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., starting 9/3 and ending 12/3. (Excluding Fall break and Thanksgiving break)
Rehearsal venue: Choir Room in the UM Music Building
Concert: Saturday, 2 pm, Dec 6 at Nutt Auditorium
Tuition: $100 (due: 9/3)

Returning students (from the 24-25 season): No audition required.
Tryout audition (for NEW STUDENTS only): DIGITAL AUDITION. Students are required to submit their recordings online by August 22. Please follow the recording guidelines below.

Step 1: Complete Interest Form

Audition requirement: All instruments (String, Wind, Brass, Percussion)

  1. One major and one minor scale: You can choose any major/minor scale from 1 to 3 octaves.
    and
  2. Any one piece of the student's own choice: Please submit up to two video files that includes both scales and a piece of the applicant’s choice. You may use a cell phone, but ensure that you achieve good video and audio quality by capturing the full body of the student and the instrument. Record in a quiet environment with no background noise.

Application Deadline: Friday, Aug 22, 2025

Students will be notified of acceptance by Monday, August 25th.

  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