Youth Orchestra Waikato draws upon young musicians from throughout the Waikato. The orchestra caters for young people in the 13-25 age range, although exceptions will be made in certain circumstances. The orchestra rehearses on Friday nights 6.30 - 9.00pm during the secondary school term at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato. The orchestra works on four programmes a year.

The YOW Conductors are Athena Shiu, with Associate Conductor Catherine Polglase. They are assisted by an expert team of tutors who are involved in rehearsals and sectional workshops. The YOW Manager is Catherine Polglase and Robert Lummus is our Librarian.

Youth orchestra musicians can take part in other Orchestras Central activities as appropriate, and attend other Orchestras Central events.

New Members
Secondary or middle school student or full-time waged - $400 GST inclusive (includes cost of YOW T-Shirt)
Tertiary level student in full-time study - $200 GST inclusive (includes cost of YOW T-Shirt)

Returning Members
Secondary or middle school student or full-time waged - $330 GST inclusive
Tertiary level student in full-time study - $165 GST inclusive

In cases of financial hardship please email support@orchestras.org.nz.

Provisional dates for 2026:
Friday 13 February | First rehearsal
Friday 6 March - Sunday 8 March | Weekender at Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts
Friday 27 March | Cambridge Autumn Festival concert
Sunday 20 June | Concert
Saturday 29 August | Central Jam (as part of Central Celebrates) with Te Rauhii, WCSM and YOW Academy
Friday 25 September | Schools tour (Matamata)
Late September | Concert (date to be confirmed)
Sunday 8 November | Opportunity to play in Trust Waikato Symphony Orchestra concert
Saturday 5 December | Finale concert

All applicants need to submit an audio recording (no video recordings will be accepted as this is an anonymous audition process).

Your audio recording needs to include:

• a solo piece

• the relevant orchestral excerpt from YOW Orchestral Excerpts

Please observe tempo markings and bowings where indicated. We also recommend that you listen to recordings of the works on the audition list to help you hear and understand the excerpts in context. You may wish to get advice from your teacher. If you play a transposing instrument, make sure you observe the correct transposition.

Make sure that the recording itself demonstrates the highest possible audio quality so that your performance can be evaluated fairly.

Auditions will be judged on the following points: tone, intonation, style, rhythm, musicality, confidence, and preparation. If you have any questions, please email youth@orchestras.org.nz.

String section leader positions – for those wanting to be considered for a string leadership role, please tick the box on the registration form and record, the violin, or viola or cello excerpts and the section leader corresponding instrument excerpts (also link below).  After the first audition, selected students will be invited to a second in-person audition, date TBA early 2026.

Concerto soloists – for those wanting to be considered as a concerto soloist, please play the full movement of the concerto you would like to perform as your solo piece and click the box on the audition registration form. Selected students will be invited to a second in-person audition, date TBA early 2026.

Recording Specifications:

• Please label your audio file with the format: Instrument_LastName_FirstName.

• You may record individual excerpts in separate takes. However, your audition must be submitted as one file (i.e. you will need to combine separate recording files together and submit it as one file)

• No editing to fix bad notes

• Do not electronically alter a recording (except for combining individual excerpt recordings into one file)

• Do not identify yourself in any way or speak on the audio recording

• Do not leave recording your audition to the last minute

• Always keep an extra copy of your audition recording in case there are problems along the way.

Please contact youth@orchestras.org.nz if you have any concerns.

1. Upload your recording to a file-sharing website (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive) and set the privacy of the link to 'anyone with this link can view' so we can see it.
   
   OR
   

2. upload your recording to a sharing website (e.g. Youtube or Vimeo) and set to 'unlisted'
   Go to www.youtube.com
   Sign in or create an account
   Click Upload
   Set privacy setting to ‘unlisted’ (this is very important)
   Upload your audition recording

3. Copy and paste the audio link into your online registration form.