Musician Info

Joining KYO:

KYO is a community youth orchestra open to talented musicians aged 13-26. 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 2023 are:

  • $500
  • $400 for subsequent siblings

Students up to 18 years old can apply for a $50 Creative Kids voucher per calendar year 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 2023SurnameFirstname

All new musicians which have been offered a place in the orchestra AND continuing musicians must register for 2023 through this registration form.

2023 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. Social supper is provided on a voluntary roster system 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 aim to hold a concert at the end of each 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.

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, 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 – 2023

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 5th Grade upwards
Cellos – AMEB / Suzuki 6th Grade upwards
Double Basses – AMEB 4th Grade upwards

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

BRASS PLAYERS
Trumpet, trombone, French horn 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 available.

Uniform for concerts

Girls: Black skirt, tailored pants and black top, or a black dress. Please wear black socks and shoes and black stockings/tights if wearing a dress/skirt. Please no coloured headbands, scrunchies, ribbons etc in your hair, black only.

Boys: Black trousers (no jeans or stretch fabric), plain black long sleeved shirt with no logos or prints, black belt, black socks and shoes and a black tie. Please button the collar and sleeves on the shirt (No rolled up sleeves).

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