What are the best Youth Orchestra's in the DMV area?

[Anonymous]

I’d highly recommend the National Symphony Orchestras’ Youth’s Summer’s String’s programs’ for selected students’ - usually held at The Katz’s Centre.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

Then it’s not playing up, it playing with others at your same level. DCYOP does this.

The orchestras considered best in the region (MCYO and AYPO) generally do not allow this. For instance, the Philharmonic orchestra at AYPO says that it "Includes students grades 9th-12th, averaging grade 12". My rising 9th grader violinist has nearly 0% chance of getting into it, although she is auditioning for it anyway.

if she is good they will let her in.

It's not that straightforward. A student that has been a part of the organization for years will have a better shot than someone that is brand new to the organization, even if they both have essentially similar skills if they're say on the borderline of the age/grade cutoff. Obviously, a 13 year old playing Pag 1 would probably make it.

If PP's kid is borderline then she doesn't need to "play up".

Op may not realize how competitive some of these programs are.

My understanding is that the high chairs in these orchestras are competitive, but others are considerably less so.

Does the seating change during the year? Are there seating auditions, so that the kids are competing for the higher chairs periodically throughout the year? Or do the conductors just rotate kids around or keep them in place? I’m wondering about AYPO specifically but curious in general.

TCSYO had seating auditions at the beginning of the year for Symphonic for the 2022-2023 season, but did not for the 23-24 season. I don't remember there being one for any of the lower orchestras. It is one and done; the chairs do not move around. For their youngest orchestra, they did switch out the concertmaster. I'm fairly certain that AY also has seating auditions at the beginning of the year (vague recollection from DD's friend), and it is also one and done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

Then it’s not playing up, it playing with others at your same level. DCYOP does this.

The orchestras considered best in the region (MCYO and AYPO) generally do not allow this. For instance, the Philharmonic orchestra at AYPO says that it "Includes students grades 9th-12th, averaging grade 12". My rising 9th grader violinist has nearly 0% chance of getting into it, although she is auditioning for it anyway.

if she is good they will let her in.

It's not that straightforward. A student that has been a part of the organization for years will have a better shot than someone that is brand new to the organization, even if they both have essentially similar skills if they're say on the borderline of the age/grade cutoff. Obviously, a 13 year old playing Pag 1 would probably make it.

If PP's kid is borderline then she doesn't need to "play up".

Op may not realize how competitive some of these programs are.

My understanding is that the high chairs in these orchestras are competitive, but others are considerably less so.

Does the seating change during the year? Are there seating auditions, so that the kids are competing for the higher chairs periodically throughout the year? Or do the conductors just rotate kids around or keep them in place? I’m wondering about AYPO specifically but curious in general.

TCSYO had seating auditions at the beginning of the year for Symphonic for the 2022-2023 season, but did not for the 23-24 season. I don't remember there being one for any of the lower orchestras. It is one and done; the chairs do not move around. For their youngest orchestra, they did switch out the concertmaster. I'm fairly certain that AY also has seating auditions at the beginning of the year (vague recollection from DD's friend), and it is also one and done.

DP. In one of the lower orchestras of TCSYO, they move around. DC has played both first violin and second violin this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't know Orchestra was going the sports route where you "play up".

Do you also redshirt your kid so they are bigger and stronger and get the coveted Tuba 1st chair?

It's not about redshirting. It's about a kid being able to play in an ensemble that is a good fit for their ability. If a 10 year old violinist can play Sibelius, it makes no sense for them to be playing the equivalent of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep' in an ensemble.

Then it’s not playing up, it playing with others at your same level. DCYOP does this.

The orchestras considered best in the region (MCYO and AYPO) generally do not allow this. For instance, the Philharmonic orchestra at AYPO says that it "Includes students grades 9th-12th, averaging grade 12". My rising 9th grader violinist has nearly 0% chance of getting into it, although she is auditioning for it anyway.

if she is good they will let her in.

It's not that straightforward. A student that has been a part of the organization for years will have a better shot than someone that is brand new to the organization, even if they both have essentially similar skills if they're say on the borderline of the age/grade cutoff. Obviously, a 13 year old playing Pag 1 would probably make it.

If PP's kid is borderline then she doesn't need to "play up".

Op may not realize how competitive some of these programs are.

My understanding is that the high chairs in these orchestras are competitive, but others are considerably less so.

Does the seating change during the year? Are there seating auditions, so that the kids are competing for the higher chairs periodically throughout the year? Or do the conductors just rotate kids around or keep them in place? I’m wondering about AYPO specifically but curious in general.

TCSYO had seating auditions at the beginning of the year for Symphonic for the 2022-2023 season, but did not for the 23-24 season. I don't remember there being one for any of the lower orchestras. It is one and done; the chairs do not move around. For their youngest orchestra, they did switch out the concertmaster. I'm fairly certain that AY also has seating auditions at the beginning of the year (vague recollection from DD's friend), and it is also one and done.

DP. In one of the lower orchestras of TCSYO, they move around. DC has played both first violin and second violin this year.

That must be new. When DD was in Prelude many years ago, she was always in firsts, but concertmaster for only one performance. She has never been in seconds in any of the subsequent orchestras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d highly recommend the National Symphony Orchestras’ Youth’s Summer’s String’s programs’ for selected students’ - usually held at The Katz’s Centre.

That looks great. Thanks for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d highly recommend the National Symphony Orchestras’ Youth’s Summer’s String’s programs’ for selected students’ - usually held at The Katz’s Centre.

This one?

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/opportunities-for-artists/pre-professional-artist-training/nso-summer-music-institute

It's a nice program. DD is not old enough for it yet, but certainly worth considering in the future.

[Anonymous]

OP, did your child end up auditioning for AY or TCSYO? The AY audition results just came out.