Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 6:30-8 p.m.
First rehearsal of the fall semester is Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Location: NKU School of the Arts, FA 126
2025–2026 Tuition: $350 for the academic year
Prerequisites: Audition and acceptance required. Grades 7–12, suggested 4+ years playing experience, yearly entrance and placement audition is required and seating auditions are done each semester. As a reference point, a level of playing equivalent to Suzuki Book III or beyond is recommended for string players. Winds, brass, and percussion: at least 2 years playing in a daily band program.
Questions? Email Dr. Attar at attarh1@nku.edu
The NKU Youth Symphony Orchestra offers fall and spring in-person, priority auditions. The fall audition is for all instruments and serves as the only entrance audition for the full season.
Video Submission Auditions: If you have an extenuating circumstance and cannot attend the in-person auditions, you may submit a video audition for non-priority seating. Contact Dr. Attar at attarh1@nku.edu to make arrangements.
Saturday, August 23, 2025 9:30am–3:00pm
Tuesday, August 26, 2025 5–7:30pm
Tuesday, December 9, 2025 5–7:30pm
Sign-up for your audition HERE!
Audition Requirements and Excerpts:
Audition Materials for Download
Attendance is mandatory for all rehearsals and performances. Our attendance policies are strict to ensure the highest quality learning experience and performance. Please evaluate your schedule to be sure that you are able to meet the commitment to our ensemble that we expect. No more than three absences per year are allowed. Students can use these in any way they like, ie. sickness, school concerts or vacations. After three absences, the student may be dismissed.
Notification in advance of any absence or tardiness is expected, and should be made by submitting the online absence request form. This form can be found under resources on the website homepage. If the absence is an emergency you may email Mr. Moore. Two (2) late arrivals are equivalent to one (1) absence. Attendance at a dress rehearsal is required for participation in a concert. It is at the discretion of the ensemble director to allow or not allow a student to participate in a concert based on rehearsal attendance and/or preparation.
Ensemble students are required to participate in all concerts. Absences from a performance must be approved ahead of time by the ensemble director and Music Preparatory administration, unless the absence is due to sudden illness. Missing a performance is very serious, and doing so is grounds for probation or immediate dismissal from the program.
