Applications open for CSYO auditions

CSYO is one of the UK's leading youth orchestras and South Yorkshire's most advanced youth symphony orchestra.

We don’t have weekly rehearsals: instead, we hold 3 courses per year, during the school/university holidays, including a residential summer course! This is the perfect opportunity for players to meet other young musicians and enjoy making music together – as well as learning from incredible professional musicians and playing great repertoire. 

Programme for 2026-2027

Winter Course - 27-30th December - Works by Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Grainger and Delius, featuring soloist Jonathan Sells, Bass Baritone

Spring Course - 13/14 & 20/21 February (weekend rehearsals) and 13/14 March (Classical Sheffield Weekend) - Verdi's Requiem with the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

Summer Course - 22-30 July (partly residential) - Shostakovich Symphony no 10 (further rep tbc)

Commitment is vitally important to the orchestra, so we do ask that members commit to all three courses. However, if a student really cannot commit to all three, please get in touch with Hannah Watson - info@csyo.org.uk - to discuss possibilities.

NEXT ROUND OF AUDITIONS

11th October (deadline for applications Sunday 28th September)

18th October (deadline for applications Thursday 8th October)

14/15 November  (deadline for applications Thursday 29 October)

APPLY HERE  

We welcome all young musicians who are committed, who strive to share great music, and who are under 21 years of age on 31st August 2027. A minimum of grade 6 or equivalent standard is recommended for applicants although strong applications at grade 5 level will be considered. CSYO delivers some of the highest levels of orchestral performance amongst youth orchestras in the country. If you want to be involved click on the link above to apply!

We have spaces available on all instruments, and particularly tuba, French Horn and upper strings. 

Auditions 

• Auditions should last about 15 minutes
• Auditionees are invited to play a piece of their own choice, demonstrating their current technical and musical standard. It should not last more than 5 minutes. Two short excerpts in contrasting styles will be acceptable
• A piece of music will be emailed out approximately 7 to 14 days before the audition for preparation
• They will be asked to sight-read a short passage
• Part of the audition will be an informal interview by the panel.

The auditions can be competitive. We sometimes find ourselves auditioning musicians, all of whom would be technically and musically suitable, but to whom we are unable to offer a place as places are limited.

Fees
Fees for CSYO vary depending on whether the Summer tour is UK based or abroad. When travelling in the UK, the annual fee is usually around £1100. When travelling abroad, full-year membership costs around £1350. These figures are for guidance only. We have bursaries available and no student should be put off applying on the grounds of cost. Please email info@csyo.org.uk to discuss if this is a barrier to joining. 

Bursaries
The Friends of CSYO provide a general subsidy to all members for courses, and provide reduced rates for post-18 students and additional members of the same family. The Friends of CSYO, through their own funds and through grants from other charitable bodies, are also able to offer additional help to those parents/students who are unable to meet the cost of courses. More information can be found at the following link: Bursaries