CKYO Spring 2026 Jazz Audition Information NOW AVAILABLE!
PLEASE NOTE re: Audition Feedback: 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 video and the performance of the audition components. The judges listening to your auditions are not aware of your past performance in CKYO, your private teacher, your school, etc. They are assessing your level of proficiency for the orchestra for which you have prepared an audition and must also 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.
If any seats remain open in the classical ensembles after audition review and registration, we will post those opportunities on this page at the discretion of the conductors. We will also share available openings with our network of school and private teachers.
Frequently asked questions
WHO SHOULD SUBMIT AN AUDITION VIDEO for CKYO's 2025-2026 Season
All students who were NOT a member of a CKYO classical ensemble during the 2024-2025 season;
Any student who is a member of Concert, Repertory, or Bravo String Orchestra during the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 school year and want to continue in Symphony Orchestra for the 2025-2026 season;
Any student who was a member of Concert, Repertory, or Bravo String Orchestra during the 2024-2025 school year and wishes to participate in that same orchestra for 2025-2026 season.
**Students wishing to return to their 2024-2025 orchestra next season, should complete the Returning Student Intention Form form HERE by May 1, 2025.
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.
For the 2025-2026 season classical auditions for all strings, winds, brass, piano and harp, will take place via video. Percussion students should complete this Percussion Interest Form to schedule an in-person skills assessment.
Each orchestra will begin the season in August 2025 (week of August 18) 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, 2025. 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, 2025. 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:
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.”
PLAY the required excerpts in the order they are listed in the audition packet.
Announce which scales you are performing. “I will be playing the following scales: {Name the scales you will play.}”
PLAY the scales.
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}.”
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:
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 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.
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.
Paste your video link and provide some basic information about you at our 78th Season: 2025-2026 AUDITION APPLICATION.
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.
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.”
PLAY the required excerpts in the order they are listed in the audition packet.
Announce which scales you are performing. “I will be playing the following scales: {Name the scales you will play.}”
PLAY the scales.
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}.”
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.
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 ckyoauditions@gmail.com as soon as possible and no later than Friday, May 17, 2025.
We are happy to help you record a video and get it uploaded and submitted on time.
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 video or live audition and the performance of the audition 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.
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. 2025-2026 Tuition rates will be available in June when you receive your registration materials and tuition payments for the first semester will not be charged until August 2025.
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 ckyoauditions@gmail.com and we can help!