Applications are accepted on a continually rolling basis - the application form is always open and receiving submissions.  Any openings in the orchestra will be filled by audition with candidates drawn from the most recent applications submitted. Applications are currently being accepted for upcoming rounds of entrance auditions for our 2022–2023 Season with a deadline of April 1st, 2022. Audition periods will begin after May 1, likely extending to early June, and you will be contacted with the specific audition dates for your instrument after the application deadline above has passed and all applications have been received. Please do not make requests for specific audition dates in your application or by phone/email unless contacted by the SF Symphony Youth Orchestra office and asked to do so.

Audition periods for Youth Orchestra membership are held twice annually — one just prior to and one just following school summer break — and are open to musicians ages 12-20 who are prepared for a serious commitment to challenging repertoire and to our complete rehearsal and concert schedule.  Even then, if an instrument section is filled during the earlier round, a later round may not be held and remaining applications will be forwarded to the following audition season for consideration.  Not all instruments will have audition availability during both audition periods and candidates will not be considered for a later audition until the earlier audition round has concluded.  To clarify: if a candidate does not audition in the Spring, they may not be granted an alternate opportunity in the Fall.

Applying later (after the posted deadline) or postponing an audition may give a candidate more time to prepare, but it also may mean that there are no remaining positions.  We strongly encourage all applicants to audition earlier rather than later. 

For more precise details, please check with us after each application deadline.