Junior and Honors Orchestra Info

JYO&HO Rehearsals begin Wednesday, August 19th at Hidden Valley Music Seminars

(104 W Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley)

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2026 Fall Audition Dates

Our fall auditions will be Wednesday, August 12th and Thursday, August 13th from 4:00-8:30 PM at the YMM Office in Monterey (546 Hartnell St, Suite D). To request an audition date and time, please fill out our audition form here: Audition Form

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2026 Seating Auditions

Seating auditions for both JYO & HO will be held on Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. Audition requirements will be released at the start of the season.

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Rehearsals

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.

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Rehearsals will begin on August 19th, 2026 and run every Wednesday unless otherwise noted on the calendar.

 

Concert Dates

Our concerts take place at Sunset Center in Carmel on Sundays. Dress rehearsal call times typically start at 12 pm but are subject to change. Concerts begin at 3 pm. More specific information will be sent out prior to each concert date.

 

2026-2027 Season Concert Dates: 

• Concert #1 Sunday November 1, 2026

• Concert #2 Sunday February 28, 2027

• Concert #3 Sunday May 9, 2027

 

Retreats

During the rehearsal cycles for each concert, YMM orchestras each year take part in 2-day retreats at Hidden Valley Music Seminars. This is an exciting opportunity for students 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. 

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Retreat Dates*

• Saturday, January 16, 2027: Honors Orchestra

• Sunday, January 17, 2027: Junior Youth Orchestra

 

*Date are tentative and subject to change. Ensemble & Rehearsal Schedule TBA.

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2026-2027 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.​

 

Honors Concerto Competition Auditions:

Saturday, October 24th, 2026 1-4 PM*

Application due by 11:59 pm on September 30th, 2026

 

Junior Youth Concerto Competition Auditions:

Saturday, February 6th, 2027 1-4 PM*

Application due by 11:59 pm on January 20th, 2027

 

*Dates are tentative and subject to change. Location is currently TBD.​​

 

FAQ's

• Where can I request tuition and lesson assistance? You can request financial assistance when you register or follow the links 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.

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