The McLean Youth Orchestra (MYO) was founded in 1983 to provide the finest possible musical education to students who represent the future of classical music in the community. Designed for musically advanced middle and high school students aged 12 to 18, MYO offers the serious music student the opportunity to play in an accomplished orchestra while further developing their musical skills. The MYO was established by the McLean Orchestra, which continues to provide financial and administrative support.
Unique Opportunities
The MYO plays three to four major concerts per season performing music from challenging orchestra repertoire including:
• Copland – Lincoln Portrait
• Holst – The Planets
• Mozart – Jupiter Symphony
• Beethoven – 1st and 7th Symphonies
• Dvorak – 8th Symphony
• Torellli – Trumpet Concerto
• Vivaldi – Four Seasons
• Sibelius – Finlandia
Opportunities are available for playing in chamber ensembles and for soloing with the orchestra. Many concerts include student soloists, small chamber groups, and even student conductors.
Past venues include playing before the US Congress for the Congressional Awards Services, performing in the Kennedy Center and in Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
The Annual Henrietta Anderson Concerto Competition allows winners to receive a scholarship and public recital, in addition to a possible performance with the orchestra.
During summer months, participate in a Chamber Music Camp
Opportunities to earn community service hours for helping within the organization.
The MYO also has a strong international focus, helping students to expand their global musical experiences. Every other year the MYO travels to Japan or hosts musicians from its sister youth orchestra in Chiba, Japan. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to experience the life and culture of their counterparts.
Major auditions are held between June and September, with rolling auditions held year round depending on MYO’s specific needs. Candidates must be between 12 and 18 years old (junior or high school students). A player coach may be older than 18. Unusually talented younger musicians may be considered. Current members of the MYO may or may not be required to re-audition.
MYO membership is based on musical ability as well as MYO’s specific needs for the season. Student placement is competitive and is ranked in order of artistic quality. Those qualities include: superiority of tone, intonation, vibrato, dynamic range, musicality, and accuracy. There is a $25 audition fee, and auditions are made by appointment. Please arrive early enough to allow time for tuning and warm-up.
Once admitted to the orchestra, placement, seating and retention in the orchestra is at the discretion of the music director, and is based on musical ability and the needs of the orchestra as a whole. Seating within a section may be changed during the season at the discretion of the conductor.
We prefer that students participate in their school music programs. However, participation is not required for membership in the MYO, and seating in these programs or other musical organizations will not be considered in determining participation in or seating within the MYO. Musicians are strongly encouraged to have private music lessons. A list of local teachers will be made available upon request.