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The Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra and Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra are both auditioned ensembles.

Preparing and submitting audition tapes is great experience for your musical life after your time in our county ensembles.

Audition videos are required if:

  • You are a new applicant to either of our County-level orchestras.
  • A member of HSSO wishing to apply for HCYO.

Please note that although you can audition for both ensembles you will only be offered a place in one or the other, if successful.

We look for confident musicians with orchestral experience to join the orchestras. If you have worked on graded exams, grade 6/7+ for HSSO, and grade 8+ for HCYO is a good guide for the playing standard of each orchestra.

Video auditions

Once you’ve filled out the application form and indicated that you’d like to apply for HSSO and/or HCYO, you can begin preparing a short video submission. This comprises of:

  • A 3–5-minute piece of your choice (this can be accompanied or unaccompanied.
  • 2 x orchestral excerpts provided online, or 2 x approved exam board excerpts  (more details can be found on this page).

How to prepare your video audition

  1. Record your video audition in one take and upload this to YouTube as an ‘unlisted’ video.
  2. Please email countyyouthmusic@hertfordshire.gov.uk with the link to your video audition no later than Friday 29 August 2025 with the following subject line:

    HCYO/HSSO AUDITION [delete as appropriate] – NAME – INSTRUMENT
  3. You’ll hear back regarding the outcome of your audition video by Friday 13 September 2025.

Important things to note when recording and uploading your video audition!

  • Uploading your video as 'unlisted' rather that 'public' means that your audition tape is only available to the recipients of the link. This is the most effective and secure way to share your audition with us!

  • Please list the piece and excerpts you have chosen in the description of the YouTube video.

  • Ensure you are clearly visible in the middle of the camera frame and arrange the camera and lighting so that you and your instrument are clearly visible. For string players, ensure that the bow and fingerboard are in full view.

  • Make sure the sound is as clear as possible – don’t cover up your device’s microphone! 

  • Please note that if choosing to submit an audition using an excerpt from the Trinity syllabus must ensure you provide a scanned copy of the chosen excerpt to accompany your submission.

County Youth Music team contact information

Email: countyyouthmusic@hertfordshire.gov.uk