Below is a list of youth orchestras in the San Francisco Bay Area, including location, audition info and fees, tuition, scholarship info and more.
If you are interested in playing in more groups besides your high school ensemble, joining your local youth orchestra can be a great idea for high school-aged trombone players!
Some things to consider are:
- Can you and your parents coordinate the time and potential financial commitment?
- Does this ensemble's program for the year have good repertoire for trombone?
- Will I receive coachings with a trombone teacher?
- How much time do I have to prepare the audition? (Ideally start around 2 months before).
This list was created in April 2021, so keep in mind that dates and fees will likely be a bit different from year to year.
California Philharmonic Youth Orchestra Location: Saratoga Auditions: April. Rolling auditions available to join mid-season Audition Fee: $25 Tuition: doesn't appear on website Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Yes, annually Other: Includes "Brass Academy" and Summer camp
Berkeley Youth Orchestra Location: Berkeley Auditions: Deadlines not explicitly listed. Audition Fee: Free to request audition Tuition: $1400 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: not on website
California Youth Symphony Location: Palo Alto Auditions: Apply Jan-March for April Auditions Audition Fee: $30 Tuition: doesn't appear on website Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Biannual
Golden State Youth Orchestras Location: Palo Alto Auditions: Year round, if openings available Audition Fee: $25 Tuition: doesn't appear on website Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Biannual
Fremont Youth Symphony Orchestra Location: Fremont Auditions: Not explicitly listed. Accepting as of April 2021 Audition Fee: $25 Tuition: doesn't appear on website Financial Aid: Yes Tour: not on website
Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra Location: San Rafael Auditions: App due March 7 Audition Fee:$15 Tuition: $800 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: First was in 2019
Oakland Youth Orchestra Location: Oakland Auditions: Late April thru May Audition Fee: free Tuition: $350 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: no
Orchestra Gradus Ad Parnassum Location: Fremont Website currently broken (April 2021) Peninsula Youth Orchestra Location: San Carlos Auditions: App due April 6, Audition due April 27 Audition fee: $25 Tuition: doesn't appear on website Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Biannual
Sacramento Youth Symphony Location: Sacramento Auditions: App due May 15. Auditions due end of May Audition fee: Yes, amount not clear Tuition: $1340 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Yes Note: App fee waived for first 250 applicants
San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra Location: San Francisco Auditions: App due April 15, Auditions after May 1 Audition fee: free Tuition: free Tour: Yes Note: Spot must be open to audition. Fall auditions available
Santa Cruz Youth Symphony Location: Santa Cruz Auditions: Auditions due late August Audition fee: appears free Tuition: $825 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Appears not
Young People's Symphony Orchestra Location: Berkeley Auditions: App deadlines April 15 and June 1 Audition fee: appears free Tuition: $1600 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Yes Note: Spot must be open to audition
East Bay Youth Orchestra Location: Hayward Auditions: Auditions ongoing Audition fee: free Tuition: $625 Financial Aid: Yes Tour: Appears not