Come and work with the County's most inspired young musicians and leading music professionals. Rehearse and perform a wide range of music to a high standard including:
- new commissions
- intensive residential courses
- recordings
- tours
- work on projects with international choirs and ensembles.
We offer a natural progression from the network of ensembles that take place in our schools and music centres during term time, as well as a social and inspiring holiday activity!
Hertfordshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra
County Youth Orchestra
County Youth Choir
County Youth Brass
County Wind Sinfonia
Jazz in Hertfordshire
Auditions News
Interested in joining one of our County Youth Music Groups?
We’ve changed the way we run auditions – you can now audition and enrol for our ensembles and activities throughout the year.
County Youth Brass and County Wind Sinfonia
We welcome players of Grade 5 and above between 11-21 to join these groups on a non-auditioned basis. Your teacher may recommend that you join one of these groups, we also invite you to register your interest using our application form here and we will be in touch with you.
County Youth Choir
Singers of approx Grade 5 and above between 11-18 are invited to come and sing with us at our weekly Wednesday evening rehearsals in Hatfield. Please complete the application form here and we will be in touch with you – our conductor James Slimings and male voice coach Anthony Harris will be happy to meet you at one of our rehearsals.
Hertfordshire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra
We have opportunities all year round for musicians of Grade 7 and above between 12-18. There is a two-part application process including a video audition. Please complete the application form here, and submit a recording of yourself with clear sound and video to countymusicenquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
You can also use WeTransfer to send larger attachments. Your video should be 3-5 minutes in length, and you should be playing with an accompanist if possible. We will then get back to you as soon as we can.
County Youth Orchestra
Our most advanced ensemble, players are aged between 14-21 and Grade 8+. Players are enrolled when they graduate from HSSO at age 18 (or earlier if appropriate), or by teacher recommendation. Please apply first for HSSO if you are interested in playing with CYO.
Hertfordshire County Youth Music Groups & Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme Award 2021
Congratulations to the two winners of the Hertfordshire County Youth Music Groups & Benslow Music Instrument Loan Scheme Award 2021. We had a particularly high number and standard of applications this year and have made two awards to Alice Drury, violin and Ella Harrison, cello, who will each benefit from the loan of a Benslow instrument for the next 3 years. Well done Alice and Ella!
Spring Plans 2022
We're looking forward to welcoming back our ensembles this term, planned dates for our instrumental ensembles will be updated here as they are announced:
- County Youth Brass - Saturday 2 April at Mid Herts Centre, joint concert with The Cory Band on Sunday 3 April at Weston Auditorium, University of Hertfordshire.
- County Youth Orchestra - Tuesday 5 - Friday 8 April at St Clement Danes School.
- Hertfordshire Schools' Symphony Orchestra -Tuesday 5 - Friday 8 April at St Clement Danes School.
- County Wind Sinfonia - TBC.
Watch this space for more details soon!
Contacts
Katherine Wolfenden
Head of County Activities and Projects
01707 281479 katherine.wolfenden@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Natalie Smith-Chandler
County Orchestras and Ensembles Manager
01707 281465
natalie.smith-chandler@hertfordshire.gov.uk
Lucy Buckland
Project Officer / Lead - Hertfordshire Schools' Gala
01992 555093
lucy.buckland@hertfordshire.gov.uk
General Enquiries countymusicenquiries@hertfordshire.gov.uk