Opportunities
Join the Huntsville Youth Orchestra
The Huntsville Youth Orchestra wants you to join us for our upcoming 2023-2024 Season: Alabama the Beautiful! To join, read about each of our six orchestras below.
Registration for all ensembles is now available using the button below. Please be sure to register before the first rehearsal on August 28th/29th. More information about first rehearsals can be found under “Current Members.”
Live Auditions for Huntsville Youth Symphony, Sinfonia, or Philharmonia have been completed but there is some availability to schedule a virtual audition if you still wish to join. If you are interested in joining, submit the audition sign-up form and email Mr. Joe Lee at hyoconductor@hotmail.com to schedule an audition time.
About the Orchestras
The Huntsville Youth Orchestra offers six levels of musical opportunities with strings classes ranging from beginner to very advanced, and ensembles for wind and percussion students with as little as a year of playing experience to very advanced full orchestra. Click here for more details about rehearsal schedules, first rehearsals, the parent meeting, and other info about being a part of the HYO.
The ensembles of the HYO include:
Novice Strings – a group class for beginners, age 7-10, who wish to learn the violin, viola, cello, or bass.
Intermezzo Orchestra – For string players with 1-2 years of experience.
Concert Orchestra – For intermediate level string players with at least 2-3 years of experience.
Philharmonia – For intermediate plus level string players with at least 2-3 years of playing experience. Audition required.
Sinfonia – For advanced string players, wind, and percussion players with at least 2-3 years of playing experience. Audition required.
Huntsville Youth Symphony – For advanced string, wind, and percussion players. Audition required.
2023-2024 Orchestra Tuition Fees:
Novice Strings: $335
Intermezzo Orchestra: $355
Concert Orchestra: $395
Philharmonia Orchestra: $460
Sinfonia Orchestra: $475
Huntsville Youth Symphony: $490
Financial Aid
The Huntsville Youth Orchestra is a tremendously valuable and rewarding program for all students. We work to keep costs as low as possible but understand that it may still be out of reach for some. If you are in need of financial assistance toward tuition fees, please complete the financial aid form below and email to hyo.exdir@gmail.com by August 25th, 2023. Financial aid must be applied for before registering and paying the tuition fee. If you receive financial aid, a discount code will be provided to use on the registration form covering the awarded amount.
Audition Information for 2023-2024
Auditions are for Philharmonia, Sinfonia, and Huntsville Youth Symphony only.
General Information:
Students wishing to participate in Philharmonia, Sinfonia, and Huntsville Youth Symphony are required to audition each season. Concert Orchestra, Intermezzo Orchestra, and Novice Strings do not require auditions.
Students are required to pay a $15 audition fee ($10 for additional children within a family). Audition fees will be refunded ONLY to students not admitted to the Huntsville Youth Orchestra program.
Auditions will take place August 10-12th at First Baptist Church (600 Governors Dr SW). To sign-up for an audition slot, use the button at the top of the page. Specific details about auditions and rooms will be emailed out the week of auditions.
Which Audition Requirements Should You Prepare?
Returning HYO Students wishing to move up an ensemble must prepare the audition requirements of the ensemble they placed in last season and the ensemble they are wishing to move up to. If students wish to remain in the same ensemble as last season, they only need to prepare the audition requirements of that ensemble for seating purposes. Students may not skip an ensemble level with out approval from the Music Director.
- Returning students in Concert Orchestra last season who wish to be considered for Philharmonia, need to prepare the audition requirements for Philharmonia.
- Returning students in Philharmonia last season who wish to be considered for Sinfonia, need to prepare the audition requirements for both Philharmonia and Sinfonia.
- Returning students in Sinfonia last season who wish to be considered for Huntsville Youth Symphony, need to prepare the audition requirements for Sinfonia and Huntsville Youth Symphony.
New HYO Students need to prepare auditions for two ensembles, the one they wish to audition into and the ensemble below it.
- New Students wishing to place in Philharmonia only need to prepare the Philharmonia audition requirements as the ensembles below it do not require auditions.
- New students wishing to place in Sinfonia must prepare the Philharmonia and Sinfonia audition requirements. This only applies to string students as we do not have winds, brass, and percussion in Philharmonia.
- New students wishing to place in Huntsville Youth Symphony must prepare the Sinfonia and Huntsville Youth Symphony audition requirements.
Huntsville Youth Symphony Audition Requirements
- Scales
Students must have all twelve major scales memorized and will be asked to play one of the scales, selected by the judges, from memory during the audition. Students SHOULD NOT perform arpeggios during the audition. Scales shall be performed at a tempo of at least 90 bpm per scale degree. Scales are worth 10 points.
