New student Audition information:

New Student Auditions for the 2025-2026 Season will be held at the Eastman School of Music/Eastman Community Music School on:

  • Saturday, April 26th, 2025 from 1:00-7:00 PM

  • Sunday, April 27th, 2025 from 9:00 AM-12:00 PM

  • Monday, April 28th, 2025 from 3:30-6:00 PM

Prospective students will be expected to prepare:

  • NYSSMA Level 6 solo piece (about five minutes in length)

  • The designated excerpts for your instrument (listed below on this page)

  • Prospective students will also be asked to sight-read

The panel of judges will be comprised of select RPO musicians and RPYO’s Music Director, Jherrard Hardeman.

If a student is not able to attend any of the given dates listed above, they are welcome to submit a video audition. Please email aallaire@rpo.org for more details.

Please apply HERE to audition for RPYO’s 25/26 Season. Applications, along with a $25 application fee, are due no later than Friday, April 11th.

Audition Excerpts:

FLUTE

OBOE

BASSOON

HORN

TROMBONE

BASS TROMBONE

PERCUSSION

HARP

VIOLIN

VIOLA

CELLO

BASS

We currently do not have openings for Clarinet, Trumpet, and Tuba. If you’d like to inquire further, please email aallaire@rpo.org.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Friday, April 11th - Applications and Fee DUE

Friday, April 18th - Applicants will be notified via email of their audition date/time slot

Saturday, April 26th - Monday, April 28th - Audition Days

Tuesday, May 6th - Applicants will be notified of audition results

Friday, May 16th - Decision Day! Accepted applicants must accept/decline RPYO membership offer

Please note: We have the same Decision Day as the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra (HYSO), to allow fairness to students auditioning for both groups.

FAQs:

We have compiled answers to frequently asked questions both about the RPYO audition process, as well as the RPYO program as a whole.