I was just wondering how many people were in a youth orchestra, if so which one. I am not talking about your school orchestra (if you have one). Lots of people I know are in them, but when I tell people who are not in one way they are so good, they don't understand me.

thanks

Hi

I'm in the Pontefract Youth String Orchestra, grade 4 and upwards, audition required. What a long title! I play viola, every saturday morning at half ten.

Bobifier

Not in an orchestra but in a county symphonic wind band for which auditions are required

Nah I'm not in one, they're way too formal for me! Bands are more my thing; be it rock, jazz, pop, hip hop, blues, metal, or soul, I've played in them all!

Matt

I am in my County Youth Orchestra and County Youth Chamber Orchestra, awaiting results of my NSSO audition.

what are your thought on having to do an audition? some orchestras do them to see where to place, others (like the NYO) do it to get only the best. have you ever been turned down from an orchestra because you were "good enough"?

No, but I think with ours it is a combination of the two. Only the best are successful, and then the best of the best become the principles etc. They have a comments sheet on your sight reading, pieces and things like intonation.

I play viola in my music centre's senior orchestra and sing in my music centre choir.

I'm in the Jersey Youth Orchestra...is that what you mean? Loads of kids from round Jersey come to rehearse peices for concerts and that

I'm not in one To be honest, I really don't have enough time.

I'm in a recorder consort/orchestra kinda thing if that counts, on alto/bass

I'm in the Brighton and Hove Youth Philharmonia - posh name but actually second best in Brighton, to BYO (brighton youth orchestra)...

I think auditions are necessary not only to decide if you're 'good enough' for the orchestra but to decide seating. with bassoons, it's as simple as first or second, but i guess with violins, celli, flutes, clarinets etc. the audtion would also serve as a seating audition too (though they host separate auditions on another day for those looking to be principals).

I'm in my county wind band, you also have to audition to get in.

I'm in the North Suffolk Youth Orchestra, and really enjoy it.

i'm not in an orchestra, but i'm in the Bromley Youth Music Training Band, you have to be about grade 4+ to be in it, and then you move up to the senior band when you get to about grade 6+ and then symphonic winds when you about grade 7+. if you don't know the difference between a band and an orchestra, a band has saxophones and no string section, i think thats the only big difference. You do have to audition, because otherwise there would be too many people in them, and they're pretty big as it is.

I think it's only fair, for the better orchestras, or over-subscribed ones. How else would they choose? They don't always take the best, I know people who were turned down because they didn't have the right style to play in orchestras, although they were much better than the people accepted, as well as the fact that the very best often don't apply.
I haven't been turned down for an orchestra yet but I'm still waiting for that letter...

I used to play in a county training orchestra (one below the symphony orchestra), where you have to audition to get in. Unfortunatly, I gave it up due to a variety of reasons.

i'm not in a youth orchestra, just my school one! i don't really know much about what our county orchestra does/when they rehearse etc.! i did a 3-day residential course last summer with the county intermediate wind band though - that was fantastic fun!

I went to Elizabeth College Summer Orchestral Course (ECSOC) last summer in guernsey. (for under 18s) It was really ood and i made loads of new friends. It's a five day orchestra thing you study for 1 1/4 hour sessions and theres 4/5 sessions a day. Its really good, like youre at music school or somehting.

I am in Conwy County Youth Orchestra and the woodwind group. I hopefully going to Four Counties this Easter.

Oh wow you're in BHYP?! I play in the viola in BYO, I was in philharmonia last year.

I'm in the Enfield Young Symphony Orchestra, you have to be grade 5+ and have an audition. My conductor's leaving, he's been there for 8 years!
Jess

I love playing in an orchestra, its not you playing all the time its other people. it kinda gives you a sense of unity if you know what i mean. You also get to meet new people and play with a variet of instrumetnts

I'm in the Hampshire County Youth Orchestra and the Winchester Youth Orchestra (one full day/evening rehearsal every fortnight for both). Both really good experiences. The social events are GREAT as well. You can't beat a good old band camp! And yes, it really is like American Pie....
On the downside, it's given me rather a scornful view of school/college orchestras which is BAD and I feel guilty but I can't help it. I believe I'm turning into a musical snob
Sarah x

Are you in college orchestra...?

Nope, I could apply for my area one. Good ol' Gosport and Fareham Youth Orchestra. They get acronym'd though so it ends up as G(&F)AYO. *Rolls eyes* They're not very good anyhoo so I've always resisted the urge to apply.

In Hampshire County Youth Choir though and considering National audition next year.

ALix, I'm far too controversial to join college orchestra. Miriam would just glower at me all the way through anyway. *sarah says a silent prayer that no music teachers actually read these posts*!
Sarah x

Didn't think you were but just thought I'd check. I'm surprised you don't get glowered at for not being in it!
Sadly (*cough*LUCKILY*cough*) I'm a grade too low on violin to be in college orchestra. You're meant to be about grade 6 standard and I'm doing my 5 in the summer.

