Endangered Instruments Program
Every orchestra relies on a careful balance between its instruments. Too many trumpets, or not enough double basses, and the sound simply doesn’t come together. This balance means that for some less common instruments (like viola, double bass, bassoon, oboe and bass trombone) there are consistently more positions available than musicians applying. Other instruments, like violin and flute, are highly competitive, with many musicians applying for a limited number of places in the orchestra.
To address this, SYO has developed the Endangered Instruments Program to support young musicians who wish to learn one of the following instruments:
- Viola
- Double Bass
- Oboe
- Bassoon
- Bass Trombone
Learning a rarer instrument can open doors well beyond SYO, including opportunities in high school, tertiary and professional orchestras across Australia.
Endangered Instrument Auditions
Do you already play an endangered instrument in addition to your primary instrument? If so, you can apply for a second audition on that endangered instrument free of charge. Simply indicate this on your audition application form.
This applies only if the endangered instrument is different from the instrument you are already auditioning on. For example, a violinist who also plays viola may apply for a free second audition on viola. A musician cannot apply for two auditions on the same instrument.
