HYS rehearses on Sunday afternoons from late August through early May. HYS currently rehearses at Pershing Middle School. Next season’s rehearsal location is TBA. Rehearsals are 2.5-3 hours, depending on the orchestra.

HYS orchestras have 3 concerts per season at Rice University’s Stude Concert Hall. Concerts are held on Sundays. Exact dates TBA.

Tuition is $1075 for the season and payment plans are available. 

Financial aid is available to those who apply and qualify. A financial aid application will be available once you are accepted.

New in 2024/25: HYS will offer an automatic 10% sibling discount for families with more than one child. (Child 2 = 10% discount; Child 3 = 20% discount; Child 4 = 30% discount, etc.) 

Musicians are expected to participate in their school orchestra or band program if one exists. HYS is not meant to replace in-school music programs. Upon placement and registration, a school participation form will be sent to your school’s orchestra or band director.

HYS accepts musicians who are age 7-19 as of September 1, 2024. 

Complete the online application form with the $55 audition fee. Audition repertoire requirements will be available in mid-February. The application will be live from April 1-May 1. The deadline to submit your application, video link, and $55 fee is May 1, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

For those who have financial hardship and would like to request an audition fee waiver, you must email HYS@HoustonYouthSymphony.org BEFORE April 26th at 9:00 am. If you do not request a fee waiver before this day, you will not be considered for a waiver.

All current musicians are required to re-audition each year. You must submit the application form and audition fee each year. Please note that your current orchestra level is not guaranteed. Do not take the audition for granted.

No. All applicants could be placed in any of the orchestras. However, string players who want to be considered for Symphony or Philharmonia must play Excerpt A on their audition video.

Refer to the Audition Guide by Instrument which includes guidelines on the expected level of solos and scales that correspond to each excerpt. There are also guidelines with expected skills to be able to play in each orchestra in the Audition Guide.

All woodwind/brass applicants will prepare the same excerpt in addition to two prepared solos and two scales. Applicants will be considered for any of the orchestras.

Refer to your Audition Guide by Instrument which gives tips on how to make your video as well as how to upload your video to YouTube and provide the link to your application.

Please wear semi-formal performance attire. Remember that your audition video is a performance. T-shirts, shorts, flip-flops, etc. are not appropriate attire.

Scales must be memorized. Other audition components do not need to be memorized.

No. Piano accompaniment is not permitted.

A wind musician who wants to demonstrate their auxiliary instrument skills can play a short excerpt in addition to all the audition components required for the main instrument. The video must follow all of the video requirements including staying under 8 minutes and all of the components being in one continuous, unedited take. (E.g. A clarinetist must prepare all of the clarinet audition components and may add a short bass clarinet excerpt at the end of their audition video.

HYS does not accept applications for euphonium, saxophone or piano. These instruments are used only when the repertoire requires it. 

With many different levels of students applying for HYS orchestras, our goal is for students to prepare music specifically for the HYS audition.

Audition results are sent by email, mid to late June. No phone calls, please.