Youth Orchestra auditions
2025 -2026 School Year Auditions
Audition Time: June 7th-8th at Billinghurst Middle School
Registration deadline has passed. Schedule will be posted soon.
Scroll down for audition materials and registration.
The Reno Phil hosts four Youth Orchestras, which together serve over 230 talented student musicians. Members benefit from full orchestral rehearsals, sectional coaching from professional musicians, and high-level guest conductors. The Reno Phil also sponsors tuition scholarships, a concerto competition with cash prizes for winners in each of five divisions, senior scholarships, and a summer camp scholarship.
There is NO FEE to Audition. All current Youth Orchestra Students MUST reaudition.
YSO:
Open to students age 12 to grade 12
Designed for advanced students
Open to violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, & percussion students.
Rehearsals at UNR (University of Nevada Reno), Mondays 5:30-8:00pm
Tuition: $450 yearly
Touring end of January 2026
YCO:
Open to students age 12 through grade 12
Designed for upper intermediate students
Open to violin, viola, cello, bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harp & percussion students
Rehearsals at McKinley Arts & Culture Center, Mondays 5:00-7:00pm
Tuition: $450
YSS:
Open to students 4th-9th grade
Designed for beginning – intermediate students
Open to violin, viola, cello & bass students
Rehearsals at Billinghurst Middle School, Mondays 5:45–7:00pm
Tuition: $200 yearly
YSE:
Open to students 2nd grade and up
Designed for beginning students
Open to violin, viola, cello & bass students
Rehearsals at Billinghurst Middle School, Mondays 4:15-5:15pm
Tuition: $150 yearly
Audition Workshops
We hope you will join us at our Audition Workshops for Violin, Viola, and Cello players. Free to attend and no sign up needed.
VIOLA: Saturday May 17th at the McKinley Arts & Culture Center with Dustin Budish. 3:00 pm for YCO/YSO combined excerpts and 4:30pm for YSO only excerpt.
CELLO: Monday May 19th at the McKinley Arts & Culture Center with Eileen Brownell. 5:00pm for YCO/YSO combined excerpts and 6:30pm for the YSO only excerpt.
VIOLIN: Wednesday May 21 at the McKinley Arts & Culture Center with Ruth Lenz. 6:30pm for YCO/YSO combined excerpts and 7:30pm for the YSO only excerpt.
If your instrument is not listed, or you would like additional assistance on your audition preparation please reach out to education@renophil.com for a list of private teachers.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please reach out to the Reno Phil Education team at education@renophil.com | 775-323-6393