Vermont Youth Orchestra

Home » Ensembles » Vermont Youth Orchestra

“It’s a joy and a privilege working with the members of the VYO, exploring masterworks of the orchestral repertoire together while deepening our musical skills, developing stronger connections to the heritage of the orchestra experience, and building a strong, mutually supportive culture of artistic excellence. Every time I step on the podium with the VYO, I’m reminded of all the wonderful musicians who taught and mentored me, so it feels wonderful to be able to pass along that legacy to these dedicated young musicians.”

– Jeffrey Domoto, Vermont Youth Orchestra Conductor and VYOA Music Director

General Information

Founded in 1963, the VYO draws its members from among the most talented young musicians in Vermont, New York and New Hampshire. It presents three major concerts each year at Burlington’s Flynn Center for the Performing Arts and also performs at community events, school tours and in and small-ensemble recitals.

Rehearsal: Sunday afternoons from 12:45 to 3:45 p.m.

Auditions & Registration

Auditions are held annually in May at the Elley-Long Music Center at Saint Michael’s College. New students interested in joining the VYO are welcome to audition during this period. Current members must audition in order to participate in the organization each season.

Click here for more information on auditions
Download the 2011-2012 VYO registration packet
Download the 2011-2012 VYO information packet

Attendance Policy

The VYOA attendance policy recognizes that events such as school, sports, and family activities may conflict with VYOA rehearsals and that illnesses occur. Compliance with the VYOA school music participation policy may also cause students to miss rehearsals.

Each VYO member is permitted no more than three absences in each set of rehearsals leading up to a major concert, and no more than one absence between the Reveille! Music Festival and the fall concert in September.

VYO members are advised to make use of their allowed absences sparingly and strategically. Making competing commitments means making tough choices, a process that is itself an important learning process! Students in who have absences in excess of the allowance will be required to re-audition for Mr. Domoto to demonstrate that they are keeping pace with the rest of the ensemble. If performance in that audition is not satisfactory, remediation will need to be made for VYO participation to continue. Students are advised after missing a rehearsal to contact colleagues or the conductor and find out what was covered in that rehearsal (e.g. changes to bowings/fingerings, tempos set, passages rehearsed, etc.). Students / parents must contact Art DeQuasie regarding any rehearsals that must be missed.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Annual tuition fees for participation in the VYOA instrumental and choral programs vary. For the 2011-12 , tuition rates ranged from $350 for Vermont Youth Chamber Winds to $1475 for the Vermont Youth Orchestra (including participation in the week-long residential Reveille! Music Festival). Please note that tuition is non-refundable. The tuition fees for each ensemble program are announced in June.

Financial Aid: The VYOA believes strongly that no child should be discouraged from participating due to financial need. Need-based financial aid is available to all families who wish to apply. Please contact our office for additional information on Financial Aid options and the application process for Financial Aid.

Download the financial aid application