Audition

PYP is a vibrant community of 300 young people from 100 schools, who explore their passion for music, grow as individuals, and make lifelong friendships.

Our orchestra has a tradition of excellence in education and performance dating back to our first concert in 1925. Visit the “About” page to learn more about our 100-year-old history.

By joining PYP, all of our musicians benefit from:

• Rigorous orchestral training, and performing repertoire that closely parallels that of many professional orchestras, including contemporary music and premieres.
• A professional conducting faculty comprised of Musical Director David Hattner, Lawrence Johnson, Inés Voglar Belgique, and Giancarlo Castro D’Addona.
• Regular coaching by Oregon Symphony musicians.
• Annual solo competitions.
• Comprehensive music theory curriculum led by composer (and PYP alumnus) Kenji Bunch.

• Musicians auditioning must be between 9 to 22 years old.
• Woodwind, brass, and percussion players need at least one year of experience playing their instrument and must be in 7th grade or higher.
• By the first rehearsal, you must have a private teacher. If you do not have one, consult our Private Teacher list.
• All PYP musicians are expected and encouraged to participate in their school music programs, when available.

Click here for Attendance Policy & school music expectations.

Didn’t have a chance to Audition during the summer? It’s not too late! We are still accepting instruments on an “as-needed” basis. Please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

Please note that if you are a new Woodwind or Brass student entering the 9th grade or lower in the fall of 2025, you will be submitting a recording in place of your audition.  All String musicians will be doing an in-person audition. Please see below for more information.

If you are submitting a midseason audition via video, please select “Video Audition (9th grade or younger)” when prompted.  Thank you!

There is no application fee to audition.

NOTE #1: Musicians are allowed to audition once per concert season. Please, fill out the New Audition Interest Form as well as one of the New Audition Forms that correlates with the instrument you play before we can finalize your audition time.

New Students

If you are a new student, please fill out this form to apply for an audition.  Please note, that Woodwind and Brass musicians in the 9th grade or younger may submit a video recording. Video recordings are accepted on a rolling basis so submit your ASAP to secure your spot.

Click here to audition!

We will inform you of your audition confirmation no later than 3 weeks after receiving your Audition Application. For any audition-related questions, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Returning Students

Please find your audition packet for your instrument located in the Musician and Family Portal.

For all new auditions, musicians are required to prepare the following:

If you are submitting a video, please click here for instructions on how to record and submit your audition.

Strings, woodwinds, and brass:

• One major and one minor scale with corresponding arpeggios in keys of your choice. Winds and brass: 1-2 octaves; strings: 2-3 octaves.


• A short solo piece (an “étude” or excerpt from a concerto or sonata). The solo piece need not be memorized but must be played without accompaniment.
  List of String Repertoire Examples by Orchestra Levels
  
  In place of a solo piece, applicants are welcome to prepare one of the following instead:
  Winds:
  - 2026 OMEA All-State MS Band Audition Packet
  - 2026 OMEA All-State HS Wind Ensemble Audition Packet
  - 2026 OMEA All-State MS Orchestra Audition Packet
  - 2026 OMEA All-State HS Orchestra Audition Packet


• Sight-reading (in-person only, provided for you in the audition by conductors)

Percussionists:

• Percussion Ensemble New Audition Packet 2024
• Percussionists that wish to be considered for the Portland Youth Philharmonic Orchestra must prepare the PYP Percussion New Audition Packet 2024.

Audition Tip: Know your scales and arpeggios! Practice with a metronome!

All applicants will be notified of the results of their audition by email, along with audition feedback from the conducting panel. Please do not call or email the PYP office for results. The process may take up to one month or more. Decisions of the conducting staff are final and non-appealable. If accepted into one of the orchestras, students will be sent enrollment information including information on annual season fees.