Application / Re enrolment for membership of the City of Belfast Youth Orchestra for 2024-25 is now open

ALL NEW APPLICANTS should complete the following online Microsoft form Click here to open application form

CLOSING DATE FOR NEW APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY 17TH MAY

AUDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE 2-5 JUNE

New applicants will be informed of their audition date and sent a copy of Orchestral excerpts via email on 18th May to allow for preparation time. Please read all the information on this page and email CBYO Manager Robert.briscoe@eani.org.uk if you have any questions regarding application / re enrolment process

Audition Information for New Applicants

• Entry to CBYO is by competitive Audition. Audition panels will be comprised of at least 2 members. At least one member of the panel, will be a sectional tutor from CBYO. The decision of the audition panel is final.

For Audition

• Applicants should be present 1 own choice piece of at least Grade 6 standard

• Applicants should prepare the Orchestral excerpt(s) for their instrument. available 18th May. Please bring these to your instrumental tutor if you need any help

• Applicants 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

ADMISSION POLICY 2024-25

Before applying please consider the following.

• Players are expected to attend all rehearsals during the academic year (Please see Terms and conditions)

Students applying must be aged between 14 and 21 on 1st July 2024(Consideration may be given to younger or older students}

Applicants should be playing at Grade 6 standard or above. Please note you do not need to have passed Grade 6 exam. at time of application

• Places in the Orchestra will be allocated depending on the number of places available in each section.

Re enrolment for existing CBYO Members

• Please complete the City of Belfast School of Music Senior Re enrolment form. This will be emailed out to parents of all existing CBYO members during May. In the event 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

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 2024

• 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 currently

enrolled for tuition on their instrument at CBSM during 2023-2024

• Students currently enrolled on any course at CBSM during 2023-2024

• Preference to students on the basis of age eldest first

Queries

Please contact CBYO Manager Robert Briscoe - Robert.briscoe@eani.org.uk or Acting Head of Music Therese McKinney - Therese.mckinney@eani.org.uk

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 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.

• 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 of the Orchestra, Head of Music Service and two of the Sectional Tutors from the orchestra

ORCHESTRAL EXCERPTS - will be available from 18th May

Posted by robert.briscoe on the Saturday, 04 May 2024