FAQs for NYOS Applications

You qualify to apply to our NYOS orchestras if you are aged between 11-22 years old and have a Scottish connection:

• Born in Scotland
• Live in Scotland
• Study in Scotland
• Have family ties to Scotland but live elsewhere

If you meet any of these criteria then we would like to hear from you!

We want to ensure that all eligible young musicians apply for the opportunity to take part in Scotland’s National Youth Orchestras.

These are the FAQs for our orchestras - NYOS and NYOS Development.

For other programmes, please see their individual webpages within the 'Programmes' menu at the top of the screen.

If you don't see an answer to your question below please contact us via email ensembles@nyos.co.uk.

The closing date for all application forms and pre-recorded solo auditions is midnight on Thursday 24 October 2024. 

For late applications and auditions please contact ensembles@nyos.co.uk if you haven't done so already.

Our guidelines for the appropriate standard are as follows:

NYOS  (aged 14-22): Grade 8+

NYOS Development Orchestra (aged 11-18):  Grade 5-8

YES! Our guidelines are just that: guidelines. We don’t need to see any certificates but we do need you to give us an indication of your playing standard. Auditioning for NYOS is also FREE and preparing for the audition will provide you with invaluable experience with your musical playing.

Yes, but please complete a separate application form for each instrument.

Please Note: a doubling instrument (e.g. cor anglais, piccolo, bass clarinet. etc.) does not require a separate form. However, if you intend to offer this as part of your audition, please include a video of the applicable excerpt as well as one piece of your own as part of what you upload to our auditions platform.

Please prepare ONE piece of your own choosing and TWO orchestral excerpts.

For Timpani and Percussion applicants, please prepare FOUR orchestral excerpts- one Snare Drum, one Tuned Percussion and two contrasting Timpani excerpts. If you do not have access to Timpani then please prepare two Snare Drum and Two Tuned Percussion.

The orchestral excerpts can be found here. 

If you wish to offer a doubling instrument, ONE additional excerpt must be prepared along with ONE piece of your choosing on this instrument. 

All violin players that are applying to NYOS will be given the option to register interest in applying for the position of leader on the application form. Once your application has been submitted, a member of the ensemble team will be in touch to let you know if you will be offered a leader audition slot and what you should prepare for this. 

Please note that leader auditions will  take place on the same day as your in-person group audition.

All solo auditions are by pre-recorded video. Please follow the instructions within our Recorded Guidelines. Recordings must be of sufficient quality. 

Everyone will also be invited to participate in a group in-person audtion. These will take place on the following days:

> String auditions

Sunday 3 November - Glasgow

Saturday 9 November - Edinburgh

> Wind and brass auditions

Saturday 2 November - Glasgow

Sunday 10 November - Edinburgh

> Percussion audtions

Friday 8 November - Glasgow

Orchestral excerpts are the standard for orchestral auditions across the world and allow us to judge an applicant’s musical awareness beyond the confines of a piece, which may have been prepared over a period of many months. Frequently we encounter applicants who play brilliantly in audition but struggle in an orchestral setting.

There will also be an element of sight reading as part of the in-person group auditions.

Whether applying for the first time, or whether a seasoned NYOS member, we want to judge whether the applicant understands the excerpt from a broad perspective. This means not only playing the notes correctly but being aware of rhythmic complexities and other musical nuances. The ONLY way to prepare orchestral excerpts is by listening to a recording of the piece. We are especially keen to ascertain which students have worked out what is going on in the rest of the orchestra as well as in their own part.

Results will be emailed to all candidates once all the auditions have been reviewed and certainly by the end of December.

Please find the course dates for all orchestral courses here

Details of the annual membership fees for each orchestra can be found here

No student who successfully auditions for any NYOS ensemble will miss out due to financial circumstances.

NYOS has a robust bursary scheme that offer those in need support with course fees, as well as support towards travel costs. Almost half of our orchestra members last year had financial support to participate. This has also been increased to account for the additional costs of the NYOS tour in 2025.

Please find full details of our Financial Support 

We encourage all those applying to NYOS to have a read of the support we have available. Application forms for our bursaries are sent out with offer letters for the orchestra in December.

There is also support available from trusts, foundations and your local authorities:

> Directory of Trusts, Foundations and Local Authorities

If you want to talk further about financial support, please contact ensembles@nyos.co.uk or call the NYOS office on 07562 481 397.

We expect participants to be available for all the course dates and commit to the orchestra and their fellow musicians, particularly if they are planning on attending the NYOS international tour. However if you do have any problems with the dates then please get in touch with us via email ensembles@nyos.co.uk to discuss this.

Participants may not be excused for one of the following reasons:

• They have chosen to attend another course or activity knowing that it will clash with a NYOS course with no mention to NYOS.
• Their family has booked a holiday.
• The related activity is of local or school level.

Participants may be excused from a course for specific reasons such as representing their country in another activity e.g. sport, or attending activities relating to further education studies e.g. university terms clash, graduations.

Participants should not book social activities or events that clash with NYOS courses.

If you have any further questions please contact us via email at ensembles@nyos.co.uk