PSYE Auditions Frequently Asked Questions

PSYE Auditions are held each spring for placement in an ensemble for the upcoming season. The online audition application is generally available from early March through early May. 

PSYE audition applications for the 2026-27 season must be submitted by Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, horn, trumpet, tenor trombone, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, harp, piano, and percussion. We do not accept vocalists.

We also audition the following auxiliary instruments: piccolo (PSYCB, PSYO, PSYWE), English horn (PSYO, PSYWE), E-flat clarinet (PSYWE, PSYO), bass clarinet (PSYO), and soprano saxophone (PSYWE). 

The Strings Flowchart and the Winds/Brass/Percussion Flowchart will show you which ensemble you are eligible for based on your instrument and grade. 

Yes, if they meet our eligibility requirements! All students must meet the grade and age requirements for their designated ensemble and must agree to participate in their school music program and take private lessons on their instrument for the duration of the season for which they are auditioning.

Please visit PSYE Auditions for more information.

All students must meet the grade and age for their designated ensemble and must agree to participate in their school music program and take private lessons on their instrument for the duration of the season for which they are auditioning.

Please visit PSYE Auditions for more information.

That's okay! We ask that you participate in your school music program and take private lessons on your instrument during the season that you will be playing in PSYE. If you are auditioning for the 2026-27 PSYE season, you will need to participate in your school music program and take private lessons for the duration of the 2026-27 school year.

We hold auditions for the entire group each season. Current members are required to re-audition each season.

Auditions occur each spring for the following season via an online application administered by Acceptd, a digital audition platform used by many performing arts schools, summer music programs, and youth ensembles. To audition, you must submit via Acceptd an application, a self-recorded audition video, and application fee.

Submissions for the 2026-27 season must be received by Friday, May 1, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST. When the audition period opens, please visit our PSYE Auditions page to start your application.

A $45 audition fee will be collected when you submit your application via our audition platform, Acceptd. Acceptd does offer reduced cost application fees to qualified students.

Please visit Acceptd Support for more information.

We are not able to offer refunds of the audition fee. The audition fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the adjudication.

An auxiliary instrument is an instrument that is related to a primary instrument. For example, the flute has several auxiliary instruments in its family, including the piccolo, alto flute and bass flute. Likewise, the E-flat clarinet and bass clarinet are auxiliary instruments to the B-flat clarinet. A harp is not an auxiliary instrument to the clarinet. If you want to audition for an auxiliary instrument, you are required to prepare the required components for your primary instrument as well as the required components for the auxiliary instrument. Required components for auxiliary instruments are included in the packet of required components for the appropriate primary instrument.

Students may audition on unrelated instruments. Doing so will require two audition fees and two separate audition applications. This scenario does not apply to auxiliary instruments (i.e. piccolo, English horn, etc.). Flutists auditioning on both flute and piccolo, for example, will submit one audition video that includes the required flute components and the required piccolo components.

You may only audition for more than one ensemble if you are auditioning on more than one instrument or if you are a rising 9th grader.

If you are a rising 9th grader and would like to be considered for an ensemble for grades 6-9 and an ensemble for grades 9-12 (i.e., Santiago Strings and Youth Orchestra, or Youth Concert Band and Youth Wind Ensemble), you will need to complete two separate applications, prepare two sets of excerpts, and submit two different audition videos.

For double bass players eligible to audition for Pacific Symphony Santiago String and Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band, you must select one ensemble or the other.

If you are auditioning on an instrument that is in both Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, you may audition for only one of the two ensembles. If a position in either ensemble goes unfilled, consideration will be given to students who auditioned on that instrument for the other ensemble. On the application you will be asked if you would like to be considered should this situation arise and, if so, to briefly explain your interest in your first-choice and second-choice ensemble. All placement decisions will be based on audition scores and personnel needs for each ensemble.

Required excerpts are not available until the audition period opens, typically in early March.

If auditions are currently open, you can access the required excerpts via our PSYE Auditions page.

PSYE auditions now take place entirely online, via Acceptd, with self-taped audition videos. Audition applications are accepted from the time auditions open, typically in early March, until the audition period closes in early May. Please visit our PSYE Auditions page for more information.

We recommend that you speak with your private teacher or school music director for help choosing an appropriate solo for your audition. PSYE staff are not able to provide guidance on your choice of solo.

Audition results will be sent via email upon completion of adjudication. All students will receive correspondence, regardless of outcome.

Memorization is not required.

Wear nice clothes that are comfortable to perform in. This is the first impression you will make on those who will evaluate you. It is also a good idea to practice in the clothes you are planning to wear before you record your audition video.