Application and Re enrolment for membership of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra for 2023 - 24 remains open for Bassoon and Percussion only. Please read the admissions policy below.
If you have any questions regarding applying - please contact CBYO Manager Robert.briscoe@eani.org.uk
If you would like to obtain an online application form This can be downloaded here/p>
City of Belfast Youth Orchestra Admissions Policy 2022-23
Students applying must be aged between 14 and 20 on 1st July 2022 (Consideration maybe given to younger or older students} Applicants should be playing at Grade 6 standard or above. Please note you do not have to have passed Grade 6 at time of application.
Application Process for New Applicants
• Complete the Online City of Belfast School of Music Senior Application/ Re enrolment form 2022-2023 available via Musicservice.Belfast@eani.org.uk Students already attending CBSM lessons/ ensembles will have already received this form via email
• Entry to CBYO is by competitive Audition
• Places in the Orchestra will be allocated depending on the number of places available in each section.
Re enrolment process for Existing Students
• Complete the City of Belfast School of Music online Re enrolment Form 2021-2022 which was emailed to all existing CBYO members
• In the event of over subscription current members of the Orchestra may be required to audition.
• Places in the Orchestra will be allocated depending on the number of places available in each section
Audition
• Candidates should be prepared to play an own choice piece of the required standard (grade 6 or above)
• In advance of the audition process candidates will receive two orchestral excerpts which they should prepare with their teacher for the audition.
• Candidates will be expected to sight read from an orchestral work during the audition.
• Orchestral excerpts and sight reading will carry significant weighting in the overall marking scheme.
• Percussionists will be required to have experience on the full range of percussion instruments.
• Please note an accompanist will not be provided or expected
• The audition panel will comprise of at least 2 members one of who will be a CBYO sectional tutor. All panel members are professional musicians. The decision of the panel is final.
• Auditions will take place on Saturday 5th June and may be held in person or online.
Before applying please, consider the following.
• Members will be expected to attend all rehearsals and concerts during the academic year.
Additional Information
Over Subscription-where the total number of students re-enrolled together with the number of new applicants exceeds the number of places available in a particular section places will be awarded in the first instance to existing members of the orchestra upon the application of the following criteria in the order below
• Members who have been in the orchestra for not more than 3 years at 1st September 2022
• Members who receive tuition on their instrument at CBSM
Remaining Places-if after the above criteria has been applied and there are still further places available preference will be given to new applicants who have attained the required standard of performance based on the audition. If there are two applicants with the same score the following criteria will be applied.
• Students enrolled for tuition on their instrument at CBSM during 2022-23
• Students enrolled on any course at CBSM during 2022-2023
• Preference to students on the basis of age eldest first
Terms and Conditions
By accepting a place in the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra the applicant is agreeing to the following
• Weekly attendance at rehearsals and a maintaining a consistent level of playing appropriate to the standard required for entry into the CBYO. The City of Belfast School of Music reserves the right to ask any member to re-audition for their place if it is felt that the student is not maintaining the required level of performance
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• Seating Auditions-all students after entry to the Orchestra will be required to play a piece of their own choice and a prepared orchestral excerpt to a panel that will be made up of the sectional tutors from the orchestra
• Leaders Position-the leaders position will be determined by a further audition. The panel for this audition will consist of the Conductor or Manager of the Orchestra, Head of Music Service and two of the Sectional Tutors from the orchestra.