The Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra (GBYO) is our most advanced orchestra and is reserved for players whose technical skills and musicality are at the highest level.  Students should prepare a NYSSMA solo, level 5 or 6, grades 7-12.

There are anticipated openings for all instruments in the 2024-2025 season.

All students should be studying privately.

Each student must re-audition every year.

Flutes should play or be willing to learn to play piccolo.

Oboes should play or be willing to learn to play English horn.

Clarinets should be able to transpose parts in A, or own an A clarinet/also be able to play/learn bass clarinet.

Bassoons should be able to read tenor clef & bass clef.

Horns should be able to transpose.

Trumpets should be able to transpose.

(It is recommended that students own both Bb and C trumpets.)

Trombones should be able to read bass clef and tenor clef, and be willing to learn alto clef.

All auditions will be held at Christ United Methodist Church.

Dates:

June 7th (4:30-9 pm) and Saturday, June 8th (10-6 pm). Excerpts will be on the website on May 12th.

Audition Times will be emailed to the applicant by May 25th.

For the entrance audition, students are required to perform a solo of their choice (NYSSMA Level 5 or 6), orchestral excerpts which are emailed three weeks prior to the scheduled audition, and sight-reading. Violins and violas are asked to perform a 3-octave scale of their choice (YO ONLY); cellos and basses a two-octave scale (YO ONLY). 

The application Deadline for Student Auditions is May 20, 2024.

$25 per audition

https://forms.gle/avTmhTUk1RSjtNoC9

Rehearsals are on Monday evenings, from September to May for GBYO.

Location: Christ United Methodist Church (350 Saratoga Road)

Time: 7:00-9:15 pm.

Results will be sent out via email by June 23rd.