Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra
Last updated 12/13/24
WINTER 2025 SEMESTER REPERTOIRE
We’re excited to announce MYSO’s repertoire for the Winter 2025 Semester! See below for selections:
- P. Hindemith, Symphonic Metamorphosis
- J. Sibelius, Imromptu
- S. Snider, Newly Commissioned Piece
We will also be featuring two of our three winners from MYE’s Innagural Concerto Competition!
- Anna Lee (Violin) will be featured on H. Weiniawski’s 2nd Concerto for Violin
- Ty Pfeiffer (Cello) will be featured on E. Korngold’s Concerto in C in one movement
Our third concerto competition winner, Bhargava Kulkarni (cello), will be featured on the Fall 2025 MYSO Concert.
The Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) is composed of over 100 talented young musicians performing challenging works from the standard orchestral repertoire. The Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra is open to advanced high-school-age string, woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians.
MYSO Announcements
(12/13/24) Applications for 2025-26 MYE Season OPEN!
Applications for the 2025-2026 Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra Season are now available. Be sure to check the “Auditions | Eligibility” section below for audition / application requirements. Live auditions will occur at the Earl V. Moore Music Building in April 2025.
Rehearsal Information
Time: Sundays, 12:30 – 3:15 PM
Location: Hankinson Rehearsal Hall
E. V. Moore Building
(U-M North Campus, 1100 Baits Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)
All rehearsals / events will take place at that above listed time and location unless otherwise noted
MYSO Season Schedule
Click the button(s) below to access next season’s schedule
**Please see the “Auditions | Eligibility” section below for more information on both MAIZE and BLUE wind & percussion groups for the 2025-2026 season.
Instructors
CONDUCTOR/FACULTY DIRECTOR – JAYCE OGREN
Assistant Professor of Conducting / Associate Director of Orchestras
Ogren began his career as Assistant Conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director of the Cleveland Youth Orchestra. In the years since, he has conducted many of the world’s most prominent orchestras, including the Boston Symphony, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, the Dallas and San Francisco Symphonies, and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Among the wide-ranging progressive projects Ogren has conducted are Basil Twist’s The Rite of Spring with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Lincoln Center; the world premiere of David Lang’s symphony for a broken orchestra, bringing together 400 amateur and professional musicians in Philadelphia; 30th anniversary performances of Frank Zappa’s The Yellow Shark with Orchestra 2001; and the world premiere of Jack Perla’s Shalimar the Clown at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Auditions | Eligibility
Applications for the 2025-2026 Michigan Youth Ensembles Season will be available Friday, December 13, 2024. See below for application / audition requirements for our next season.
2025-2026 MICHIGAN YOUTH SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA APPLICATION / AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
- Complete the 2025-2026 Michigan Youth Ensembles Application via the button below.
- Be sure to select your audition time via the MYE Application. Auditions are held IN-PERSON in the Earl V. Moore Music Buidling.
- Pay the non-refundable $30 application fee. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify based on financial need (contact Engagement & Outreach Staff for more information).
- Prepare specific audition materials based on your instrument as listed below.
2025-2026 AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Those interested in auditoning for the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra should select their instrument below for full details on their specific instruments audition requirements. Be sure to read all information for your instrument carefully. If you have any questions about audition requirements, pelase contact SMTD’s Office of Engagement & Outreach at [email protected].
- Bass Clarinet
- Bass Trombone
- Bassoon
- Cello
- Clarinet
- Double Bass
- Flute
- Harp
- Horn
- Oboe
- Percussion
- Piano
- Trombone
- Trumpet
- Tuba
- Viola
- Violin
ENSEMBLE PLACEMENTS
Based on the applicant’s primary instrument, students will adhere to one of two schedules throughout the season:
- STRING PLAYERS: those whose primary instrument is a string instrument will rehearse each Sunday from 12:30 to 3:15 P.M. A full schedule can be found above.
- *WIND & PERCUSSION PLAYERS: those whose primary instrument is a woodwind, brass or percussion instrument will join MYSO starting at 1:45 P.M. and will rehearse until 3:15 P.M. They will then move over to MYSB. A full schedule can be found above
Woodwind, brass and percussion players auditioning for MYSB and MYSO will be placed in one of two groups: Maize or Blue. Wind & percussion players in Maize will rehearse / perform with our Michigan Youth Symphonic Band only. Wind & percussion players in Blue will rehearse / perform with both our Michigan Youth Symphonic Band and Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra. Schedules for both groups can be found on the MYSB and MYSO webpages. Final group placements are made by MYE Faculty.
ELIGIBILITY
Students interested in the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra must be enrolled in grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) for the 2025-2026 academic year. The Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra is also open to woodwind / brass / percussion students of exceptional ability enrolled in grade 8 (eight) for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra accepts students who perform the following instruments: Bass Clarinet, Bass Trombone, Bassoon, Cello, Clarinet, Double Bass, Flute, Harp, Horn, Oboe, Percussion, Piano, Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Viola and Violin.
For questions about applications, audition requirements, or the audition process, feel free to contact SMTD Engagement & Outreach Staff via email at [email protected].
2025-2026 Season Schedule
Click the button(s) below to access next season’s schedule for both STRINGS and BLUE Winds & Percussion. A finalized schedule will be sent to students upon acceptance into the Michigan Youth Ensembles Program:
Tuition | Fees | Scholarships
Updated for the 2025-2026 MYE Season
Participant – $525.00
Non-refundable application fee – $30
A discounted tuition rate of $375.00 per additional ensemble is available for musicians who participate in multiple ensembles. This discount is applied to the ensemble of equal or lesser value.
NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $100,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:
- Monthly Expenses
- Previous Year’s Tax Return
- Statement of Need
REFUND POLICY
Full refunds of MYE tuition are only available before the first regularly scheduled rehearsal of the current concert season. Those wishing to learn more about the MYE Refund Policy can do so by clicking here: SMTD Engagement and Outreach refund policy
Contact Us
Email at [email protected]
Phone at (734) 936-2660
The Engagement & Outreach Staff monitors emails / phone lines at the following times:
- Monday – Friday, 9:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. EST