Why take part in County Youth Music Groups?
Music making at county level enables you to develop confidence in a range of musical skills whilst working in a supportive, yet stimulating environment. The activities, experiences, and coaching on offer are designed to support you in fulfilling your musical potential.
County level music making offers you the opportunity to:
- Continue your musical journey
- Prepare you for future opportunities whether that be further study or a life in the music profession
- Keep enjoying music making as a hobby for years to come
We would love to hear from you if you are interested in taking part! Please email countymusicenquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk to get in touch.
Applications and Auditions
2023/24 Applications
For all our non-auditioned county groups, we welcome applications throughout the year!
- Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Sinfonia
- Hertfordshire County Youth Brass Band
- Hertfordshire County Youth Choir & Training Choir
- Hertfordshire County Youth Training Choir
- Hertfordshire County Youth Jazz Collective
2023/24 Auditions (HCYO and HSSO)
The deadline to audition for the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra and Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra 2023/24 has now passed, however there are still opportunities to get involved!
We are now accepting late applications for the following:
- Places on the reserve list
- Full places for spaces not yet filled
Get in touch to find out more by emailing countymusicenquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk
You are required to submit an audition video if…
- You're a new member to HCYO/HSSO
- You're already in HSSO and want to move up into HCYO
- You're already in HSSO or HCYO and continuing but didn't attend the trial day on Sunday 22 October 2023.
2023/24 CYMG membership fees
Our fees are set to be able to cover all costs of running our county activities, such as hire of venues, conductors, tutors, and music hire. Our standard fees exclude food, drink, and transport unless otherwise stated.
Instead of signing up course-by-course, we are asking all members to sign up for the year. Commitment to the ensemble is important. We expect all members to commit and be at all courses for the ensemble they sign up for, but if there is one course you can’t make then please do get in touch with us to discuss individual circumstances. We are here to help wherever possible! Fees will be billed termly as indicated below.
If you get a space in one of our auditioned orchestras (HCYO or HSSO) and want to also sign up for another ensemble such as County Choir, the Jazz Collective, the Wind Sinfonia or Brass band then the fee for this extra ensemble will be reduced to an ‘add on fee’, to make it more manageable to join more than one. Do see our table below for all fees.
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YEARLY MEMBERSHIP FEE
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ADD ON FEE TO HSSO OR CYO MEMBERSHIP
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PER COURSE FEE*
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Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra
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£558 (billed £186 per term)
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N/A
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£220
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Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra
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£498 (billed £166 per term)
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N/A
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£200
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County Youth Choir (weekly rehearsals)
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£390 (billed £130 per term)
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£189 (billed £63 per term)
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N/A
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Hertfordshire County Youth Brass Ensemble
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£189 (billed £63 per term)
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£99 (billed £33 per term)
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£110
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Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Sinfonia
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£189 (billed £63 per term)
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£99 (billed £33 per term)
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£110
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Hertfordshire County Youth Jazz Collective
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£189 (billed £63 per term)
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£99 (billed £33 per term)
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£110
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*The per course fee is payable per course instead of the yearly membership fee for studentswho are not able to commit to membership across all courses for your ensemble(s) for the year.
2023-24 calendar of dates
* Please note the new date of 17 - 18 February for the Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Sinfonia February half term course in the Spring term.
* Please note the new date of Wednesday 10 July 2024 for the Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Summer term concert.
September 2023
- 20.09.2023 – Start of Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Autumn Term rehearsals
- 22.09.2023 (please note that the application form deadline has now been extended!) – CYMG application form deadline
- 29.09.2023 – Submission of audition tape deadline (for Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra and Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra)
October 2023
- 31.09 – 01.10.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Hatfield House Chamber Music Festival
- 21.10.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Changing Voices Workshop
- 22.10.2023 - Trial day (for those successful in joining Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra and/or Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra)
- 24 – 25.10.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Sinfonia Course
- 24 - 25.10.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Brass Band Course
- 26 – 27.10.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Jazz Collective Course
December 2023
- 16.12.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Christmas concert
- 27 – 30. 12.2023 – Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra course
- 27 – 30. 12.2023 – Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra course
January 2024
- 10.01.2024 – Start of Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Spring Term rehearsals
February 2024
- 17 – 18.02.2024* – Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Sinfonia course. *Please note the new dates for this course
March 2024
- 23.03.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Spring concert
April 2024
- 02 – 05.04.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra course
- 06 – 08.04.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Brass Band course
- 10 – 13.04.2024 – Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra course
- 11 – 13.04.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Choir course (as part of the HSSO course)
- 17.04.2024 – Start of Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Summer Term rehearsals
May 2024
- 25 – 27.05.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Jazz Collective course
July 2024
- 10.07.2024* – Hertfordshire County Youth Choir Summer concert
*Please note the new date for this concert
- 29 – 30.07.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Wind Sinfonia course
August 2024
- 08 – 11.08.2024 – Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra course
- 19 – 23.08.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra course
- 29 – 31.08.2024 – Hertfordshire County Youth Brass Band course