How to be a member

Download, print and complete the audition application form.

Audition Notice

Audition/Inscription Form

What Are the Commitments?

Time and travel: NBYO’s season is focused around rehearsal/concert weekend events, and traditionally has begun with an extended rehearsal-only weekend in September in a camp setting. Our season programme consists of intensive full orchestra (tutti) and sectional rehearsals. You should receive the music prior to the first weekend meeting, which is when we will start reading the bulk of the season’s repertoire. Additional works may be rehearsed and performed later in the season.  For the balance of the season (October to March), all players attend additional rehearsal/concert weekends (roughly one a month, except December) at various centres. There will be additional rehearsal days (a total of 2-3; see details under “When and where…”) on the Saturday or Sunday of weekends between the regularly scheduled weekends. Members are expected to rehearse and perform at all weekend events during the season.

You may therefore have to miss some class time on the Friday afternoon of a weekend, and possibly all day the Friday, depending on how far you have to travel to a weekend event. Also, once during the season, you will also have to miss classes on the Monday that the in-school concerts are performed. We recommend that you clear these absences with your school as early as possible; the schools tend to be very cooperative, as most educators in New Brunswick realize that your absence from a few classes is made up for in the instruction you will receive in our programme. In any event, when necessary, NBYO will support fully your requests for absence from school.

Our regular season ends in March, as we are sensitive to the fact that music festivals and university exams occur in April and May, when your availability might be compromised.

Additional special events are possible during the following spring or summer, as well as small ensemble performances. Any special event normally includes only our regular players. These special events are considered optional for all members, as we recognize that they may have other commitments. Not surprisingly, most members choose to participate. Note, however, that once a player has committed to an optional event, he/she is expected to honour that commitment, including attending all extra rehearsals, participating in fundraising activities and fulfilling other obligations as needed.

Musicianship and personal commitment: All NBYO members are expected to attend all rehearsal and concert weekends and are to be fully prepared by having practised your parts in the repertoire in advance of the weekend. The repertoire is often very demanding; you must schedule individual practice time between rehearsals. The Music Director and faculty will supply practice tips to enhance and improve your experience.

In addition, you are expected to continue your commitment to playing in your music ensemble(s) in your region during the season, which remains essential to your development.

“Schedule-balancing” and attendance: We realize membership in NBYO represents a considerable investment in your time and energy, and we also are sensitive to the fact that most of you have other opportunities and commitments, both academic and extra-curricular. Please consider carefully the wisdom of participating in other optional activities which could conflict with NBYO events. Once you have committed to NBYO, we expect you to honour your commitment to us, and to make NBYO your first priority. We encourage you to advise your other leaders, directors, teachers and coaches of the details of your NBYO schedule, at the beginning of the school year (in September).

We strongly advise those who are considering a career in music to choose NBYO, as there is nowhere else in New Brunswick that you will experience participation in a full-scale symphony orchestra.

Once you have committed to us, you become an essential part of NBYO, where every member’s participation is important. Your attendance at every event during the season is expected.

The Music Director reserves the right to accept or refuse your excuse to be absent from rehearsals and concerts. If you are unable to attend rehearsals at a particular weekend, you will not usually be permitted to play that weekend’s concert. In any case, absence should be a rare exception; frequent, persistent or unexcused absences will usually result in your being asked to leave the orchestra. As indicated elsewhere, participation in the initial weekend is compulsory, and only the most extreme circumstances constitute an excuse to be absent.

This information is being presented here at this time so that you have an idea of what is expected if you are successful in being admitted to NBYO.

When and where are the NBYO weekends?

Locations are tentative, but are likely to be:

* Moncton
* Saint John
* Woodstock/Fredericton
* Bathurst
* Edmundston

The rehearsal dates are as follows (dates are inclusive, and all are tentative, except where indicated):

* August 30- September 2
* September 24 (strings only)
* October 14-16
* October 29 (strings only)
* November 18-20 (with the National Arts Centre Orchestra)
* January 13-15
* February 11 (strings only)
* February 17-19
* March 23-25

A morning school concert may be added to this schedule but we will alert you of this possibility as soon as we can.  Once the actual event locations and dates have been finalized, they will be posted on the website.  Please bear these in mind regarding your academic commitments.