Junior and Honors Orchestra Info

Rehearsals & Concert Dates

YMMC rehearsals take place on Wednesdays. The Junior Youth Orchestra (JYO) meets from 4:30 - 6 PM, and the Honors Orchestra (HO) meets from 6:30-8:30 PM. Rehearsals are at Hidden Valley Music Seminars, 104 W. Carmel Valley Rd., in Carmel Valley. 
​

HO Placement Auditions will take place on August 20th, 2025 at the YMM Office at 546 Hartnell St., Suite B in Monterey. JYO Placement Auditions will take place in September 2025, official date TBD.

​

Rehearsals will start on August 27th, 2025 and run every Wednesday. See the full
JYO/HO Season Calendar here.

 

Google Calendar
​Click the link for your student's ensemble to add the ensemble-specific calendar to your personal calendar app.

• JYO Calendar: http://tiny.cc/JYOcalendar

• HO Calendar: http://tiny.cc/HOcalendar

• JYO&HO Combined Calendar: http://tiny.cc/JYOHOcalendar

Our concerts take place at Sunset Center in Carmel. They're on Sundays starting at 3 pm with dress rehearsal call times starting around 12 noon. More specific information will be sent out prior to each concert date.

 

This year, the dates are: 

• Concert #1 Sunday November 16, 2025

• Concert #2 Sunday March 1, 2026

• Concert #3 Sunday May 10, 2026

2025-2026 Concerto Competitions

Every concert season, members of the Honors and Junior Youth Orchestras may choose to prepare a solo concerto to be performed with the orchestra he/she is in. Students perform their solo work before a panel of judges. The Honors Concerto Competition will be an open competition with a panel of judges and open to audience members to listen. The competition winner typically plays their concerto in the next concert (Concert #2 for Honors, Concert #3 for JYO), however this concert order is not a guarantee. If you are interested in taking part in a concerto competition, we encourage you or your private music teacher to contact our music director first to verify that the concerto is suitable to play in our ensembles before you begin preparing it.  Forms and extra information about requirements are available on the website prior to the competition date, but please feel free to reach out to us with any questions now.​

 

Honors Concerto Competition Auditions:

Saturday October 18th, 2025 1-4 PM

Application due by 5:00 p.m. September 30, 2025

 

Junior Youth Concerto Competition Auditions:

Saturday, February 14th, 2026 1-4 PM

Application due by 5:00 p.m. January 20, 2026

 

Both Concerto Competitions will take place at Carmel Presbyterian Church (Junipero St & Ocean Ave, Carmel-by-the-Sea)

​

Retreats

During the rehearsal cycles for each concert, YMM orchestras each year take part in 2-day retreats at Hidden Valley Music Seminars or another location. It's an opportunity to bond with their fellow musicians, take part in rehearsal and sectional intensives, and learn from fascinating guest musicians who come and present their work. 

​

Retreat Dates

• Saturday October 4th, 2025 

• Sunday October 5th, 2025 

*Ensemble & Rehearsal Schedule TBD​

 

FAQ's

• Where can I request tuition and lesson assistance? You can request financial assistance when you register or go here to see our tuition assistance or lesson assistance forms. 

• When are auditions?  Live, in-person auditions are generally held each May and August. Exact dates and locations are posted here on the Audition page.  Auditions at other times are allowed at the discretion of YMMC's Music Director.  Please inquire by email to office@youthmusicmonterey.org.

 

Other questions?

Send an email to office@youthmusicmonterey.org.

​