CKYO offers opportunities for the following instruments for our 2026-2027 all string and full symphonic orchestras:

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet

Bassoon

French Horn

Trumpet

Trombone

Bass Trombone

Tuba

Percussion

Piano

Harp

Violin

Viola

Cello

Double Bass

Unfortunately, full symphonic orchestras (meaning strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, piano, harp) do not include all wind and brass instruments found in concert band or wind symphony.

Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophones and electric guitar, bass guitar, and drum set may audition for JAZZ ENSEMBLES only. Jazz information will be published in October 2026 for the January 2027-May 2027 Season.

WHO SHOULD SUBMIT AN AUDITION VIDEO for CKYO's 2026-2027 Season

• All students who were NOT a member of a CKYO classical ensemble during the 2025-2026 season;

• Any student who is a member of Concert, Repertory, or Bravo String Orchestra or Percussion Ensemble during the 2025-2026 season and wishes to move into a more advanced CKYO ensemble.

NO AUDITION VIDEO REQUIRED FOR**:

• All students who are members of Symphony Orchestra in 2025-2026 school year and want to continue in Symphony Orchestra for the 2026-2027 season and in good standing*;

• Any student who was a member of Concert, Repertory, or Bravo String Orchestra during the 2025-2026 school year and wishes to participate in that same orchestra for 2026-2027 season.

**Students wishing to return to their 2025-2026 orchestra next season, should complete the Returning Student Intention Form form HERE by May 1, 2026.

*Good standing means your tuition and fees were paid in full for the 2025-2026 season (or you submitted a tuition assistance application and received confirmation from the office); attendance and behavior were deemed acceptable per the CKYO Membership Handbook and your conductor.

THE LINKED INFORMATION IS FROM 2025-2026 Auditions, but will give you an idea about the general level. 2026-2027 AUDITION INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE end of February 2026.

Consult with your school or private teacher and take a look at each orchestras required proficiencies and typical grade levels represented. Also, take a look at the orchestra excerpts for each instrument.

The excerpts are taken from repertoire performed by each orchestra and are cumulative in difficulty (i.e. Excerpt#1 in Symphony Orchestra Violin packet is representative of a Repertory Orchestra piece, Excerpt #2 is representative of a Concert Orchestra piece, Excerpt #3 is representative of a Symphony Orchestra piece.) If you need more details or have additional questions, contact the office at operationsckyo@gmail.com.

THE LINKED INFORMATION IS FROM 2025-2026 Auditions, but will give you an idea about the general level. 2026-2027 AUDITION INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE end of February 2026.

Click HERE for Audition requirements (2025-2026 AUDITIONS, not current).

Click on the ENSEMBLE below for more information:

Symphony Orchestra

Concert Orchestra

Repertory Orchestra

Bravo String Orchestra

Percussion

For the 2026-2027 season, classical auditions for all strings, winds, brass, piano and harp, will take place via video. Percussion students should complete this PERCUSSION INTEREST FORM

and we will be in touch to schedule an in-person skills assessment in May 2026.

Each orchestra will begin the season in August 2026 (week of August 17) with either a seating audition or rehearsal.

Seating Audition Music & Instructions will be provided when you receive the results of your audition by June 30, 2026. Seating Auditions create the seating chart for your ensemble for the first concert of the season. Additional seating auditions will be held throughout the season at the discretion of each orchestra's conductor(s).

Audition videos must be submitted through the CKYO Audition Application no later than 11:59 PM on June 1, 2026. After preparing and recording your audition, upload the video to YouTube (instructions for uploading and setting permissions are available at https://www.ckyo.org/video-instructions), and then paste the YouTube link into your audition application.

PLEASE FOLLOW THE VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS BELOW:

1. Begin the video by announcing your name, instrument, and the ensemble you are auditioning for. “My name is {First Name Last Name} and I play {Instrument}. I am auditioning for {ORCHESTRA} Orchestra.”

2. PLAY the required excerpts in the order they are listed in the audition packet.

3. Announce which scales you are performing. “I will be playing the following scales: {Name the scales you will play.}”

4. PLAY the scales.

5. Announce the title and composer of your solo. If you are performing only part of the solo, please specify that as well. “I will be playing {Title of Piece and movement} by {Composer Name}.”