- String players shall perform all scales three octaves (see excerpt sheet for Double Bass scale requirements).
- Woodwind and brass players shall play two octaves where possible.
- Excerpt(s)
Students MUST play the excerpt(s) provided below. Students are encouraged to listen to several recordings of the required excerpt (available free online) so that it may be played with the correct style. If a student has never been accepted to the Huntsville Youth Symphony, they must perform both the Sinfonia and Huntsville Youth Symphony excerpts. The prepared excerpts are worth 30 points total.
- Sight-Reading
Students will be asked to sight-read during the audition. Students will have 20 seconds to look over the music before playing it. Sight-reading is worth 15 points.
Sinfonia Audition Requirements
- Scales
Students must have the following scales memorized (see octave requirements below): C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab and will be asked to play one of the scales, selected by the judges, from memory during the audition. Students DO NOT perform arpeggios during the audition. Scales shall be performed at a tempo of at least 90 bpm per scale degree. Scales are worth 10 points.
- String players shall perform all scales two octaves (see excerpt sheet for Double Bass scale requirements).
-
Woodwind and brass players shall play each scale one octave (two where possible).
- Excerpt(s)
Students MUST play the excerpt(s) provided below. Students are encouraged to listen to several recordings (available free online) so that it may be played with the correct style. If a student is a string player and has not been a member of Sinfonia, the must play both the Sinfonia and Philharmonia excerpts. The prepared excerpt(s) are worth 30 points total.
- 3. Sight-Reading
Students will be asked to sight-read during the audition. Students will have 20 seconds to look over the music before playing it. Sight-reading is worth 15 points.
Philharmonia Audition Requirements:
- Scales
Students must have the following major scales memorized two octaves: C, G, D, A, F, Bb, Eb and will be asked to play one of the scales, selected by the judges, from memory during the audition. Scales shall be performed two octaves at a tempo of at least 90 bpm per scale degree. Students DO NOT perform arpeggios during the audition. Scales are worth 10 points.
-
Excerpt(s)
Students MUST play the excerpt(s) provided below. Students are encouraged to listen to several recordings (available free online) so that it may be played with the correct style. The prepared excerpts(s) are worth 30 points total.
-
Sight-Reading
Students will be asked to sight-read during the audition. Students will have 20 seconds to look over the music before playing it. Sight-reading is worth 15 points.
For any questions or concerns related to auditions, please contact our Executive Director Taylor Barlow at (256) 880-0622 (text preferred) or hyo.exdir@gmail.com.
Chamber Music Program
HYO’s Chamber Music Program presents a fantastic opportunity for our musicians to take their talent and love of music out into the community for all to enjoy. In the program, HYO students form small ensembles that are able to play in smaller groups and therefore represent the Youth Orchestra at community events, Guild Functions, Corporate Functions, Christmas Galas and weddings.
The Chamber Music Program is a very important arm of the Huntsville Youth Orchestra, and an integral part of each student’s musical education. All students from the Philharmonia, Sinfonia, and Huntsville Youth Symphony are invited and encouraged to participate in the program.
Chamber Music Participants:
- Participate weekly in a chamber group rehearsal (quartet, quintet, etc) with peers.
- Explore a body of repertoire specifically designed for chamber ensembles.
- Participate in HYO sponsored performances as schedules permit.
- Are encouraged to play at community events for service or for donations.
- Become stronger musicians through the study and performance of chamber music.
- Work with professional musicians as coaches in the small group setting
For information on participation in an HYO chamber ensemble, or to book a group for an event, please contact Taylor Barlow at hyo.exdir@gmail.com or (256) 880-0622.
Guidelines for HYO 2023-2024
(subject to revision as guidelines are updated)
Your child’s safety and the safety of HYO staff is important to all of us. The staff of the HYO has come up with the following guidelines based on CDC requirements and requirements of the venues we are using.
If your child has fever, shortness of breath, cough, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, or any symptoms of illness, please keep him or her at home. If a family or household member has tested positive or is showing symptoms for COVID 19 or are waiting on a test result, please keep your student home until everyone is clear.
No food or drinks will be allowed in rehearsals.
Students must bring the following to rehearsal, as there will be no sharing or borrowing:
- Instrument
- Music and any other music literature needed and pencil
- All necessary items needed for instruments: Rosin, shoulder rest, end pin stop/strap, as applicable
If a student in attendance at a rehearsal tests positive for COVID 19, parents must notify Taylor Barlow immediately so that we may let other parents know. Her email is hyo.exdir@gmail.com
A Waiver MUST be signed when registering.
