HopeBox Charity Youth Orchestra
Auditions for HCYO
HopeBox will be doing auditions online for the 2026 HCYO. Please read the following instructions carefully.
- Eligibility Requirement: High School Students, including rising 7th graders
- Audition Application Deadline: Sunday, April 12
- Audition Date & Time: VIDEO AUDITION
- Audition Fee: $35 (Non-refundable)
- Be sure to choose ‘Other’ and enter “0” in the contribution section, as the default is 15%, which goes to Zeffy, not HOP3BOX.
- We recommend choosing the ‘Credit Card’ option when you pay.
- Questions? Email info@hop3box.org
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Strings
- Scales: 3-octave major and relative minor (ascending and descending)
- One measure slurred per bow, quarter note = 80
Solo Piece or Etude: 4–5 minutes
Winds & Brass
- Scales: Chromatic scale covering the full range of the instrument
- Solo Piece or Etude: 4-5 minutes
Timpani
- Etude, Excerpt(s), or Solo: 4-5 minutes of your choice
Absolutely NO editing or sound enhancements of any kind are permitted.
Video can be unaccompanied or accompanied.
Video must be recorded within six months prior to the submission date.
Video quality: Check that your entire instrument and your full range of motion are always in the frame. We want to see the details, such as embouchure and technique as if you are in a live audition.
Ensure the image is not flipped (i.e., left-handed violin, reversed hand position in wind playing).
Audio quality: Make sure to place the mic far enough away to avoid audio distortion. Always listen back to ensure audio quality.
Audio quality: Make sure to place the mic far enough away to avoid audio distortion. Always listen back to ensure audio quality.
BEFORE YOU SUBMIT
- Update the video share settings before copying the URL link for your video.
- For YouTube or Vimeo, change the video privacy setting to “unlisted.”
- Submission: By Sunday, April 12, 11:59 PM
Please click here to access the audition link.
Concert Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026 (date subject to change)
- Venue: McAfee Performing Center
- 20300 Herriman Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070
- Dress Rehearsal: 2:00 PM (time TBD)
- Concert: 5:00 PM (time TBD)
- Proposed Rehearsal Dates:
- Friday, August 7 – 6:30–9:30 PM
- Saturday, August 8 – 1:00–5:00 PM
- Sunday, August 9 – 3:00–6:00 PM (Live Strings Seating Audition)
- Monday, August 10 – 6:30–9:30 PM
- Tuesday, August 11 – 6:30–9:30 PM
- Wednesday, August 12 – 6:30–9:30 PM
- Thursday, August 13 – 6:30–9:30 PM
- Friday, August 14 – 6:30–9:30 PM
- Concert Day – Saturday, August 15
- Dress Rehearsal: 2:00 PM
- Concert: 5:00 PM