Application FAQs

The closing date for all orchestra application forms including submission of pre-recorded solo auditions is 4pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026. 

If you have any concerns about meeting this deadline, please contact ensembles@nyos.co.uk 

You qualify to apply to our NYOS orchestras if you meet the following criteria:

Play an orchestral instrument

Are aged between 11-22 years old on 1 April 2027

Play your instrument at a level between grade 5 and Grade 8+

Have a Scottish connection:

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

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. Applying for NYOS is 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, contrabassoon.) 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 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 including at least one on snare drum, tuned percussion and timpani respectively. If you do not have access to Timpani then please prepare two snare drum and two tuned percussion excerpts. Grade 8+ percussion applicants should select an excerpt for cymbals, triangle or tambourine as one of the four prepared excepts.

The orchestral excerpts will be available on Tuesday 18 August 2026.

If you wish to offer a doubling instrument, ONE additional excerpt must be prepared 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. Those wishing to audition for Leader of our orchestras must be playing at a minimum of Grade 8.

Once your application has been submitted, a member of the Ensembles 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 and must be uploaded onto our portal by 4pm on Tuesday 13 October 2026.

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

> String auditions

Sunday 8 November - Glasgow

Saturday 14 November - Edinburgh

> Wind and brass auditions

Saturday 7 November - Glasgow

Sunday 15 November - Edinburgh

> Percussion Auditions

Saturday 7 November - Glasgow

> Harp Auditions

Sunday 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.

We use solo video auditions to ensure a fair and accessible process for everyone. This allows participants who live further away or who may not be able to attend short in-person auditions to take part on equal terms. We believe this approach helps remove barriers and creates a more inclusive process.

We also offer longer, group audition sessions, where all participants are invited to join us in person, meet others, and experience the wider community of the organisation which we believe is a more valuable experience than short solo auditions.

Results will be emailed to all candidates once all the auditions have been reviewed on the week commencing 30 November 2026.

Course fees for our 2027 orchestras will be confirmed in advance of auditions opening for application.

The repertoire for our 2027 orchestra programmes will be revealed in early September. Check out our socials for more info!

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

No young person 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. Over half of our orchestra members last year had financial support to participate. 

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 November and 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. 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

We would love to hear from you!