With its sophisticated programming, performances in one of the world's greatest concert halls, superb musical leadership under Music Director Andrew J. Kim, new works commissioned of the nation's best young composers, outstanding soloists, and professional-level attitude, the Grammy Award winning New York Youth Symphony Orchestra sets itself apart as one of the finest ensembles in the nation.
The orchestra released their first professional recording album on Avie Records during the Covid-19 pandemic featuring pianist Michelle Cann, which won the 2022 Grammy for Best Orchestral Performance. The album can be streamed/purchased here.
The orchestra has toured to Spain and Argentina, and will go on tour to Greece in 2024. The orchestra also has made live appearances on CNN with Billy Ray Cyrus, on Jimmy Fallon with JVKE, and on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with Misty Copeland.
The orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall three times per season. The concert dates for the 2024/2025 season are as follows:
Sunday, November 24th, 2024, at 2PM
STRAUSS, Jr., - Overture to Die Fledermaus
BOBBY GE (Barlow Commission) – Pareidolia and Other Habits
RAVEL - Piano Concerto in G Major featuring Clayton Stephenson, piano
BEETHOVEN - Egmont Overture
STRAUSS – Tod und Verklärung
Sunday, March 9th, 2025, at 2PM
First Music Commission piece
DVORAK - Romance in F minor featuring Ana Isabella Espana, violin (2024 Sphinx Competition Winner)
STRAUSS - Four Last Songs featuring Alexa Jarvis, soprano
BRAHMS – Symphony No. 4
Sunday, May 25th, 2025, at 2PM
BOULANGER - D’un matin du printemps
First Music Commission piece
HIGDON – The Light We Can Hear
PROKOFIEV - Symphony No. 5
Rehearsals are held on Sundays from 2-6pm at the DiMenna Center for Classical Music, located at 450 West 37th Street, New York, NY.
The orchestra will travel on retreat to Camp DeWolfe in Wading River, NY from September 20-22, where they will engage in rehearsals and bonding activities in this picturesque setting over the weekend. Please note that attendance to Kickoff is mandatory, and parents of students aged 14 and under should be prepared to chaperone.
Sectional rehearsals are held once per concert cycle, led by members of the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, DECODA, and prominent musicians in the NYC metropolitan area.
Applicants should review the guidelines on this page to ensure they can fulfill the commitment to the program before applying.
Orchestra auditions will be held on select dates between August 16th through September 1st at the NYYS Office at 110 West 40th Street, New York, NY. Upon completing the online application, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to schedule your audition. All auditions will be held in-person.
In order to participate in the NYYS Orchestra's 2024/2025 season, applicants must be between the ages of 12 and 22. Applicant's date of birth must be between May 25, 2002 and November 24, 2012. Please do not apply if your birth date falls outside of these dates as you will not be eligible for the program and we are not able to refund your application fee.
**NEW FOR 2024** All new string applicants will go through a prescreening process before they can audition for the Orchestra. Prescreening materials are due Monday, July 8th. String applicants who participated in the 2023/24 season will not need to submit any prescreening materials.
If you would like to apply after the July 8th deadline, we will still accept your application but cannot guarantee full consideration/priority scheduling of audition slots. The NYYS still encourages you to apply, as late applicants still may be invited to audition based on audition slot availability.
Auditions are 10 minutes long, and will be heard by the Music Director and the Assistant Conductor. You will be asked to play orchestral excerpts per instrument as well as solo repertoire. You may be asked to demonstrate basic techniques on your instrument, which may include knowledge of major and minor scales and/or bowing/tonguing techniques. You can view and download the audition excerpts below.
Have any questions regarding the audition excerpts? Please reach out to the Music Director at akim[at]nyys[dot]org. Thank you!
The registration fee for the Orchestra program is $635.
The NYYS recognizes that the cost of application and registration fees may be prohibitive for some students, and that access to technology may be a barrier to participation. Financial aid, application fee waivers, work-study, and technology funds are available to help offset these expenses. Financial need is the major consideration when awarding assistance. We ask that students seek funding through their personal networks in addition to completing the financial aid application as funds are limited. The application for financial assistance is within the main application.
Students are allowed a maximum of two excused absences during each concert cycle, up to a total of five absences for the season. Please note that there are mandatory rehearsals and performances within each concert cycle. Mandatory dates are noted in the program calendar which will be distributed at your audition. Absences from mandatory events will result in dismissal from the concert and/or program, with the possible exception of a death in the family or a serious medical emergency.
Below you will find the excerpts to download for your audition and additional instructions of what to prepare for your audition. Please prepare all excerpts in the packet.
Principal and auxiliary wood wind excerpts and instructions are all included in the corresponding excerpt packets if you would like to audition for these positions.
*Please note that applicants only need to prepare the Timpani excerpts if they want to audition to be the Timpanist for the season. Excerpts are included in the main percussion excerpt file.
CLICK AN INSTRUMENT TO DOWNLOAD AUDITION PACKET
NYYS has always been and continues to be a place that prioritizes nurturing young musicians. My goal was (and has been for the past 2 years) to reignite and maintain a joy of playing - NYYS has helped me on that path.
Emma Braunberger
Oboe
I found this year's repertoire to be profoundly beautiful, absolutely eye-opening, and extremely emotional. I cannot thank you enough for providing me with these opportunities!!
Liam Meyers
Viola
NYYS is an amazing program. I feel very fortunate to be a part of it and especially grateful to have Andrew Kim as our director/conductor.
Philip Thompson
Cello
Each season, the Orchestra performs the world premiere of three pieces by young American composers commissioned through the Jon Deak First Music Commissioning Program. Orchestra members collaborate with today’s most gifted young composers in a unique opportunity for both composer and player to realize musical dreams and surmount the challenges of giving the world a new work of art. See the First Music page for more information.
Fellowships are offered each season to principal string, wind, brass, and percussion players. Additional fellowships are awarded to students who mentor first-year members. Fellows have unique responsibilities within their section, participate in community outreach, and make a commitment for performing new works by students of the Composition program at the annual Orchestration Reading Workshop and Composition Date Concert.
Photo Credit: Molly Higgins
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