School of Music, Theatre and Dance at the University of Michigan
U
M

Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra

Last updated 5/15/23

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

(5/15/23) Make-Up MYSO Auditions Available!

Make-Up applications for MYSO’s 2023-2024 Season are now available! Information on make-up auditions can be found in the “Auditions | Eligibility” section below. Questions? Contact the Office of Engagement & Outreach at smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu.

Make-Up Auditions are currently being accepted on the following instruments:

  • Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Percussion, and Trumpet

Additional instruments may potentially be announced for make-up auditions in early June, 2023.

On This Page

Resources

Rehearsal Information

Time: Sundays, 12:30 – 3:30 PM
Location: Hankinson Rehearsal Hall

E. V. Moore Building
(U-M North Campus, 1100 Baits Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)

Season Schedule

*This is a tentative schedule that closely resembles the time commitment students can expect during the MYE Season. A finalized schedule will be posted in May 2023.

2023-2024 MICHIGAN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA SEASON SCHEDULE

Faculty

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.

 

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – KENNETH KIESLER
Director of University Orchestras and Professor of Conducting
Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director

Director of orchestras and professor of conducting since 1995, Kenneth Kiesler is a GRAMMY nominee (2014), recipient of the American Prize in Conducting (2011), and Conductor Laureate of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, where – as its music director from 1980 to 2000 – he led debuts at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, founded the Illinois Symphony Chorus and Illinois Chamber Orchestra, and won several state and national awards. He was also the orchestra’s music advisor for the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.

Kiesler has conducted the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the Chicago Symphony, Queensland Symphony in Australia, the Chamber Orchestra of Chile, and the orchestras of Utah, Detroit, New Jersey, Florida, Indianapolis, Memphis, San Diego, Albany, Virginia, Omaha, Fresno, Long Beach, Long Island, Portland, Jerusalem, Haifa, Osaka, Puerto Rico, Daejeon and Pusan in Korea, the New Symphony Orchestra in Bulgaria, Hang Zhou in China, OSUSP in Sao Paulo, The International Orchestra of the Arts in Mexico City, the Atlantic Music Festival, and the Meadowbrook, Skaneateles, Sewanee, Breckenridge, and Aspen festivals.

 Auditions | Eligibility

Make-Up Applications for Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 2023-2024 Season are due

5:00 P.M. SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2023

Make-Up Auditions are currently being accepted on the following instruments:

Bassoon, Clarinet, Oboe, Percussion, and Trumpet

Additional instruments may potentially be announced for make-up auditions in early June, 2023. Make-Up Auditions will be held on

Saturday, July 29, and Sunday, July 30.

 

2023-2024 MICHIGAN YOUTH SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA MAKE-UP APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete the 2023-2024 Michigan Youth Ensembles Application via the button below.
  • Select your preferred audition date / time from the options listed on the application. Auditions for MYSO will be held IN-PERSON in the Earl V. Moore Music Buidling on Saturday, July 29, 2023, and Sunday, July 30, 2023. Students will receive their assigned audition date and time on Friday, July 21, 2023.
  • 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 for an in-person audition.

Audition materials for all MYSO qualifying instruments can be found below:

ELIGIBILITY
Students interested in the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra must be enrolled in grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) for the 2023-2024 academic year. The Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra is also open to students of exceptional ability enrolled in grade 8 (eight) for the 2023-2024 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 smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu.

2023-2024 MICHIGAN YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA APPLICATIONS

Tuition | Fees | Scholarships

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 smtd-youthandadult@umich.edu
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