OPEN AUDITIONS Each year, 400 children and youth audition for membership in SYS. Candidates are auditioning for a position within the entire SYS organization not for a specific orchestra or ensemble.  Musicians are scored and ranked against other musicians who audition in our blind audition process and are placed accordingly.  Entry to our orchestras and ensembles are based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: meeting minimum criterion for a given orchestra, ability (as determined by open audition score), the difficulty of repertoire selected, and previous attendance if applicable. There are often a limited number of spots within each ensemble. Musicians with the highest overall scores for each instrument are placed first.

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SYS has established minimum audition requirements (see below) for each instrument including scales and suggested repertoire. Please examine these requirements and share them with your child’s music teacher. He or she can help you determine if your child is ready to audition for membership with SYS. Musicians hoping for our higher level orchestras should prepare material consistent with that orchestra or ensemble and that meet the requirements for that level.

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