Audition Information

Membership in the Oakland Youth Orchestra is open to highly qualified players of orchestral instruments from Bay Area schools through the annual audition process. OSYO is open to musicians aged 22 or younger (generally ages 11–22) who are ready for a full schedule of challenging repertoire, rehearsals, concerts, and international touring.

Audition Updates for the 2026-2027 Season

While formal auditions have closed, we accept additional musicians on a rolling basis based on specific sectional needs. If you would like to be considered should a seat open up in your section, please complete our Audition Interest Form.

How the Audition Interest Form Works:

  1. Submit Your Info: Complete the free Audition Interest Form above. Tip: begin preparing the audition requirements for the ensemble you wish to apply for.
  2. Review: After our current registration deadlines pass, our conductors will evaluate the specific needs of each ensemble.
  3. Invitation: If an opening arises for your instrument, we will contact you directly with an invitation to submit a video audition, along with instructions to pay the $35 non-refundable application fee.

We also encourage you to continue checking this page (oaksym.org/yoauditions) for real-time updates on specific sectional openings as they become available.

Contact us at youthorchestra@oaklandsymphony.org with any questions or for additional information.

Priority Vacancies

  • Youth Orchestra (advanced level) – Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion, Viola, Bass
  • String Orchestra (intermediate level) – Viola and Bass

Please review the audition requirements prior to signing up for the Audition Interest Form.

  • Learn about the OSYO (advanced level) here.
  • Learn about the NEW String Orchestra here.
  • Audition Requirements can be found below.
  • Video Audition Components & Submission Requirements can be found here.
  • Audition Interest Form can be found below.

Important Dates & Deadlines for the 2026-27 Season:

Milestone Round 1 (Priority) Round 2 (Placement)
Application Deadline CLOSED (March 31) CLOSED (May 16)
Video Submission Due APRIL 14 MAY 16
Audition Results Emailed APRIL 18 MAY 22
Tuition Assistance Application Due April 24 May 26
Final Registration & 1st Installment Due May 1 June 1

Audition Requirements

We highly recommend that you begin preparing the audition requirements as early as possible.

Overview

  • Youth Orchestra (advanced level)
    1. Scales | 2. Solo/Prepared Piece | 3. Excerpts
  • String Orchestra (intermediate/advanced-intermediate level)
    1. Scales | 2. Solo/Prepared Piece

1. Scales – Youth Orchestra (Advanced Level)

    • Violin: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60.
    • Viola: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60.
    • Cello: 3-octave F major scale and F major chords arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., f-g-a, b-flat-c-d, etc.) at quarter note = 60.
    • Bass: 2-octave E major scale and E major chords arpeggios
    • Brass: Bb and Ab Major concert
    • Winds: A and Ab Major concert
    • Harp: C major scale, hands together, at a comfortable tempo
    • Percussion: concert snare drum roll (please bring snare) soft-loud-soft, 3 of the basic snare drum rudiments (flam, ruffs, paradiddles, etc.), and a C Major scale on the glockenspiel

1. Scales – String Orchestra (Intermediate Level)

    • Violin: 3-octave G major scale and G major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., g-a-b, c-d-e, etc.) at quarter note = 60.
    • Viola: 3-octave C major scale and C major chord arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60.
    • Cello: 3-octave C major scale and C major chords arpeggios. Play three notes per beat (i.e., c-d-e, f-g-a, etc.) at quarter note = 60.
    • Bass: 2-octave E major scale and E major chords arpeggios

2. Solo or Prepared Piece(s) – Youth Orchestra & String Orchestra

All candidates should present a prepared piece or study—such as a concerto movement or equivalent—that demonstrates their current level of musicianship, including technical facility and artistic expression, and reflects their readiness to perform at a high level. The candidate’s solo piece should total no more than 6 minutes in length. Excerpts from larger works are welcome to meet this requirement. Auditions are strictly unaccompanied; neither collaborative pianists nor recorded accompaniments or backing tracks are permitted.

String Orchestra Repertoire Reference Point: Range from Suzuki Book 5 – 7 or equivalent.

Note: If your prepared piece is shorter (e.g., 4 minutes), you do not need to add additional repertoire to reach the 6-minute mark.

3. Orchestral Excerpts – Youth Orchestra only (Advanced Level)

All candidates auditioning for the Oakland Symphony Youth Orchestra (advanced level) are required to prepare excerpts for their listed instrument. If you are unfamiliar with these excerpts, we encourage candidates to listen to recordings of the pieces and bring them to their private instructors or ensemble leaders for input. Please contact youthorchestra@oaklandsymphony.org for any questions.

Audition adjudicators will be evaluating your performance based on the following criteria:

  • Rhythmic accuracy
  • Rhythmic stability (steady tempo)
  • Intonation (playing in-tune with yourself)
  • Tone quality
  • Dynamic contrast
  • Instrument-specific technique
  • Musicality, expression, and phrasing
  • Appropriateness of repertoire for your technical level
  • Ability to recover if you make a mistake
  • Careful preparation of all audition music

Join Our Audition Interest List