Audition registration for the 2026-2027 season will be available here in late May/early June. Please see the information below regarding the audition process.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.

The 2026-2027 EYSO Season  features comprehensive orchestral performance and educational activities- including full orchestra rehearsals, concerts, masterclasses, and pre-college seminars.

All auditionees will be considered for placement in either EYSO or EYCO. Auditioning for the program comprises both entrance auditions (for both EYSO and EYCO) and string seating auditions (for EYSO only).  Entrance auditions take place each August, and string seating auditions take place twice per season: in August, following entrance auditions, and in January, preceding rehearsals for our Winter Concert Cycle.

2026-2027 Audition Requirements & Information 

Audition repertoire requirements

  • required orchestral excerpts (string auditionees, please be sure to prepare the excerpt for the entrance audition, not the seating audition)
  • sight-reading 
  • solo repertoire of your choice (4-6 minutes)
  • String players – 9th-12th grade violinists, violists, cellists, and bassists accepted into EYSO will play an in-person seating audition at Emory on Wednesday, August 19 (the sign up form to schedule an audition will be sent to all accepted string players on Monday, August 17). String seating for those accepted into EYCO will be determined at a later date. 

The appropriate required orchestral excerpts can be found below and will be provided to each auditionee immediately via email when they register for their audition online. Solo repertoire should be 4-6 minutes of music of the student’s choosing including two contrasting excerpts (technical and lyrical) from standard solo literature. A single solo work with contrasting sections is also an acceptable option. Memorization is not required. 

Required 2025-2026 Audition Excerpts for all auditionees:

Flute & Optional Piccolo | Beethoven Symphony No. 7 / Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Oboe | Mendelssohn Symphony No. 3
Clarinet | Beethoven Symphony No. 8
Bassoon | Rimsky Korsakov Scheherazade 
Horn | Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
Trumpet | Mahler Symphony No. 5
Trombone | Berlioz, Hungarian March
Bass Trombone | Hindemith, Symphonic Metamorphosis
Tuba | Wagner, Ride of the Valkyries
Percussion | [multiple]
Harp | Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2
Piano | Prokofiev, Romeo and Juliet Suite No. 2

Strings | Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass

Percussionists

In choosing your solo works, in addition to the required orchestral excerpt above (you will choose one out of three options), please also prepare material on two out of three of: snare drum, timpani, mallets. Should you have any questions, please contact EYSO Staff: youthsymphony@emory.edu

Auditionees are evaluated on the basis of tone quality, intonation, rhythmic accuracy, musicianship, expressiveness, and reading ability.

Students will receive information on how to pay their audition registration fee via Emory’s IRIS system when they register.  

Questions regarding auditions should be directed to Samantha Frischling, Orchestra Manager: youthsymphony@emory.edu