Joining DYO

As a member of DYO you will have the opportunity to:

• Work with our team of excellent and renowned conductors.

• Be coached by leading professional orchestral musicians.

• Meet and spend time with other young musicians.

• Learn and perform exciting and varied music.

• Perform at our DYO Annual Gala, which usually takes place in January or February each year.

• Participate in chamber music days and other special musical events.

• Take part in fun days out.

• Travel on bi-annual performance tours. Our tours have taken us to all corners of Ireland and Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Holland, the USA, Canada and China.

• String players music be aged 9+ and wind, brass and percussion players must be age 11+ on 1 September 2026.

• Instruments: Flute/Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, French Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Percussion.

• New members can audition for any of the four orchestras, subject to age and musical ability.

• Existing members generally progress from one orchestra to the next every two years. If members wish to move up an orchestra sooner, they must apply via an audition.

• All members must be taking lessons from a qualified teacher.

• There is no minimum grade level required.

• Applicants are accepted into the orchestra based on their performance in their audition.

• Auditions are approximately 5 minutes long.

• Applicants are asked to prepare one piece which will be performed solo, without piano accompaniment.

• Applicants will be required to take a short sight-reading test.

• Auditions take place in St. Dominic’s College, Dublin 7. The time and date of your audition slot will be sent after the closing date for applications.

• Each audition panel will incorporate 2 professional musicians who are members of DYO’s team.

• The audition fee is €35 per applicant.

• Annual membership of DYO costs €285, with discounts for 2 or more siblings.

• Scholarship packages are available for young musicians who are experiencing financial hardship.  

• Rehearsals take place on Sundays approximately once a month from September to May.

• Junior Strings and the Intermediate Orchestra rehearse from 10:30 - 13:30 and the Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra rehearse from 14:30 - 17:30.

• Sectional rehearsals are usually scheduled within these times during the first few weeks of each term.

• Some months incorporate two rehearsals, but there are typically around 12 Sunday rehearsals from September-April each season.

• All rehearsals take place in St. Dominic’s College, Dublin, D07 NX47.

• Performances, chamber music days, daytrips and tours require an additional time commitment that varies year-on-year.