2020/21 Season Audition Applications open june 5
Questions? Email Director of Orchestra Operations, Isabel Thiroux
The American Youth Symphony’s competitive Fellowship program provides a per-concert stipend (ranging from $275-500) and tuition-free training, focused on the study and performance of the canon of classical masterworks, along with cutting-edge new music and legendary film scores. During their time with AYS, fellows enhance their musical growth, engage with their community, work with top guest artists and composers, develop crucial leadership skills, and perform sold-out concerts at the most prestigious venues in Los Angeles.
Blind auditions ensure that acceptance is based purely on merit; and, as part of our long standing commitment to eliminating all financial barriers for our students, there will never be any fee to audition.
Due to COVID-19, AYS will not host live, in-person auditions in September. AYS will instead require a video submission of your prepared audition materials, due Friday, August 14, 2020. Instructions on how to submit a video audition can be found below. If you have extenuating circumstances, (e.g. you do not have access to your instrument of equipment to make a video), please write to auditions@aysymphonyorg.dream.press. To ensure your anonymity, the audio file will be pulled from your video and relabeled for the panelists. The only information being shared with the panelists about your submission is your instrument and solo piece.
Applicants must be at least 15 years old as of September 30, 2020. The orchestra is made up of students in high school through graduate music programs, as well as young professionals who have completed their education. The average age of our orchestra members is 23.
2020 Audition Information
Open Positions:
Auditions are being held for all instruments.
Audition Dates:
Your application and video submission are due Friday, August 14, 2020.
Eligibility:
To participate, you must be at least 15 years of age as of September 30, 2020 and must live in or around the great Los Angeles area. We understand that many applicants who would be attending their LA based schools in the fall might be starting the fall semester online. The expectation we have of the fall concerts being a combination of small live, in-person concerts and virtual content. By the spring, we would expect all members to be in Los Angeles. Most members of AYS are college or graduate students majoring in performance, with a median age of 20-24. We also welcome exceptionally talented high school students who already have substantial musical training. AYS accepts applicants based on their musical ability without regard to gender, race, religion, disability, or income. Annual open auditions ensure that the most qualified musicians have the opportunity to participate in fundamental performance technique.
How To Apply: Applications for the 2020/21 Season are open Friday, June 5, 2020.
The online application will be made available June 5. You will submit your audition video with your application. Your application will be reviewed by the audition committee and you will be notified by email of your results.
Commitment:
Admission into the American Youth Symphony requires each member to commit to the concerts, rehearsal schedule, additional training activities, and concerts around town. A typical season will have 4-5 concerts at UCLA’s Royce Hall, a concert at LACMA, and a concert Walt Disney Concert Hall. AYS is expecting to be flexible with commitment of each musician due to COVID-19.
Absences of two or more rehearsals for a concert which you have committed to playing may result in the following consequences: probation, dismissal from your role in the concert, future discipline or dismissal from the orchestra. If, for any reason, you miss two or more concerts in one season, your position will be automatically open to audition for the following season, and, at the discretion of the Music Director, you may be required to re-audition for continued membership in the orchestra. Anyone who has been a member prior to 2017, the 2017/18 season will count as your 2nd year of your 3 year fellowship. This means that following the 2018/19 season, members would need to audition again for another 3-year fellowship for 2019/20.
Concert Dates: 2020/21 Season
The following dates are on hold for the 2020/21 concert season:
October 10, 2020 Royce Hall, UCLA
November 1, 2020 LACMA Sunday’s Live
November 22, 2020 Royce Hall, UCLA
February 13, 2021 WDCH
March 20, 2021 UCLA, Royce Hall
May 2, 2021 UCLA, Royce Hall
This information will be updated as the season activities are solidified. Please feel free to check back on our website for any new concert schedule updates.
Rehearsal Schedule:
There are typically 4-5 rehearsals for each concert, held during the week of the performance. This will include weeknights from 7:30pm – 10:00pm, plus Saturday and/or Sunday mornings from 10:00am – 12:30pm. Location varies, but many rehearsals will be held at Hollywood Scoring in Atwater Village (90065). The rehearsal schedule is subject to change.
Due to COVID-19, we are expecting to have more online engagement with our musicians and audience for the fall and the rehearsal schedule will be updated as we are able to come together for in-person performances.
2020/21 Repertoire:
A typical season includes significant programming of canonical symphonic repertoire, along with a selection of contemporary works, and an annual film concert. Additionally, Mo. Izcaray has made a pledge that 50% or more of new music performed by the orchestra will be the work of female composers.
