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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My daughter audition for 6th grade mcyo and was denied a seat. She is really good and i am wondering is it because she didn’t start with them at a young age or because during the audition their was a single judge grading her performance and just didn’t like her. They also don’t provide any feedback on why she wasn’t selected. I think for a $75 registration fee, the least they can do is give some idea why she wasn’t selected. Like if you really cared about music and helping students nurture their love for music (as they supposedly claim), you could at least tell them what they can improve on. All these practices make me wonder how true and corrupt their audition and selection process really is.[/quote]

They didn't deny her a seat.  They didn't offer her a seat and I know kids offered who were older so maybe your child isn't playing on the MCYO level you think they are.  Many kids have been in private lessons for several years by 6th grade and the skill level is amazing.  You also have to know how to sight read and many other requirements.  They cannot take everyone and only have limited seats, especially depending on the instrument.

Its absolutely not corrupt because your child didn't get in.  When mine got in, honestly I was surprised.[/quote]

OP here. My daughter has had private lessons for the past four years and her private teacher is the one who came to us and said she is ready to play for mcyo. We didn’t even know of its existence. She knew all the requirements forward and back and can sight read for the past two years. [b]I am not saying they are corrupt but suggesting that they might be corrupt and that transparency is not there., including no feedback whatsoever. So other families can be aware if they are in the same situation as us. Also, u are surprised your child got in…this is what I mean there doesn’t seem to be consistency And transparency in the process. It’s seems like the have a hidden agenda for their results.[/b] Congrats on your child getting in![/quote]

New poster here.

My child has been concertmaster/principal second of MCYO a few years in a row.
They have been playing seriously for many years, with private instruction twice a week from a demanding private instructor. Their skill level is such that when they look at the audition pieces, they find it very easy, and don't need to practice much. They focus on the solo, which is always a piece they're working on with their teacher and is technically miles beyond the skills that the excerpts require.

Also, please note that for violin, there is an ENORMOUS range of skill - [u]equivalent to several years worth of lessons!!![/u] - between the concertmaster(s) and the least skilled violinist they accept in that same orchestra. So if a child is not accepted, it really means they did not have the required level, and would bring that orchestra down. 
Violin auditions are the most competitive, simply because so many kids choose violin as their instrument. I know some kids who deliberately switch to double bass or viola because their chances of being selected increase substantially. This is why you cannot compare orchestral admission across instruments.

If your child's heart is set on MCYO, take advantage of the ages for which they can apply to two different orchestras at the same time, because the age range overlaps by one year. For example in 6th grade, I believe a child can apply to both Chamber Strings and Young Artists. They will prepare the excerpts from both orchestras, but have just one audition, and be placed in the orchestra most suited to their level.

Also, and most importantly, children cannot learn unless they fail. It's perfectly fine to be rejected, or not win the prize, or not make the cut, as a child. This is what builds resilience. You the parent have to reinforce that constructive interpretation and keep encouraging them to move forward. If they want to try again another time, please bear in mind that the excerpts have to be irreproachable - they are the most important segment of the audition, since they are usually part of the pieces that will be played at the December concert. The scales must be in tune, and not just approximately. Ideally the solo would showcase phrasing and techniques not present in the excerpts. Even if your child plays on a "violin-shaped box", or equivalent on another instrument, the conductor will be able to distinguish your kid's skill from the instrument's limitations.

So please don't make such insinuations as the bolded. They are not true, and very unfair, given the MCYO staff really cares about their students and the quality of their orchestras. I agree that it would be great if they could give feedback. I suspect they don't because auditions are grueling, for the (usually one and only) conductor in the room, and they see hundreds of students back to back. All they'd say anyway is: "more technical skill needed" because 99% of the time, that's what it is. But you can always ask for feedback and suggest they gather more staff to write up notes for the candidates. They will probably have a hard time finding people who want to work in August, though.

Best of luck to you and your kid! Music is always worthwhile.[/quote]

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