Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCYO is a very cutthroat and toxic environment, my daughter is in young Artist, she has been there for the past three years. The auditions seems inclusive and make it look like they accept people of all races, but they only pick Asians (really Chinese) to play for their orchestra. It’s terribly one sided, quite obvious, initially jarring and totally unfair in my opinion and I AM Chinese. The student violinist are very competitive and clique and don’t like new people joining. The clique groups are made up of kids who have been in mcyo for the past five years. I don’t want to discourage you from auditioning…but just wanted you to be aware of the MCYO culture.

Do they do a blind audition from the other side of a curtain? I thought blind auditions were pretty standard.

No, unfortunately they do not.

Anonymous wrote:MCYO is a very cutthroat and toxic environment, my daughter is in young Artist, she has been there for the past three years. The auditions seems inclusive and make it look like they accept people of all races, but they only pick Asians (really Chinese) to play for their orchestra. It’s terribly one sided, quite obvious, initially jarring and totally unfair in my opinion and I AM Chinese. The student violinist are very competitive and clique and don’t like new people joining. The clique groups are made up of kids who have been in mcyo for the past five years. I don’t want to discourage you from auditioning…but just wanted you to be aware of the MCYO culture.

Do they do a blind audition from the other side of a curtain? I thought blind auditions were pretty standard.

Anonymous wrote:MCYO is a very cutthroat and toxic environment, my daughter is in young Artist, she has been there for the past three years. The auditions seems inclusive and make it look like they accept people of all races, but they only pick Asians (really Chinese) to play for their orchestra. It’s terribly one sided, quite obvious, initially jarring and totally unfair in my opinion and I AM Chinese. The student violinist are very competitive and clique and don’t like new people joining. The clique groups are made up of kids who have been in mcyo for the past five years. I don’t want to discourage you from auditioning…but just wanted you to be aware of the MCYO culture.

Maybe for that instrument it is but my child does another one and everyone has been warm, welcoming and the older students support the younger ones and help each other.

We have seen concertmasters who are non-Asian ethnicity. May the best performing kid get the 1st spot, as it should be particularly at the higher level.

Anonymous wrote:MCYO is a very cutthroat and toxic environment, my daughter is in young Artist, she has been there for the past three years. The auditions seems inclusive and make it look like they accept people of all races, but they only pick Asians (really Chinese) to play for their orchestra. It’s terribly one sided, quite obvious, initially jarring and totally unfair in my opinion and I AM Chinese. The student violinist are very competitive and clique and don’t like new people joining. The clique groups are made up of kids who have been in mcyo for the past five years. I don’t want to discourage you from auditioning…but just wanted you to be aware of the MCYO culture.

Are you trying to get everyone not to audition so that your child gets a better chance.

This is so racist that I don't even know how to comment. I don't really care if you're Chinese. Chinese people can discriminate against their own kind, believe it or not.

Our DS has been in MCYO for awhile. One child got in, and the one child did not. Sure, there are more Asian-Americans, but to me, that is because there appears to be more Asian-Americans in orchestras in this area in general. MCYO is very competitive. I would not call it cutthroat but they do not coddle children. If your kid is the type who will fall in despair to be ranked by chair placement, then most Youth Orchestra in this area is likely not for him/her.

The music is appropriately challenging for each level. Kids are expected to show up and be ready. It is a serious commitment.

Please ignore the previous poster's nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:MCYO is a very cutthroat and toxic environment, my daughter is in young Artist, she has been there for the past three years. The auditions seems inclusive and make it look like they accept people of all races, but they only pick Asians (really Chinese) to play for their orchestra. It’s terribly one sided, quite obvious, initially jarring and totally unfair in my opinion and I AM Chinese. The student violinist are very competitive and clique and don’t like new people joining. The clique groups are made up of kids who have been in mcyo for the past five years. I don’t want to discourage you from auditioning…but just wanted you to be aware of the MCYO culture.

This is similar to AY (I don't think there's any race based bias, though). There is definitely advantage to "loyalty". I believe that the toxic environment is more prevalent in the younger age groups than the older ones, though. This is one of the reasons my daughter is in a "lesser" orchestra. By and large, kids are there to enjoy the music and comradery, and while there is some competition for chairs and solo spots, it's not the be-all, end-all. She is starting to hit the ceiling, however, and will likely try one of the higher level AY orchestras in the future, for that reason.

MCYO is a very cutthroat and toxic environment, my daughter is in young Artist, she has been there for the past three years. The auditions seems inclusive and make it look like they accept people of all races, but they only pick Asians (really Chinese) to play for their orchestra. It’s terribly one sided, quite obvious, initially jarring and totally unfair in my opinion and I AM Chinese. The student violinist are very competitive and clique and don’t like new people joining. The clique groups are made up of kids who have been in mcyo for the past five years. I don’t want to discourage you from auditioning…but just wanted you to be aware of the MCYO culture.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When DC was auditioning for AYPO at 11, his teacher told me that kids are around Suzuki book 3-4 level. Fwiw

If that's generally true for all of them, then they're behind MCYO.

