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We’re looking for players to join our amazing Sinfonia and Wind Ensemble for a year of great music-making. If that sounds like you, get in touch with us via email and we’ll help you apply.
Want to discover the joy of playing music with other like-minded young people?
Want to learn from some of the best conductors, tutors and educators in South Australia?
Read all about our auditions and programs below!
Adelaide Youth Orchestras (AdYO) celebrates 23 years of world-class development programs and career pathways for South Australia’s brightest young musicians aged 8-24. AdYO is known for being a leading body in South Australia for igniting and sparking interest for young musicians in orchestral music.
AdYO delivers professional orchestral training in an inclusive and creative environment and is essential to Adelaide’s role as a UNESCO City of Music. Through music, the organisation aims to foster life skills including leadership, discipline and collaboration. When AdYO musicians experience the intensity and delight of performing music together, their lives change forever.
As part of your membership, you will rehearse weekly with your orchestra throughout the school term (2024 dates are included further below for reference). Each orchestra will have performance/concert outcomes throughout the year with a schedule issued at the start of 2024. AdYO concert tickets are not included in your membership, however these are low cost to audiences and livestreamed so your family and friends can come along to see you perform.
Adelaide Youth Orchestra’s annual program includes rehearsals, masterclasses (tutorials), and concerts.
Highlights include:
In the past, our collaborations have included working with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, South Australian Public Primary Schools (SAPPS) Choir, Woodville High School, Adelaide Wind Orchestra, Artology, Elder Conservatorium of Music, Department for Education and the Jazz SA Superbands.
Our ensembles have performed in venues across Adelaide such as Adelaide Town Hall, Festival Centre, Barossa Arts Centre, Woodville Town Hall, Grainger Studios, Elder Hall, Elder Park, Brighton Concert Hall, Partridge House, and many others.
The Adelaide Youth Orchestras Inc is a not-for-profit organisation. As a financial member, you are entitled to vote at our AGM (usually held in April/May each year). For those members under 18 years of age, a parent/guardian acts as a representative of the member.
Audition requirements for every ensemble include:
All players (including current members) will need to audition in-person. Requests for certain times and dates will be taken into consideration, however, may not be able to be fulfilled due to scheduling requirements.
Video auditions can be negotiated if you are unable to make an in-person audition, please email adyo@adyo.com.au to discuss.
On the application form, there is a space to choose a preference of orchestra. This is to help us organise auditions and guide you to which set of excerpts you need to learn. Final orchestral placement is purely based on auditions and our artistic team will decide what orchestra they think will be best fit for each applicant (including a lower-level orchestra if you’ve selected a higher orchestra).
Have a read below of the different age and AMEB guidelines for each orchestra. Please have a chat to your teacher about which orchestra may best fit your level and age. If they are unsure based on these requirements, please email adyo@adyo.com.au to discuss further. AdYO may suggest or require a change in preference based on the information you provide if we don’t think it matches the guidelines.
AdYO’s application fee is $55 (transaction fees included). Auditions on multiple instruments or on doubling instruments are no extra cost.
Conductor: Keith Crellin OAM
Recommended standard: Equivalent AMEB Grade 6-8/ Suzuki 7-9 (These are just approximate guidelines and may be lower for certain instruments, please contact us if you’re unsure)
Age: 12 to 24 years
Instruments: Violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, piccolo, oboe, cor anglais, A & Bb clarinets, bassoon, horn, trumpet, tenor and bass trombone, tuba, harp.
Rehearsals: Saturdays 9.00am to 12.00pm during school terms at the University of Adelaide.
Music Director: Sami Butler
Recommended Standard: Equivalent AMEB Grade 3 – 5
Age: 11 to 24 years
Rehearsals: Saturdays 1:00pm – 2:30pm during school terms at the University of Adelaide. In addition, players will have opportunities to rehearse and perform with other ensembles based on ensemble needs and player availability.
AdYO’s senior wind ensemble, Symphonic Winds is the perfect place for experienced wind and brass players. Performing high-level wind band repertoire, this ensemble is great for a wide range of players. New this year, accomplished players in this ensemble will receive the opportunity to play with players of the Sinfonia in our Extension orchestra to develop their orchestral playing skills across the year.
Conductor: Kate Mawson
Recommended standard: AMEB Grade 4-7 (These are just approximate guidelines and may be lower for certain instruments, please contact us if you’re unsure)
Age: 12 to 24 years
Instruments: Flute, piccolo, oboe, Bb, Eb and bass clarinets, bassoon, saxophones, horn, trumpet, tenor and bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, double bass.
Rehearsals: Saturday 2:45pm to 5:15pm during school terms at the University of Adelaide
Conductor: Minas Berberyan
Recommended standard: Grade 4-6 (These are just approximate guidelines and may be lower for certain instruments, please contact us if you’re unsure)
Age: 12 to 20 years
Instruments: Violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp.
Rehearsals: Saturdays 2:15pm – 4:45pm during school terms at the University of Adelaide.
Conductor: Jessica Manning
Recommended standard: AMEB Grade 3-5 (These are just approximate guidelines and may be lower for certain instruments, please contact us if you’re unsure)
Age: 9 to 15 years
Instruments: Flute, piccolo, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion.
Rehearsals: Saturdays 12:15pm – 2:30pm during school terms at the University of Adelaide.
Conductor: Martin Butler OAM
Recommended: Equivalent AMEB Grade 3 (These are just approximate guidelines and may be lower for certain instruments, please contact us if you’re unsure)
Age: 8 to 13 years (Minimum age at commencement of 2025 rehearsals)
Instruments: Violin, viola, cello, double bass.
Rehearsals: Saturdays 11:30am – 2:00pm during school terms at the University of Adelaide.
Players can apply to be part of one of AdYO’s chamber groups. Currently we have two string quartets taken from members from our Youth Orchestra, but the ensembles do change year to year based on interest and organisational capacity. Our Chamber groups play all around Adelaide, receive extra tuition and fantastic performance opportunities.
These ensembles require a high level of commitment, with extra rehearsals each week and extra performances, so please consider your availability before selecting your interest in these on your application form.
Term 1: 8/02/25 – 5/04/2
Term 2: 3/05/25 – 28/06/25
Term 3: 26/07/25 – 20/09/25
Term 4: 18/10/25 – 22/11/25
Annual membership fees (all orchestras):
Single student: $850.00
Family: $725.00 per member
With the help of our generous supporters, AdYO offers several options for financial assistance to support the development of young musicians, specifically those experiencing financial hardship, and members from regional areas.
Options include:
Criteria for fee coverage (You must answer yes to one of these questions):
How to apply for financial assistance:
For any questions about Financial Assitance eligibility or application process, please contact the AdYO team.
The Adelaide Youth Orchestras acknowledge the Kaurna People as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, rehearse, gather and perform. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and we thank them for their rich musical traditions that continue to echo to this day.
The Adelaide Youth Orchestras acknowledge the Kaurna People as the traditional owners of the land on which we work, rehearse, gather and perform. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and we thank them for their rich musical traditions that continue to echo to this day.
© 2024 Adelaide Youth Orchestras
