School Year Programs

LOU Youth symphony playing at Ole Miss Music building

LOU Youth Symphony

Grades: Open to 7th-12th graders
Rehearsal: Every Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:00  p.m. beginning 1/29-4/23.
Rehearsal venue: Choir Room in the UM Music Building
Concert: Wednesday, April 30 at Nutt Auditorium
Tuition: $100 (due 1/29) 

Live Audition Date: January 11, 2025 from 9-1 pm 
Live Audition Location: Strings - Nutt Auditorium; Wind/Brass/Percussion - Band Hall  
Application Deadline: January 8, 2025

Step 1: Complete Interest Form

Lafayette Oxford University (LOU) Youth Symphony aims to build excellent orchestra players for students in 7th through 12th grades. Orchestra classes and rehearsals are designed to teach students in an enjoyable, active and stimulating environment under the direction of Dr. Armee Hong, and conducted by Dr. Selim Giray and Dr. Morreale. Sectionals will be coached by: Dr. Armee Hong (violin/viola), Dr. Kelsey Smith (Cello/Bass), Dr. Philip Snyder (woodwind), and Dr. Morreale (Brass). Registrations are open to strings, wind & brass, and percussion.

In addition to classes and rehearsals, LOU Youth Symphony students receive more advanced musicianship skills to facilitate their ability to read, write, sing, and harmonize. The LOU Youth Symphony concert will highlight players’ beautiful tone, musical, and technical abilities

The orchestra rehearsals will take place on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the UM Music Building. Students must provide their own instruments.

  1. Complete the Inquiry form,
  2. Create a MySchoolApp account, and complete the LOU Youth Symphony application and checklist items by January 8, 2025.
    • If already in the system, your child’s checklist will be updated to the New Programs Checklist.
    • Please use a personal email account, not a school affiliated email address, as most servers block external emails.
    • Within 3 business days, you will receive an email from umprecollege@myschoolapp.com with steps to create your Admissions Portal through our Blackbaud MySchoolApp system.
  3. Complete the in-person audition held at the University of Mississippi on January 11, 2025.
    1. Strings should report to Nutt Auditorium.
    2. Wind/brass and percussion auditions will be at the Band Hall in the Music Building.
    3. You will find the necessary requirements to prepare for the audition under the Audition tab, as well as the downloadable music excerpts.
    4. When completing the supplemental application, please select an audition time block:
      a. 9:00-9:30 a.m. 
      b. 9:30-10:00 a.m.
      c. 10:00-10:30 a.m.
      d. 10:30-11:00 a.m.
  4. Students will be notified by August 26th of acceptance.
  5. Pay the $100 tuition fee by September 4th.

An in-person audition will be held at the University of Mississippi on January 11th. Strings will report to Nutt Auditorium, while wind/brass and percussion will be at the Band Hall in the Music Building. 
When completing the application, please select the audition time block: 

  1. 9:00-9:30 a.m. 
  2. 9:30-10:00 a.m.
  3. 10:00-10:30 a.m.
  4. 10:30-11:00 a.m.

Audition Requirements
Below, you will find the 3 audition requirements as well as the downloadable music excerpts for each instrumentation.

1. One major and one minor scale: You can choose any major/minor scale from 1 to 3 octaves. 

2. Any one piece of the student's own choice, or an excerpt from "Waltz from Masquerade" by A. Khachaturian below:

  1. Violin: choose one from the following two excerpts.
    1. From the letter A to just before the letter D.
    2. From the letter F to just before the letter H.
  2. Viola
    1. From the letter F to just before the letter H.
  3. Cello
    1. From 1 measure before the letter C to the end of the page
  4. Bass
    1. From the letter L to the end of the page
  5. Oboe
    1. From the letter F to the end of the page
  6. Flute
    1. From the 7th measure of the letter I to just before the letter L
  7. Bb Clarinet
    1. From the letter F to just before the letter H
  8. Bassoon
    1. From the letter H to the downbeat of the letter L
  9. Horn
    1. From the letter O to the end of the page
  10. Trumpet
    1. From the letter F to the end of the page
  11. Trombone
    1. From the letter F to the end of the page
  12. Percussion : play both excerpts
    1. Timpani: from 2 measures before letter O to the end of the page
    2. Snare Drum: from 2 measures before letter F to just before letter H.

3. Sight reading

For additional information, please contact:

  • Address: Outreach and Continuing Education, Office of Pre-College Programs, The University of Mississippi, P.O. Box 1848, University, MS 38677-1848
  • Phone: (662) 915-7621
  • Fax: (662) 915-1535
  • Email: precollege@olemiss.edu