Probably depends on what they’re auditioning for. Debut orchestra probably doesn’t require much higher standards (2+ years of private instruction).

Wanted to add that a friend’s child who is in the String Ensemble is at Kabalevsky level.

ugh, this concerns me. she is not there yet, I actually talked to her teacher about kabalevsky G major recently - DD felt she could play it but he told me she was not there yet. she is pretty good (has fantastic sight reading skills) but I've seen some insane violin playing at competitions (where she gets first and second prizes but has never been the laureate) so I know there are kids out there who are better and some are much better.

NP. I also find that attitude concerning. The attitude can be toxic. Hopefully it gets better as the kids get older but not always.

It doesn’t have to be toxic. Just emphasize that everyone is working hard and trying their best and you’re not going to always win the audition. My DD has always placed at competitions and occasionally wins but usually is 2nd or 3rd prize or HM. But the attempt makes her polish her pieces in a way she would not do otherwise. She has also met new friends among the competitors. For ensembles I tell her not to worry about who is in what chair. They can’t help but notice it to a certain degree, but that is life. It’s good to learn to handle friendly competition gracefully. The point is to gain ensemble skills and have a little motivation for trying your best.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for very informative responses. She is currently playing Vivaldi g minor concerto and various etudes. She will be 12 in the summer, going into 7th grade in September so it looks like Young Artists is the only option.

If she plays it as a professional would, and has flawless excerpts, she's in. However generally students who are assigned such a piece are beginners, and that will become obvious in the audition. So better start practicing!

vivaldi g minor is in Suzuki book 5 (though she is not doing Suzuki).

One of this year's YA 3 concertmasters was in book 5 at 7 years old and auditioned with the Bruch violin concerto. But I'm not telling you your daughter can't get in. There's a WIDE range of level in each MCYO orchestra. She just won't be in the front row.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When DC was auditioning for AYPO at 11, his teacher told me that kids are around Suzuki book 3-4 level. Fwiw

If that's generally true for all of them, then they're behind MCYO.

Probably depends on what they’re auditioning for. Debut orchestra probably doesn’t require much higher standards (2+ years of private instruction).

Wanted to add that a friend’s child who is in the String Ensemble is at Kabalevsky level.

ugh, this concerns me. she is not there yet, I actually talked to her teacher about kabalevsky G major recently - DD felt she could play it but he told me she was not there yet. she is pretty good (has fantastic sight reading skills) but I've seen some insane violin playing at competitions (where she gets first and second prizes but has never been the laureate) so I know there are kids out there who are better and some are much better.

NP. I also find that attitude concerning. The attitude can be toxic. Hopefully it gets better as the kids get older but not always.

Anonymous wrote:If you go on youtube some of the kids have posted auditions there to see what they are like.

thank you, this was helpful. it looks doable, assuming these kids actually made it.

If you go on youtube some of the kids have posted auditions there to see what they are like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you all for very informative responses. She is currently playing Vivaldi g minor concerto and various etudes. She will be 12 in the summer, going into 7th grade in September so it looks like Young Artists is the only option.

If she plays it as a professional would, and has flawless excerpts, she's in. However generally students who are assigned such a piece are beginners, and that will become obvious in the audition. So better start practicing!

vivaldi g minor is in Suzuki book 5 (though she is not doing Suzuki).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When DC was auditioning for AYPO at 11, his teacher told me that kids are around Suzuki book 3-4 level. Fwiw

If that's generally true for all of them, then they're behind MCYO.

Probably depends on what they’re auditioning for. Debut orchestra probably doesn’t require much higher standards (2+ years of private instruction).

Wanted to add that a friend’s child who is in the String Ensemble is at Kabalevsky level.

ugh, this concerns me. she is not there yet, I actually talked to her teacher about kabalevsky G major recently - DD felt she could play it but he told me she was not there yet. she is pretty good (has fantastic sight reading skills) but I've seen some insane violin playing at competitions (where she gets first and second prizes but has never been the laureate) so I know there are kids out there who are better and some are much better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. When DC was auditioning for AYPO at 11, his teacher told me that kids are around Suzuki book 3-4 level. Fwiw

If that's generally true for all of them, then they're behind MCYO.

Probably depends on what they’re auditioning for. Debut orchestra probably doesn’t require much higher standards (2+ years of private instruction).

The debut orchestra is Preparatory Strings. An 11yo would need to audition for Young Artists.

MCYO Young Artists are definitely playing above the Suzuki book 3-4 level.

I was talking about AYPO. That’s the minimum level of their debut orchestra (one step up from beginner).