How to join the Greater Houston Youth Orchestra
GHYO offers three orchestras for students aged 5 to 21. New and current members are required to complete the registration form (see below) and submit it with a non-refundable $30 fee. Students wishing to remain in the same ensemble are not required to re-audition.
Tuition
Tuition for the 2011-2012 season is $775.00. This fee covers all rehearsals and concerts, sectionals, clinics, and coachings, and includes a $25.00 Parents’ Guild membership. (Parents with more than one child in GHYO pay this only once.) Tuition may be paid in full or in three installments: $275.00 upon acceptance, $250.00 by September 27, and the balance of $250.00 by October 25. Checks should be made payable to “GHYO.” Tuition should be paid in full by October 25, unless by special arrangement. No refund of tuition will be made except in the case of illness.Financial Assistance
No student will be excluded from the GHYO program due to financial need. Financial assistance is available to all members in the form of partial or full tuition waivers, not including the $25.00 Parents’ Guild membership or application fee. All requests for financial assistance must be made in writing and received by Sept. 11. Applicants should state the amount requested, which GHYO will review. Note: IRS nonprofit organization guidelines require the first 2 pages of the most recent tax return to verify financial need. Financial assistance does not affect the standing or eligibility of a member in any way. Recipients will be asked to assist GHYO in some way (such as moving chairs or risers, helping with concerts, etc.About the GHYO audition
The application/audition fee is $30.00. For GHYO Members remaining in the same ensemble, the application fee is $25.00. Auditions last no more than ten minutes and have three parts. Applicants will perform:
• Two scales: the first is the applicant’s choice, the second the auditor’s choice. No one will be expected to play a scale they do not know; however, the key and number of octaves will affect the scoring. A three-octave spiccato scale is required of string players for acceptance to the Orchestra; two octaves into third position for Philharmonic string players.
• Up to four (4) minutes of prepared music of the applicant’s choice, without accompaniment. Memorization is not required.
• Sight-reading at the student’s level
After the auditions are completed, applicants are notified by mail or email regarding acceptance and ensemble placement, which is based on the audition, ensemble experience and age, and is given without regard to ethnic, religious, or financial background. All-State string players are automatically accepted into the Orchestra. Ensemble placement is subject to review during the first four weeks of rehearsals. Chair placements are determined by the audition, chair-tests and/or rotation, and may be adjusted accordingly by the ensemble conductor during the course of the season. Decisions by the Music Director are final
Age Requirements
Any young musician from age seven (7) through age nineteen (19) may apply for membership in the Greater Houston Youth Orchestra. Students must be at least thirteen (13) during the season to become a member of the Orchestra. An exception may be made for a 12-year-old with two years membership in GHYO, or acceptance by the Music Director, following an audition.
GHYO rehearsals
Every Sunday from September 11, 2011 through May 6, 2011; except:
Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving), Dec. 18, Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 (Winter Break), March 11 (Spring Break), and April 8.
All rehearsals are held at the Emery/Weiner School, 9825 Stella Link Rd., except Concert days.
Rehearsal Times:
Orchestra: 1:30pm- 4:00pm.
Philharmonic: 1:30pm- 4:00pm.
String Ensemble: 1:30pm- 4:00pm.
Schedule subject to change.
Forms and Links
Application Form for the 2011-2012 Season
2011-2012 Rehearsals and Concerts Schedule