WELLINGTON YOUTH SINFONIETTA AUDITIONS 2024

WYS is intended for players who have reached approximately Grade 5 or equivalent. (Our other orchestra, Wellington Youth Orchestra, is for players who have reached Grade 8 or equivalent).


New Players

If you wish to join partway through 2024, please note: our Violin and Cello sections are at capacity for this year. Before applying, please contact admin@wyos.org.nz to enquire if there is a space available.

Apply by filling out the online application form and sending us an audio or video recording of you playing a short piece of your choice (2-3 minutes).

Recordings are due on 2 February 2024. Late applications are welcome, please contact admin@wyos.org.nz.

Please start your recording by saying your name and date of birth so that we may be sure to identify you from the recording.


Current Players

All members of WYS who played in the previous year are automatically accepted into the orchestra for the next year. However, you must  fill out the online application form so we have your latest details. Returning players do not need to re-audition, but are welcome to do so if they would like the experience.

Please Note: Even if you played in the orchestra last season, it is important that you complete the online application form for the new season. Thank you.


General

Your audio recording will be reviewed by our audition panel and, on the basis of their judgement, they will decide on offering you a place in WYS for the 2024 season. You may upload your audio recording to the application form. Alternatively, if it is easier for you to make a video recording then please follow the instructions for WYO about how to upload your video to YouTube and send us a link to it. You can insert the link into the application form or e-mail later to admin@wyos.org.nz.

There is also the possibility of coming along to one of the rehearsals. If you would like to do this then please make sure that you email us at admin@wyos.org.nz. This applies particularly if you wish to join WYS partway through the season.

If your playing is of exceptional standard, the audition panel may refer you to the auditions for a place in Wellington Youth Orchestra (WYO). In that case you should prepare the WYO Audition Excerpts for your instrument.

Please note that the submitted audition recordings will be reviewed together, in a batch, close to the start of the 2024 season, so please do not expect an immediate response.

Please read the “WYS Subscriptions” section below.

In any case it is essential that you complete the audition application form so that we have up-to-date details and know that you wish to join the orchestra this year.

Please contact admin@wyos.org.nz if you have any questions about the auditions process.


WYS Subscriptions and Discounts 2024

Wellington Youth Orchestras is a volunteer organisation. We work hard to minimise costs but providing excellent training in orchestral playing for young musicians does inevitably involve significant costs, including professional coaching, rehearsal venue hire, music, storage, and the costs associated with presenting concerts and undertaking tours.

The player subscription is a contribution towards covering those costs. We rely on concert proceeds, donations and grants to cover the difference, and also ask that all tertiary students and the parents of school-age players help with the practical running of the orchestras.

Annual subscription (first full-subscription player) – $345 (incl. GST)
Annual subscription (second, third full-subscription family player) – $172.50 (incl. GST) each


Payment

Subscriptions are payable upon confirmation of acceptance in an orchestra, and receipt of an invoice, and no later than 31 March.

Orchestra fees will not be refunded from week 3 of the year, or 3 weeks after joining, whichever is later.

Any players with outstanding invoices from previous years are not able to take up a place until those subscriptions have been settled.

 

 

Financial hardship

We want all musicians who are offered a place following audition to be able to participate in our orchestras. We understand that some families or students might find it hard to cover these costs.

In cases of financial hardship, you can apply for a partial or full fees grant. If you wish to apply, please select this option on the application form, or email us at admin@wyos.org.nz


Additional Notes
 

• Family member players who are receiving a tertiary student discount or financial hardship grant do not count towards the family player discount.

• Please advise us at admin@wyos.org.nz if a ‘second’ or ‘third’ player discount should be applied, particularly where family names are different.

• Players who accept a place in both orchestras are not asked to pay an additional subscription for the second orchestra, although a donation is welcome.

• ‘Invited’ non-professional players are expected to pay the relevant subscription.

• WYO ‘reserve list’ players are not asked to pay a subscription unless they are offered a place in a full project.