an appropriate orchestra based on their audition. Instrumentation needs may also be considered.

Students’ chosen audition level doesn’t guarantee or limit their placement—it’s based on their overall performance.

While sound quality of submitted videos may vary due to differences in recording equipment, judges will listen for the overall quality of students’ performance and not the quality of recording.

GTCYS makes every effort to place all students; if a student places in an orchestra with an overfull section for their instrument (most often flutes and clarinets), they may be placed on a waitlist.

Previous participation in GTCYS does not guarantee placement. All placements are final.

GTCYS will email placement results for spring auditions in June.

Please do not inquire for results. All placements are final.

A $45 audition fee (non-refundable and not applicable to tuition) is due with your audition. A reduced fee of $5 is available for low-income families and families who anticipate applying for tuition assistance.

Tuition varies by orchestra, and amounts are listed on each orchestra’s webpage. Reduced tuition may be granted for students who join later in the season.

Different payment plans are available, and we also provide need-based tuition assistance to meet families’ needs. Click here for tuition assistance information.

GTCYS is committed to serving all young musicians regardless of finances. We provide more than $250,000 in tuition assistance and support for private lessons each year. Click here to learn more or call us at 651.602.6800.

Our judges get to listen to so many great auditions! To help us stay timely, your total video length should be under 10 minutes.

Your solo selection should not be longer than 3 minutes. If needed, select a shorter section of your piece to fit the time limit.

Recordings must be completed in a single continuous take (no editing or piecing together) in this order: scales, solo, excerpts.

Recordings can be made with basic equipment, including a smart phone, tablet, or laptop with a built-in microphone and video camera. High quality recording equipment is NOT necessary. If you do not have access to technology or adequate internet access, please contact us so we can support you. 

We recommend recording in a quiet room with the door closed, with minimal visual distractions and background noise. Let your family know when you’re recording!

Neat dress is appreciated! Wear nice clothes which are comfortable to perform in. It is also a good idea to practice in the clothes you plan to wear for your audition at least once.

We strongly encourage you to make a test video to familiarize yourself with your technology, check sound levels, and troubleshoot in advance of filming your audition video.

There are several ways to best set up your recording device. In all instances, position yourself so that your instrument and your full person are visible in the video so judges can assess your technique and posture. This is easiest if someone helps you! 

• Smartphone/tablet:
  Record your video using the main camera on your smartphone or tablet, NOT the front-facing selfie camera. Set your device to film in landscape (horizontal) not portrait (vertical). Prop your smartphone or tablet on a stable surface to record you video audition. Use books, water bottles, a music stand, or any other objects to make a stable surface for your device. 
  • Auditions can be recorded directly from your SnapAudition registration page through your mobile browser.
• Laptop/computer:
  • Mac: You can use any video recording app. All Macs come with the Photo Booth app pre-installed. You can find this by pressing command + space and typing “Photo Booth” in the pop-up search field. Then, click on the Photo Booth app. Visit Apple’s Photo Booth User Guide for more help on using Photo Booth, including how to record a video and how to save your video.  
  • PC: You can use any video recording app. All PCs running Windows 10 come with the Camera app pre-installed. To open your Camera app, select the Start button, and then select Camera in the list of apps. Visit Microsoft’s Support Page for more help on using the Camera app.