6. PLAY your solo.

To ensure you don't forget any information, click HERE for a template to fill in your details and have on your music stand while recording.

IMPORTANT VIDEO GUIDELINES:

• Your video must be one continuous take. You may pause between sections to breathe or prepare, but the video should not be edited together from multiple clips.

• Videos must follow the exact order and structure outlined above. Failure to comply may result in the disqualification of your audition or affect placement decisions.

• Before submitting, review your video carefully to ensure it meets all the requirements.

When recording your video, understand that it will not be perfect! Submitting a recorded audition is not about perfection. Check out these TIPS!

Things the judges consider

• 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

Things the judges do not consider

• The audio quality of the device you used to record

• The video quality of the device used to record

• Where you recorded your video and what it looked like (bedroom, living room, bathroom, etc. However, acoustics can be an issue if, for example you record in your bathroom and the sound is unclear due to the echo. Wherever you record, make sure you can be clearly heard.)

• Race or ethnicity

• Gender or gender presentation

• If you have a private teacher or who your teacher is

• Other auditions you’ve taken or groups you’ve played with

• How fancy or expensive your instrument is

For the complete rubric and scoring that evaluators use when listening to your video, click below:

THE LINKED DOCUMENT IS FROM 2025-2026 Auditions, but will give you an idea about the general level. 2026-2027 AUDITION INFORMATION WILL BE AVAILABLE end of February 2026.

No. There should be no editing or enhancements made to your audition video.

• Your video must be one continuous take. You may pause between sections to breathe or prepare, but the video should not be edited together from multiple clips.

• Videos must follow the exact order and structure outlined HERE. Failure to follow the instructions may result in the disqualification of your audition or affect scoring or placement decisions.

• Before submitting, review your video carefully to ensure it meets all the requirements.

• We recommend not waiting until 11pm on June 1 to upload your video. It may take a while to upload to YouTube depending on your internet speed.

• Click here for TIPS for a successful audition video!

Paste your video link and provide some basic information about you at our AUDITION VIDEO SUBMISSION LINK (this will go live end of February 2026).

There is a $20 audition fee. If you need help with the audition fee, contact Amelia at ckyoauditions@gmail.com.

Before you make your video, follow these instructions.

1. Begin the video by announcing your name, instrument, and the ensemble you are auditioning for. “My name is {First Name Last Name} and I play {Instrument}. I am auditioning for {ORCHESTRA} Orchestra.”

2. PLAY the required excerpts in the order they are listed in the audition packet.

3. Announce which scales you are performing. “I will be playing the following scales: {Name the scales you will play.}”

4. PLAY the scales.

5. Announce the title and composer of your solo. If you are performing only part of the solo, please specify that as well. “I will be playing {Title of Piece and movement} by {Composer Name}.”

6. PLAY your solo.

To ensure you don't forget any information, click HERE for a template to fill in your details and have on your music stand while recording.

IMPORTANT VIDEO GUIDELINES:

• Your video must be one continuous take. You may pause between sections to breathe or prepare, but the video should not be edited together from multiple clips.

• Videos must follow the order and structure outlined above. Failure to comply may result in the disqualification of your audition or affect placement decisions.

• Before submitting, review your video carefully to ensure it meets all the requirements.

• Click here for some TIPS on how to make a successful video!

When recording your video, understand that it will not be perfect! Submitting a recorded audition is not about perfection.

If you do not have access to your instrument or have other challenges preventing you from submitting an audition video, please email us at ckyo@ckyo.org as soon as possible and no later than Friday, May 15, 2026.

We are happy to help you record a video and get it uploaded and submitted on time.

Memorization of scales is preferred for Bravo String Orchestra and required for Symphony, Concert, and Repertory Orchestra auditions. Memorization of the excerpts and solo are not required.

Wear something that makes you feel good and that you can comfortably play your instrument in. Dressing up in "concert or recital" attire is not required, but sometimes helps you to feel more like you are performing which can enhance your playing.

