Young Artists Symphony Orchestra Holds Auditions

Young Artists Symphony Orchestra (YASO), led by Artistic Director Alexander Treger, a noted conductor, music educator and former Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is currently accepting online applications for auditions for all orchestral chairs. Auditions take place September 4-6 and 11-13, 2015 (times vary), at UCLA’s Schoenberg Hall. The newly formed training orchestra seeks talented and dedicated young musicians ages 15 to 26 from across the Southland. YASO, which presents four free concerts at UCLA’s Royce Hall this season, adheres to the high standards and protocols of professional orchestras, providing the orchestra members with the same type of experiences they would encounter as professional artists. They perform key works that are an essential part of the core orchestral repertoire and are held to extremely rigorous standards since many of its members will be auditioning directly into professional ensembles. YASO members receive a generous stipend for their services and are selected through a rigorous audition process.

YASO’s 2015-16 season launches with a free celebratory program featuring Mahler’s seminal Symphony No. 2 in C minor, “Resurrection”) with guest artists soprano Amanda Achen, mezzo-soprano Niké St. Clair and the Angeles Chorale on Sunday, October 11, 2015, 7 pm, at UCLA’s Royce Hall. Other concerts are Sunday, December 6, 2015, Sunday, February 28, 2016 and Saturday, April 23, 2016, featuring such repertoire as Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra, ?Dvorák’s Symphony No. 7 in d minor, Lutoslawski’s Little Suite, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, and John Adams’ The Chairman Dances. YASO rehearsals take place at the Musician’s Union Local 47 in Hollywood.

“I am extremely proud to serve as the Artistic Director of this remarkable new orchestra,” says Treger. “I am passionate about working with exceptional young musicians, and Young Artists Symphony Orchestra will serve a vital role in training the next generation of artists while enriching the community with a series of compelling live concerts presented free to the public at the beautiful Royce Hall.” Treger’s conducting has been described as “vivid” (The New York Times), “uplifting” (Musical America) and “expertly finessed” (Examiner).

YASO audition applications and repertoire are available online at yasola.org. Auditions are being held at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, 2539 Schoenberg Music Building, Room 1325, Los Angeles, CA 90096. For additional information, please contact Henry Shin at (510) 604-3763 or visit yasola.org.