Musician Info

Joining KYO:

KYO eagerly welcomes talented musicians aged high school and above. If you are interested in joining, please read the information below including the vacancy and grade requirements, and contact enquiry@kyo.org.au or fill out the new member expression of interest (EOI) form.

new member EOI form

Fees & registration

Membership fees cover the cost of running the orchestra, including the hire of the hall, conductor’s fees, purchase and copying of music, insurance, and the costs associated with registering the organisation.

Fees for 2025 are:

  • $475 if paid by 28th February 2025
  • $400 for any subsequent siblings. Note: Only one sibling can claim this discount.
  • $500 if paid after 28th February 2025

Students up to 18 years old may be eligible for a $50 Creative Kids voucher to partially meet KYO registration fees. See the Service NSW website for more information.

Your exact membership fee will be displayed on the registration form, a copy of which will be sent to your email. Please note this amount down and pay via direct bank transfer to:
Payment is by direct bank transfer to:
Kuringai Youth Orchestra, Bendigo Bank
BSB: 633 000
Account number: 141 392 738
Please mark transfers with 2025SurnameFirstname

All new musicians which have been offered a place in the orchestra AND continuing musicians must register for 2025 through this registration form.

2025 Registration form

Rehearsals & concerts

Rehearsals are held during school term times at Ku-ring-gai Town Hall (1186 Pacific Highway, Pymble) on Thursday evenings from 7pm to 9pm, with set-up from 6:30pm. Parents are welcome to attend the rehearsals.

For those musicians travelling by train, the Town Hall is a short walk from Pymble Station. Exit the station on the Pacific Highway side and walk through the tunnel that goes under the highway. From there you can walk up the ramp to the west side of the highway and it is then just a short walk up the hill.

To drop off a musician, turn into the Town Hall when travelling north up the Pacific Highway. There is a drop off area. For pickups, however, please park in the lower car park (using the same entrance) and walk up to the Town Hall. The drop off area is quite small and we want to avoid congestion.

We hold a concert at the end of each school term on a Sunday afternoon, and you can access recordings and videos of these here. We also hold a half-day workshop each year with professional musician tutors, typically in Term 2. Below is a highlights video from our 2024 workshop:

Communications

Musicians are expected to stay up to date and actively read communications from the orchestra. KYO communicates to its musicians via email and social media:

Requirements for musicians

It is expected that all musicians will attend all rehearsals and all four concerts held at the end of each term, and the workshop held in Term 2, except for mandatory school or university commitments. It is expected that musicians will contact the KYO membership secretary if they are unable to attend a rehearsal.

All musicians will be provided with music and a folder, to be brought to each rehearsal. Musicians should also bring a pencil and water bottle.

Current vacancies – 2025

We have the following vacancies at present and we are always interested to hear from high calibre orchestral musicians. Please note these grade requirements are indicative only – other factors are used to determine a musician’s position within the orchestra including age and experience.

STRING PLAYERS
There are positions available across all string sections.
1st Violins – AMEB Certificate of Performance / AMusA / LMusA
2nd Violins – AMEB / Suzuki 7th Grade upwards
Violas – AMEB / Suzuki 6th Grade upwards
Cellos – AMEB / Suzuki 6th Grade upwards
Double Basses – AMEB 4th Grade upwards

WOODWIND PLAYERS 
Flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon positions are currently full. If you would like to join our waiting list you must be AMEB / Suzuki 6th Grade and above.

BRASS PLAYERS
Trombone – AMEB / Suzuki 6th Grade upwards
French horn, trumpet and tuba positions are currently full. If you would like to join our waiting list you must be AMEB / Suzuki 6th Grade and above.

PERCUSSION PLAYERS
Percussion positions are currently full. Please contact us if you would like to join our waiting list.

Uniform for concerts

For female musicians: Please wear a black skirt, tailored pants, or a black dress with a black top. Pair with black socks and shoes, and if you choose a dress or skirt, wear black stockings or tights. Avoid colored headbands, scrunchies, ribbons, etc. Stick to black accessories only.

For male musicians: Please wear black trousers (no jeans or stretch fabric) and a plain black, long-sleeved shirt without logos or prints. Don’t forget a black belt, black socks and shoes, and wear a black tie. Ensure the shirt collar and sleeves are buttoned; avoid rolling up sleeves.

If you choose to wear a mask, please make sure it is black.