Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra

Last updated 4/16/24

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

(4/16/24) Applications for MYE’s next season CLOSED

Applications for MYE’s 2024-2025 Season are now closed. Please reach out to the Engagement & Outreach Office ([email protected]) if you have any questions / interested in auditioning for MYE in the future.

Resources

  • 2024-25 Participant Handbook (coming May 24′)

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

**Please see the “Auditions | Eligibility” section below for more information on both MAIZE and BLUE wind & percussion groups for the 2024-2025 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 the 2024-2025 MYSO Season are now CLOSED.

2024-2025 MICHIGAN YOUTH SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA APPLICATION / AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete the 2024-2025 Michigan Youth Ensembles Application via the button below.
  • Be sure to select your audition time via the MYE Application! Auditions will be held IN-PERSON on both Saturday, April 20th, and Sunday, April 21st, 2024, 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.

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

*NEW FOR 2024-2025: 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. 

INDIVIDUAL AUDITION EXCERPTS
Click / download the excerpts from the links below that correspond to the instrument you will be auditioning on:

ELIGIBILITY
Students interested in the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra must be enrolled in grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) for the 2024-2025 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 2024-2025 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].

Tuition | Fees | Scholarships

Updated for the 2024-2025 MYE Season

Participant – $500.00
Non-refundable application fee – $30

A discounted tuition rate of $330.00 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