Remember that this is the first impression you will make on those who will evaluate you. It is also a good idea to practice in the clothes/shoes you are planning to wear before your audition.

CKYO is NOT able to provide feedback or comments from auditions. Judges are only placing students in an ensemble based on the presentation in the audition presented and the performance of the components. The judges listening to your auditions are not aware of your past performance in CKYO, your private teacher, etc. They are assessing your level of proficiency for the orchestra for which you have prepared an audition and must take into account the number of available seats in each section when assigning players to each ensemble.

We are aware that audition outcomes can be disappointing, but hope you understand that results are based on a brief snapshot of what you present in an audition. We encourage you to always work to improve on your instrument and build on your technique and musicianship with each audition opportunity, regardless of the outcome.

YES! CKYO supports school music programs, and believes these programs are the foundation of our music community. CKYO is an ENHANCEMENT to your school music ensembles, not a substitute for your participation in your school music program.

All middle school and high school-aged members are REQUIRED to participate in their school band and/or orchestra program. If a school does not offer an ensemble for the auditioned instrument, please list the name of a school teacher or counselor who can confirm. Home schooling parents should indicate that on the registration form and may list themselves as the teacher name or n/a.

CKYO will coordinate teacher communication in regard to signing off/approving a student's participation in CKYO. CKYO will send emails to school and private teachers listed on a students registration form to ensure compliance with our policies and support of their school and private teachers.

In making these requirements, CKYO recognizes that a school or private music teacher may refuse to approve a students' participation in CKYO if reasonable efforts have not been met by the student, to work for the betterment of the school or private music program, or to rescind approval if the student is not living up to the agreement made. CKYO reserves the right to retract membership privileges if the proper teacher/program approval requirements have not been obtained in accordance with the CKYO timetable.

Please note: CKYO makes NO EXCEPTIONS to its school instrumental and private music teacher signature certification requirements. Because the organization serves students from 12 different counties and over 40 schools, the policy is broad and is in place to support the public school music programs who work in cooperation with the organization. CKYO recognizes that each school has their own ensemble participation requirements. The teacher confirmation required by CKYO each semester indicates the student for which the teacher is approving is in compliance with school requirements as that school and/or teacher deems acceptable.

Yes. CKYO members are required to be enrolled in regular private lessons on their instrument (attending at least 2 times per month). You will be challenged by the music that is selected and the pace of the rehearsal schedule. While our staff will utilize our expertise to help all students succeed, nothing can replicate the personalized attention musicians receive when they take private lessons.

CKYO does not require you to be enrolled in private lessons prior to auditioning for CKYO, but once you have been placed in an ensemble and are attending rehearsals, you must meet the private lesson requirement. If you are not currently taking private lessons, ask your schoolteacher or email us at ckyo@ckyo.org to ask for recommendations.

Audition results will be emailed to the email addresses provided on the application (where you submit your audition video link) no later than June 30, 2026.

It is at the sole discretion of the conductor of each ensemble to decide to hold auditions for any open seats. Should there be mid-year auditions, they will be announced on the CKYO website's "Audition" page and emailed out to school and private teachers.

Yes, CKYO's classical and jazz orchestras are tuition-based and require a $20 application fee. Ensemble tuition comes out to between $15-$18 per week of instruction/performance. 2026-2027 Tuition rates will be available in June when you receive your registration materials and tuition payments for the first semester will not be due until September 2026.

However, CKYO is committed to the equitable access to high-quality music education and seeks to make our programs accessible to all students who successfully audition into an orchestra, regardless of their financial background. Need-based tuition assistance is available for all CKYO orchestras and we encourage families to apply, whether you are requesting full tuition assistance for the season or a $50 per semester assistance, all requests for tuition assistance should be applied for via the CKYO Tuition Assistance Application.

CKYO also offers Payment Plans to split tuition payments up by month.

To learn more about CKYO Tuition, click HERE.

To learn more about CKYO Tuition Scholarship or Assistance, click HERE.

If you are unable to pay the $20 audition application fee, contact Amelia by emailing ckyo@ckyo.org and we can help!