NYO-USA 2027 Orchestra Auditions: US High-School Musicians Apply by 3 December
Carnegie Hall is accepting auditions for the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA) 2027 season. The summer programme brings together high-school musicians for orchestral rehearsals, performances and touring. It is a US-eligible youth programme rather than an unrestricted international competition.
Eligibility and instruments
Applicants must be US citizens or US permanent residents and enrolled in high school or equivalent homeschooling during the 2026–27 academic year. They must be 16–19 years old on 1 July 2027. Students who completed high school in 2026 or earlier and are taking a gap year are ineligible. Carnegie Hall is accepting applications on all standard orchestral instruments, including harp.
Application requirements and important dates
The online deadline is 3 December 2026; the two required recommendations may be submitted by 17 December. Applicants register on the Acceptd platform linked from Carnegie Hall's official application page, provide a personal essay, and upload recorded auditions. Videos include an introduction, a two-to-three-minute solo passage, specified orchestral excerpts, and a short video essay. Video recordings and programme-specific instructions are published on the official site.
The application fee is US$30. Need-based fee-waiver requests must be received by 1 December 2026. The 2027 programme runs from early July to early August, with its training residency moving to the University of Maryland in College Park. Carnegie Hall arranges and pays for programme travel following the initial arrival; students arrange their journey to the residency and homeward transfer, with need-based travel assistance available.
About the organizer and application verification
Carnegie Hall is a New York performing-arts institution that presents concerts and runs music-education initiatives. NYO-USA is one of its national youth ensembles, with rehearsal programmes and performances that bring young American players into professional orchestral settings. The institution's current 2027 page links directly to the Acceptd submission platform, and the listed fee and deadlines are shown by Carnegie Hall itself.
Official application information
This article provides a summary. To avoid misunderstandings, please be sure to check the official page for full details. Information checked: 19 October 2026.
Our competition
For younger musicians within its eligibility range, the ISAC International Junior Music Competition also accepts performance videos; its rules and entry process are described separately on the organiser's website.
Publish an opportunity
We offer paid listings for jobs and open calls. The linked form is operated by Ise-Shima Art; it is separate from the organizer of this opportunity.