GWYOA Open Auditions for the 2023-2024 Season
Registration for auditions begins March 19.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: April 21
Saturday, April 29, 2023 - New musicians wishing to audition for: Elementary Strings, Junior Strings, or Youth Symphony
Monday, May 1, 2023 - Current GWYOA Elementary Strings or Junior Strings musicians wishing to Move Up to Junior Strings or Youth Symphony. This date will also serve as a second audition date for new Elementary Strings musicians.
Links for Audition signup:
Flute and Trumpet - Youth Symphony Prescreening Videos Submission
NEW Elementary Strings - Open Auditions 2023-2024 Season – April 29
NEW Elementary Strings - Open Auditions 2023-2024 Season – May 1
NEW Junior Strings - Open Auditions 2023-2024 Season – April 29
NEW Youth Symphony - Open Auditions 2023-2024 Season – April 29
MOVING UP to Junior Strings - Open Auditions 2023-2024 Season – May 1
MOVING UP to Youth Symphony - Open Auditions 2023-2024 Season – May 1
GWYOA Audition Information
Types of auditions:
If you are NOT currently a GWYOA member and are interested in joining the Westchester Elementary Strings, Westchester Junior Strings, or Westchester Youth Symphony
If you are CURRENTLY a graduating GWYOA member (ES grade 7 in September 2023, JS grade 10 in September 2023) and wish to MOVE UP to Westchester Junior Strings or Westchester Youth Symphony
Please note:
If you are a CURRENT GWYOA musician and are not MOVING UP to the next orchestra (ES grade 7 in September 2023, JS grade 10 in September 2023), you do not need to audition for the 2023-2024 season.
For trumpet & flute auditions, a prescreening YouTube video will need to be uploaded one week before the auditions. Additional information regarding the video will be in the Signup Genius registration.
Auditions are by grade only:
Westchester Elementary Strings - For string players entering grades 4-6 in September 2023
Westchester Junior Strings - For string players entering grades 7-9 in September 2023
Westchester Youth Symphony - For string players entering grades 10-12 in September 2023, and for brass, wind and percussion musicians entering grades 9-12 in September 2023
Preparing for your In-person audition:
Please be prepared to play a scale (1) you have mastered, as well as a polished piece that best demonstrates your present skill level. You may also be asked to sight-read. For longer pieces, excerpts will be heard rather than the entire work.
Attending your In-person audition:
In-person auditions are currently scheduled to be held at: Hankin Academic Arts Building, Westchester Community College, 75 Grasslands Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595
Please check back here the week of your audition for specific location information.
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to unpack and warm up. Please give the registered Student Musician name at the check-in desk. We will attempt to keep to the time selected. Walk-ins will be accommodated after those who have registered. There could be a substantial wait for those who have not registered.
ALL AUDITIONS WILL BE IN-PERSON THIS YEAR, but should Zoom auditions become necessary:
Preparing for your Zoom audition:
Please be prepared to play a scale (1) you have mastered, as well as a polished piece that best demonstrates your present skill level. For longer pieces, excerpts will be heard rather than the entire work. Due to the technical complexity of an online audition, there will be no sight-reading.
Preparing your electronic device and audition space:
You will need to have an electronic device with a camera, such as a tablet, laptop or cell phone, and a reliable WiFi or cellular connection in the audition space.
Make sure your device is charged and the latest version of the Zoom app is installed. https://zoom.us/
Make sure everything is ready in your audition space - chair, music stand, instrument tuned, etc.
Setting up your device’s camera – Strings: Make sure your upper torso through to the top of your head can be seen, and your entire bow arm at its widest range of motion. Woodwinds/Brass: Make sure your upper torso through to the top of your head can be seen and your instrument is in the field of vision. Percussion: Make sure your upper torso through to the top of your head can be seen, along with your arms and contact point of instrument.]
Make sure any bright light sources, (sunlight through a window, etc.), is not shining from behind you.
With the current high demand on internet service, and in the event that technical difficulties occur during your audition, we will make alternate arrangements at a later date.
If you do not have access to a device or are unable to use Zoom, please send us an email and we will make alternate arrangements: auditions@gwyoa.org Please include: Musicians first and last name, Email address, Instrument, Grade they will be entering in September 2022, and the reason you require alternate arrangements.
Attending the Zoom audition:
Complete instructions with a link to attend the audition will be emailed to the Zoom account email address you registered, the evening before your audition. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHECK THIS EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE DAY OF YOUR AUDITION IN CASE AN UPDATED LINK IS REQUIRED. You will also need to list the best phone number to reach you on the day of your audition.
Audition Results:
Conductors of the orchestra you auditioned for will notify you of your results. In past years, letters (snail mail) were sent out by the Westchester Elementary Strings and Westchester Junior Strings conductors, and results emails sent by the Westchester Youth Symphony conductor. Because the conductors results are based on the number of auditions per instrument and how they plan to put together their orchestra sections, the results are sent on a rolling basis. You may receive results as early as 2 weeks after your audition, to as late as the end of June. If you have not received results by August 1st, please inquire about your status at auditions@gwyoa.org.