National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America
How to Apply
The application period for NYO-USA will begin June 1, 2012. The first step in the process is the completion of a short online registration form. Once you have completed the initial registration you will receive an email confirmation with a link to the full application, which will be available starting July 1.
The deadline for you to register and receive access to the full NYO-USA application is September 7, 2012. All required application materials, including an audition video, must be submitted online by November 1, 2012, but you are not required to submit all materials at one time. (You will create a user account before starting the full NYO-USA application.) A $30 fee will be payable at the time you complete your application. If you wish to request a waiver of the application fee on the basis of finanical need, you will be prompted to indicate that during the initial registration process.
Please note that if you are under 18 at the time you apply, your parent or guardian’s consent is required.
If limited internet access or other circumstances prevent you from being able to use NYO-USA's online application tools, please contact us at 212-424-2024 for assistance in completing your application.
Application Requirements
In addition to completing the online registration form, applicants to the NYO-USA must submit
- • a brief biography (100 word maximum)
- • a short essay in response to the following question: "Why would you like to be a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, and what would you hope to gain from the experience?" (250–500 words)
- • two letters of recommendation, using a form to be supplied by Carnegie Hall
- • an audition video
Eligibility
NYO-USA is open to US citizens or permanent residents (Green Card holders) from all backgrounds. You must be between the ages of 16 and 19 during the summer of your participation. For 2013, this means your birthdate must be between July 1, 1993, and June 30, 1997. Additionally, if you are enrolled full-time in a college-level conservatory or music department with instrumental performance as your major (or intended field of study) you are not eligible to join NYO-USA. There are no other educational or performance requirements for NYO-USA eligibility.
Please see specific examples below:
You are not considered a full-time music student if you
- • study part-time at or take lessons through the pre-college or preparatory division of a music school or conservatory
- • are enrolled in a performing arts high school, regardless of your course of study
- • are enrolled in a college, university, or conservatory degree program in a field outside of instrumental performance (including all non-music majors, voice, music education, composition, musicology, etc.)
- • have been accepted by and plan to enroll in a college, university, or conservatory instrumental performance program, provided you will not begin full-time studies until after July 2013
You are considered a full-time music student if
- • regardless of your age, you are enrolled (or will be prior to June 2013) in a college, university, or conservatory music-degree program, with instrumental performance as your major or as your intended field of study if you have not yet declared a major (including double majors with an instrumental performance specialization)
- • regardless of your age, you are enrolled (or will be prior to June 2013) as a full-time student in a non-degree conservatory or music school diploma program beyond the preparatory level, with instrumental performance as your primary field of study