frequently asked questions
General Information
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How do I join NMYO?
Membership in all ensembles is by audition. Auditions are held each year in early June. Go to the Auditions page to learn how to audition. What are the age, membership, and audition requirements? Musicians from age 6 through 18, or until graduation from high school, are eligible to participate. NMYO also requires that all of its musicians are actively taking lessons with a private teacher. We also require the musician to participate in their school music program, if such a program exists. Refer to the Auditions page for the specific audition requirements for each ensemble and to the Program Eligibility page for more information. When and where do you rehearse? The NMYO rehearsal and concert season runs from September through May. The NMYO Select Flute Choir rehearses at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Topsfield on Sunday afternoons. The other NMYO ensembles rehearse at the Masconomet Regional High School in Boxford on Monday afternoons and evenings. Refer to the Calendar page for specific rehearsal times. Do you rent any instruments? NMYO owns a few select instruments and occasionally loans them to students who wish to try out a new instrument or who do not own or rent an instrument of their own. In such cases the family is responsible for the care of the instrument in their possession as well as the insurance for the instrument being loaned. Contact the NMYO office to inquire about instrument availability. |
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I play a sport (or have another conflict) for one semester of the school year. Can I join NMYO for just the fall or spring?
NMYO is often able to accommodate musicians with predetermined conflicts. If, at the time of your audition, you indicate that you will only be participating for one semester, you may be accepted for one semester only. A musician’s ability to play for a partial season is determined on a case-by-case basis.
What if I join NMYO and later find that I have a conflict or do not enjoy the experience?
Within the first four weeks of rehearsal, students who withdraw from the program receive a pro-rated tuition refund minus the nonrefundable deposit. No refunds will be given after this four-week period. Musicians who choose not to return for the second semester will not receive a refund.
NMYO is often able to accommodate musicians with predetermined conflicts. If, at the time of your audition, you indicate that you will only be participating for one semester, you may be accepted for one semester only. A musician’s ability to play for a partial season is determined on a case-by-case basis.
What if I join NMYO and later find that I have a conflict or do not enjoy the experience?
Within the first four weeks of rehearsal, students who withdraw from the program receive a pro-rated tuition refund minus the nonrefundable deposit. No refunds will be given after this four-week period. Musicians who choose not to return for the second semester will not receive a refund.
Auditions
I just decided that I want to audition for NMYO but your season has already begun. Can I still join?
Yes, musicians can join mid-season if there are open seats available. Contact the NMYO office to inquire. If you audition during the summer or the first month of rehearsals, you will be accepted for the full season. If you audition at a later date in the fall, you may be asked to join following the December concert.
How long is the audition? Is there a time limit? Do musicians typically play their entire piece(s)?
NMYO schedules auditions every 10 minutes. Therefore, depending on the length of our audition piece(s), the adjudicator may cut the student off or just ask for specific measures. The 10 minutes will include playing the audition piece(s), scales, and sight-reading.
Does my audition piece need to be memorized, or is sheet music allowed?
Your audition piece(s) does not have to be memorized and sheet music is acceptable for that portion of the audition. Scales do need to be memorized for those auditioning to be in the Intermezzo Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, or Wind Ensemble.
How many of the total possible scales are typically played in the audition?
You will be asked to prepare two scales for the adjudicator. Check the NMYO Audition Requirements for each ensembles’ specific scales and whether or not they need to be memorized
Does the June audition determine both ensemble placement and seating within the ensemble?
For wind players, the June audition determines both ensemble and seating placement.
For string players in the Prelude and Overture String Orchestras, seating rotates throughout the year. For Intermezzo and Symphony Orchestra string players, the June audition determines ensemble placement and violin section assignment. Seating auditions are held in October once rehearsals have begun.
How do the seating auditions work? What do I need to prepare?
Your conductor will choose various measures/excerpts from the fall semester’s repertoire. These selections are announced a few weeks prior to the seat auditions so as to provide musicians with ample practice time. All musicians play the same measures for the seat auditions which are held during the regular Monday rehearsals in late October.
Multiple Instruments/Ensembles
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Can a musician play in more than one ensemble?
Yes, depending on the ensembles’ rehearsal schedule it is possible to participate in more than one. Here are some examples:
I play more than one wind or brass instrument. With which should I audition? You should sign up to audition on both instruments and see how the conductors place you. Some of NMYO’s talented musicians actually play both of their instruments. For example, one might play trumpet in Wind Ensemble and French horn in Intermezzo. Or, one might play clarinet in Intermezzo and bass clarinet in Wind Ensemble. |
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Cost and Financial Aid
How much is the NMYO tuition?
NMYO tuition varies depending on the ensemble in which one performs. In addition to the tuition, all families are required to procure $120 in advertisements for the NMYO Annual Program Book. Those who do not wish to solicit advertisements will be charged a $120 fee. Please visit the tuition page for more details.
Is there any financial aid available?
NMYO offers tuition assistance for musicians with demonstrated need. To obtain a Tuition Assistance application, contact the NMYO office.
When is tuition due?
A tuition deposit of $100 is due upon enrollment. The remaining tuition is due in full on September 1 unless a Payment Plan has been established. All families can enroll in the payment plan. Payments are auto-debited from the family’s checking account on the 15th of each month, September through March, or on the next business day thereafter. Contact the NMYO office for a Payment Plan Form.
