HOW TO JOIN
An inclusive environment to promote education and
creativity among students of all ages and skill levels
AUDITIONS
2026-2027 Registration and Audition Deadlines
Open: April 13, 2026 – June 4, 2026
Registration and auditions for the 2026-2027 season are currently open through June 4, 2026.
HOW TO AUDITION
To audition for the 2026-2027 season all students MUST complete the following steps:
Auditions are not required for beginners – see "Beginning Ensembles" below.
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- Complete your registration for SDYS and pay the non-refundable registration fee by June 1. Register Here!
- Review and prepare all audition requirements listed by instrument below.
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- This includes scales, solo, and excerpts. NO piano accompaniment.
- Specific repertoire for each instrument can be found in the Audition Requirements by Instrument section below.
- It is recommended that you review the repertoire requirements with your private or school music teacher.
- Intermediate and advanced students may apply for leadership by submitting an extra video answering a specific prompt
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- Complete your audition according to the steps in our Step by Step Audition Submission Guide by June 4.
- Results will be sent out July 3. Results will not be given over the phone.
Be sure to review all details, requirements, and deadlines for your registration, and contact the SDYS team with any questions: auditions@keynote-music.org, 619.233.3232 extension 4.
Beginning Ensembles
No auditions are required for beginning ensembles - simply complete your registration for SDYS and
pay the non-refundable registration fee.
2026-2027 Audition Requirements by Instrument
All auditions are currently OPEN.
TUITION ASSISTANCE & SCHOLARSHIPS
SDYS offers tuition assistance so that all families can allow their children to experience the joy of music.
We are strongly committed to our financial aid program and the principle that financial need should not be a barrier to entering our programs.
NEED-BASED ASSISTANCE
SDYS is committed to making quality music education programs accessible and affordable to any young person who wants to participate. In support of this goal, the Encore Fund has been established to provide tuition assistance. Please submit your application early to ensure that it is considered, as funds are limited.
To apply for need-based tuition assistance, please complete the Tuition Assistance Application (PDF and online version found below) and submit this form with the approved supporting documentation (see Part D). Please email support@keynote-music.org or call at 619-233-3232 x 4 with any questions. All information will be kept confidential and only used for the purposes of determining eligibility for tuition assistance.
SDYS requires supporting documents in order to receive tuition assistance for the 2026-2027 season. Please use this helpful info sheet (English & Spanish) to decide which documents are available to you, and how to find them.
Please note: Tuition assistance is not available for the registration fee.
TUITION ASSISTANCE APPLICATION FORMS
SCHOLARSHIPS
SDYS is proud to honor students’ character and citizenship by awarding seven scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to selected students across SDYS who embody the qualities that SDYS hopes to instill in our students. They are open to students in good standing who have completed at least one full season at SDYS.
FAQS
- This is done in two steps:
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- Complete your registration for SDYS by June 1. REGISTER HERE!
- Upload audition materials by June 4. AUDITION SUBMISSION GUIDE
*Beginner Level students, complete Step 1 ONLY. You are not required to submit a video.
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- Musicians aged 7 to 18 at all levels are eligible to audition. Students with little to no experience do not need to audition (see question below).
- SDYS Age Chart
- Students with no playing experience are eligible for Beginning Strings, Beginning Woodwinds, Beginning Brass or Beginning Percussion. No audition is necessary for beginning groups. Students with a year or less of experience may choose to audition for Debut Strings or Debut Winds.
- Refer to the Audition Requirements and consult with your private lessons teacher to determine the ensemble that best suits your skill level. If you do not have a private teacher, please feel free to contact us at support@keynote-music.org.
- When auditioning, students audition for SDYS in general, not a specific ensemble. Based on the student’s age and performance, our Artistic Staff place them in the appropriate ensemble. Placement decisions are final.
- SDYS Ensemble Age/Progression Chart
- Tuition depends on which ensemble you place into, and it may change from year to year.
- SDYS Tuition Chart
- Please visit our website to view rehearsal information and schedules.
- 26-27 Musician Handbook (English/Spanish)
- 25-26 Season Calendars
- SDYS will no longer offer students the option to join mid-year. All students, including marching band students, are expected to join in the fall. Please review our Ensembles Page and updated rehearsal schedules, which take marching band student schedules into consideration.
- Audition results will be emailed out by July 3. Audition results will not be given over the phone.
- Yes, SDYS offers Tuition Assistance. We believe that financial need should not be a barrier to entering our program.
- Families with financial need are encouraged to apply and can demonstrate eligibility for support by submitting the tuition assistance application along with supporting documents. Funds are limited, so place apply as soon as applications open. Access the tuition assistance application in Spanish here.
- To learn more and apply, please visit our website here.
START YOUR
AUDITION PROCESS
Learn more about auditioning, explore frequently asked questions, and review opportunities for financial support.