Competitions
HYO hosts two competitions of its own:
- Annual Marjorie Smith Concerto Competition: Held early in the Spring semester, a winner is chosen to perform with the Huntsville Youth Symphony on the Spring Concert as a Soloist.
- Gerhart Scholarship Competition: Held in the Spring semester, winner is awarded a scholarship towards attending the Tennessee Valley Music Festival
In addition, HYO assists student members in the participation of other competitions and helps them prepare for other opportunities such as the Alabama All-State Orchestra Festival.
Scholarships
Hunter Thomas Legacy Chair
Hunter Thomas was a huge part of the musical community in Huntsville and also our HYO program throughout his life. As an extremely prolific and respected teacher, Hunter encouraged countless bassoon students to participate in HYO. He was an HYO chamber coach for many years, taught at the HYO summer music festival, and was an HYO board member. In fact, Hunter was even an HYO Alumnus and joined the orchestra sometime before 1970.
In honor of his memory and service to HYO, the Principal Bassoon chair in HYS has been given the title of “Hunter Thomas Legacy Chair.”
In addition, a scholarship has been set up in his name for this chair. As long as scholarship funds are available the HYO will provide the current member of this chair a scholarship towards attendance at the Tennessee Valley Music Festival.
In order to keep this scholarship available for young musicians for years to come, please consider donating to this scholarship fund.
Sponsorships
The HYO is always looking for new community sponsors to help support these upcoming musicians. Please contact Taylor Barlow at (256) 880-0622 or hyo.exdir@gmail.com to sponsor a concert, a musician chair, a scholarship, or the orchestra as a whole.
Awards
Harold J. Wilson Music Educator of the Year Award
HYO is pleased to announce the return of Harold J. Wilson Music Educator of the Year award for 2021. The winner of this award is chosen based on community nominations to recognize music educators who contribute significantly to the development of young musicians.
- Eligible Nominees: Music Educators within Madison County. Educators may be private instructors, elementary, secondary, or collegiate instructors, public or private.
- Nominations may be made by students, parents, colleagues, organizations, business and community members, or a combination.
- Nominations should be submitted on the Nomination Form.
- At least two additional letters of support from persons other than the nominator shall be included with the Nomination Form.
- A music educator may only win this award once.
- It is recommended that at least one of the supporting letters or the nomination be from a student or parent.
- Forms must be postmarked no later than April 6, 2021.
- For additional information, please contact Taylor Barlow at hyo.exdir@gmail.com
- The award will be presented on May 16, at the Huntsville Youth Orchestra Spring Concert.
- Please mail completed application packet to:
Huntsville Youth Orchestra
ATTN: Selection Committee
P.O. Box 2532
Huntsville, AL, 35804
Past Winners
- 1993 – Vivienne Atkins – Lee High School Choral Director
- 1994 – Debbie Hutson – Sparkman High School Band Director
- 1997 – Barbara Poularikas – Private Violin and Viola Instructor
- 1999 – Ginger Beazley – Voice and Vocal performance teacher and director of Ars Nova School of the Arts
- 2001 – Leona Cotruvo – Private violin teacher and conductor with the HYO
- 2003 – Hunter Thomas – Bassoon Instructor
- 2005 – Don Adams – Huntsville Middle School Band
- 2006 – Frances Schwemmer – Piano Instructor
- 2007 – James Kendrick – Columbia High School Choral Director
- 2008 – Jeff Dortch – Private Violin Instructor
- 2009 – Gene Swanner – Hampton Cove Middle School Band Director
- 2010 – Lea Hoppe – Conductor for Huntsville Community Chorus Children’s Choir
- 2011 – Randall Fields – Bob Jones High School Choir Director
- 2012 – Diana A. Petit – Piano Instructor
- 2013 – William David Spencer – Huntsville High School Band Director
- 2014 – Joseph Lee – Huntsville Youth Orchestra Music Director
- 2020 – Billy Bargetzi – UAH, Huntsville Symphony, private trombone instructor
- 2021 – Mathew Carey – UAH, Director of Choral Activities
For information about HYO competitions and awards, please contact Taylor Barlow at hyo.exdir@gmail.com or (256) 880-0622.
Professional Openings
The HYO is not currently looking to fill any positions at this time.
For details, please reach out to hyo.personnel@gmail.com.