PSYE Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Auditions
Auditions for the 2025-26 season will take place online with pre-recorded video submissions. Application materials, audition fee and audition video must be submitted by Friday, May 2, 2025 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.
See PSYE Audition Excerpts for a complete list of primary and auxiliary instruments for each of our ensembles.
All students must participate in their school music program, take private lessons on their instrument and meet the grade/age requirements for the ensemble they wish to audition for.
Please visit PSYE Auditions for more information.
All students must participate in their school music program, take private lessons on their instrument and meet the age requirements for the ensemble they wish to audition for. 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 2025-26 PSYE season, you will need to participate in your school music program and take private lessons for the 2025-26 school year.
Questions about the registration and audition process:
We hold open auditions for the entire group each season. Current members are required to re-audition each season.
Auditions for the 2025-26 season will take place online with pre-recorded video submissions. Application materials, audition fee and audition video must be submitted by Friday, May 2, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Please visit our Registration page to get started.
A $45 audition fee will be collected when you submit your audition video. Our audition platform, 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.
Students may audition on unrelated instruments. Doing so will require two audition fees and two separate auditions. 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.
If you are auditioning on an instrument that is in both Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble and Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, you must select one ensemble as your primary choice. On the application you will be asked if you want to be considered for the other ensemble and, if so, to briefly explain why you selected your primary and secondary choice. All placement decisions will be based on audition scores and personnel needs for each ensemble.
If you are a rising 9th grader and would like to be considered for multiple ensembles outside of PSYO and PSYWE (i.e., Youth Orchestra and Santiago Strings, or Youth Wind Ensemble and Youth Concert Band), you will need to fill out two separate applications, prepare two different sets of excerpts, and submit two different audition videos.
For double bass players auditioning for Pacific Symphony Santiago String or Pacific Symphony Youth Concert Band, you must select one ensemble or the other.
Excerpts for the 2025-26 season are available HERE.
For the 2025-26 season, auditions will take place online with pre-recorded audition videos. Please visit our Registration page for more information.
We recommend that you speak with your private teacher to choose an appropriate solo for your audition. PSYE staff are not able to provide guidance on your choice of solo.
All audition results will be sent via email upon completion of all auditions. 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 for your audition at least one time.
Don't see your question? email psye@pacificsymphony.org.