NMYO tuition varies depending on the ensemble in which one performs. In addition to the tuition, all families are required to procure $120 in advertisements for the NMYO Annual Program Book. Those who do not wish to solicit advertisements will be charged a $120 fee. Please visit the tuition page for more details.
Is there any financial aid available?
NMYO offers tuition assistance for musicians with demonstrated need. To obtain a Tuition Assistance application, contact the NMYO office.
When is tuition due?
A tuition deposit of $100 is due upon enrollment. The remaining tuition is due in full on September 1 unless a Payment Plan has been established. All families can enroll in the payment plan. Payments are auto-debited from the family’s checking account on the 15th of each month, September through March, or on the next business day thereafter. Contact the NMYO office for a Payment Plan Form.
Chamber Music
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Which ensembles participate in the Chamber Music Program and when do chamber musicians rehearse?
The Chamber Music Program meets on Mondays. All Symphony Orchestra (strings, winds, and percussion) musicians, and a few auditioned string members of the Intermezzo Orchestra, participate in the annual Chamber Music Program. Chamber musicians rehearse each week during a seven-week period in January and February. Who leads the Chamber Music Program? Trudy Larson, NMYO Chamber Music Director, leads the program. Each chamber ensemble is coached by an area music professional. The program ends with a Chamber Music concert in March. Each chamber group also performs an outreach concert through the NMYO Youth Serving Through Music Program. Can I just register for chamber music? No, musicians must be a part of the Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Intermezzo Orchestras in order to participate in the chamber music program. Please refer to the Special Programs page for more information on our chamber music program. How much does Chamber Music cost? The Chamber Music Program is offered at no additional charge to all Symphony musicians including wind, brass, and percussionists. The selected Intermezzo string musicians and Wind Ensemble saxophonists and percussionists pay an additional $150 to cover the cost of the program. |
Community Outreach
Which ensembles participate in outreach concerts? How many outreach concerts are planned per year?
All chamber groups are asked to perform one concert at senior citizen residences, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools in one or more of the communities that NMYO serves. Other NMYO musicians can also participate in these concerts by preparing a solo, duet, or trio piece.
NMYO also holds other full-length concerts through the Youth Serving Through Music initiative. For example, Prelude, Overture, and Intermezzo Orchestras perform a spring outreach concert for senior citizens.
All chamber groups are asked to perform one concert at senior citizen residences, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and schools in one or more of the communities that NMYO serves. Other NMYO musicians can also participate in these concerts by preparing a solo, duet, or trio piece.
NMYO also holds other full-length concerts through the Youth Serving Through Music initiative. For example, Prelude, Overture, and Intermezzo Orchestras perform a spring outreach concert for senior citizens.
Special Rehearsal Days
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What is the First Rehearsal Outing? Should parents attend?
For their first rehearsal of the season, Symphony, Intermezzo, and Wind Ensemble meet at the Barn on the Crane Estate where they rehearse their new music and socialize with their fellow ensemble members over ice cream and activities on the green. Musicians are welcome to head to Crane Beach with an adult supervisor after their ensemble has finished with its rehearsal and ice cream social. Parents are not required to attend, though they are welcome to observe and take their children to the beach either prior to or following the rehearsal. What is Enrichment Day? Should parents attend? Enrichment Day is a Saturday rehearsal in the spring in which NMYO musicians work on building technical skills and rehearsing techniques with guest conductors and/or master classes. The purpose of Enrichment Day is to give musicians a new perspective on their concert repertoire and help them to develop their practice skills and appreciation for the ensemble experience. Occasionally, NMYO hosts a parent informational session or lecture during part of the Enrichment Day. Parents are always welcome to observe NMYO rehearsals, though they are not required to do so. |
Parents: Get Involved!
I want to volunteer with NMYO. What are my options?
NMYO welcomes volunteers and relies on its parents to help out with a variety of tasks. Below is a list of some volunteer categories. Parents with a specialized skill set can contact the NMYO office to discuss other opportunities.
I would like to carpool to rehearsals but I don’t know any other NMYO families. How can I get in touch with people who might be interested?
NMYO welcomes volunteers and relies on its parents to help out with a variety of tasks. Below is a list of some volunteer categories. Parents with a specialized skill set can contact the NMYO office to discuss other opportunities.
- Annual Program Book – procure advertisements
- Annual Fund – mailing help
- Board of Directors – serve on the NMYO board to help set policy & promote the organization
- Concert Production – mailings, poster distribution, usher, stage crew, front-of-house
- First Rehearsal Outing – set up, clean up, beach supervision
- Fund Raising Events – planning, mailings, set up, clean up
- Hospitality – providing refreshments for post-concert receptions, set up, clean up
- Rehearsal Assistance – set up & clean up of rehearsal space, monitor & help tune students
I would like to carpool to rehearsals but I don’t know any other NMYO families. How can I get in touch with people who might be interested?
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Each year NMYO publishes a Family Directory containing contact information for all members who agreed to be listed. A pdf of the directory is provided in the first NMYO newsletter and is also available upon request to current NMYO families and musicians. This list is intended for internal use by musicians and families involved in NMYO in order to facilitate carpools and social events. The Family Directory should not be used for solicitation.
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