NO WAY WERE THOSE STRING PLAYERS ALL GRADE 6 IN THE CONCERT!!!!!! Alix, you're far more musical than most so you should just barge your way in. I have finished trying to be nice to Miriam and am now going to be a conceited little girl in every music lesson. I can do that well!
xxx

Well, reading all the information from college they suggest that you should be grade 6 to enjoy being in orchestra.
Meh, I might join next year. Maybe. Probably not. Don't have the most confidence in my violin, probably because it's not one of my main instruments. (Which sucks, by the way. Wish I'd got my grade 8 in something orchestral!)
Also I'm not a huge violin fan, hence why I'm slowly trying to make the transition to viola...

I'm too old to be in a youth orchestra

Used to be in South Suffolk YO, though, then several uni orchestras

I used to be in West Suffolk YO - I wonder whether it still exists...

W

Benjaminja, you are not too old. Violinutter is in Newham Youth Symphony Orchestra. There is no need to audition as they work on a recommendation system. The teacher will recommend just about anyone who is grade 5 or above standard regardless of age. The oldest member in her orchestra is in her late 40s. Teehe. VN is no youth, either. She is in Year 4 and plays second violin. She believes the first violinists are 8th graders although the old lady is very much higher than that. She's the Head of Strings! But the overwhelming majority ARE teenagers.

I was in my local music centre Youth Orchestra, which was auditioned and Grade 6+.

I was also in the English Schools' Orchestra which is grade 8+ but non-auditioned, for people aged 11-18 in full-time education.

But now I'm too old! *sob*

Ben and Cheeble,
It must be fun playing in an orchestra. How about researching the local amateur adult ones?

Tess

Thanks, yes. I already play in 4, don't think I could fit any more in...!



It certainly does - at least, it did this time last year when I did some admin for them!

I'm involved in several orchestras and bands, all within the same organisation. Basically, you go in when you first want to join and you are auditioned - just to determine which band you're in. I started way down in the Junior Band and am now one step from the top orchestra (sort of) having moved up one band each academic year. So...

Thursday night is playing 3rd Horn for the top band (1 & 3 are very similar parts, so it's a bit like being 2nd Horn)
Friday night is occasionally being called in for 4th Horn for the top orchestra
Saturday morning is Principal Horn for the 2nd highest orchestra and 1st Horn for the 2nd highest band if we get called in (the latter is devoid of horns since we all moved up)

I'm also hoping to join a Wednesday evening steel band next year (same organisation), but that's time permitting. It's strange - I think that youth orchestras/bands help the learning curve a lot, because you're forced into a situation where you have to learn faster. Your lesson might stop or slow the pace for you, but a band of 40 people doesn't! It's good fun though - a laugh and I've met lots of fantastic people.

[quote name='benjaminja' date='Feb 10 2006, 04:13 PM' post='254987']
[quote name='Tess' post='254980' date='Feb 10 2006, 04:11 PM']
Ben and Cheeble,
It must be fun playing in an orchestra. How about researching the local amateur adult ones?

Tess
[/quote]

Thanks, yes. I already play in 4, don't think I could fit any more in...!

Hey, I'm currently in the county Intermediate orchestra.. Im principal cellist.. i just missed getting into TO...

I play in the Norfolk County Youth Orchestra - very fun + great music!

also play in local Waveny Symphonia but thats not Youth

Im in the Argyll Youth Wind Band - but I haven't actually been to it yet, the practice is next friday, saturday, sunday and monday. I cant wait, we're staying in this hotel place about 2 hours away. It will be so much fun!!!!!!

I guess that I should tell you which youth orchestra's I'm in. They are:

Stoneleigh Youth Orchestra (actually in Putney i think) - http://www.stoneleighyouthorchestra.co.uk/
The National Youth Orchestra of GB (the most 'un-elitist' orchestra - it is really, although JV claims its not!)
The Whitgift Chamber Orchestra (South Croydon)

there are loads of great orchestra's amateur musician, or for those who want to play music but not as their profession. my dad is the President of The Sutton Symphony Orchestra, it full of people who wish they could do music as a full time job, but aren't good enough, and those who play as a hobby and want to meet others like themselves.

sorry, this post sounds like i am bragging, i don;t mean to!

I just found out that my Youth Orch are doing Mahler 1 at Easter How cool/impossible will that be?!

I'm in the top County Wind Band!

NM

Ooooh I did that last term. It's amazing! Although when we did it the first violins were always complaining that they didn't get the melody enough...

Hahaha I got into the NSSO...how on earth did that happen?

Well done, maybe because you're talented!!!!
Enjoy it,
Sarah x

What's NSSO?!?

Just googled it, came up with: National Sample Survey Organisation and the National Schools Orchestra. I'm gonna guess its the latter

Wow, congratulations! You deserve it.

Awwwww. I know someone who plays clarinet in IO. I should not have been in TO, but oh well, that's life.


Well Done!!!!!