Registration for the 2024-2025 school year opens May 1st! Check back soon for more information on how to register your student.
Registration
DCYOP accepts any student age 4.5 – 18 at any skill level.
No Previous Experience
Beginner Classes
Age Requirements
We often get the question of “what is the right age to start a particular instrument?” DCYOP has developed age parameters to help guide parents in determining what is the best age to start an instrument.
Show minimum age requirements
InstrumentMinimum Age
Violin4.5
Viola4.5
Cello6
Bass10
Flute8
Clarinet8
Oboe8
Bassoon8
Saxophone8
Recorder5
Trumpet8
Trombone8
French Horn8
Tuba10
Percussion8
Harp7
Previous Experience
Have experience studying the musical instrument you would like to play at DCYOP? Sign up for an in-person audition or send us a video audition so we can place you with the best orchestra for your current level.
Tuition
Tuition covers lessons/sectionals, rehearsals, concerts, evaluations and master classes. DCYOP subsidizes tuition for all students to make its programs accessible for every family.
We also offer sliding scale tuition for qualifying families, payment plans, and scholarship experiences for advanced students.
Level A & Continuing Level A
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$720/year*
Wind Ensemble / Young Artists Orchestra / Repertory Orchestra
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$860/year*
Debut Orchestra / Premiere Winds / Concertino / Sinfonia
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$790/year*
Youth Philharmonic / Youth Orchestra
SY 2024-2025 Full Year Cost
$920/year + $100* Concert and Activities Fee
*Tuition shown above is full price. DCYOP is committed to accessibility for all. Tuition assistance is offered on a sliding scale for qualifying families. For more information visit our tuition assistance page.
Assistance and scholarships
Tuition covers lessons/sectionals, rehearsals, concerts, evaluations and master classes. While the average cost per student is $1400 per year, DCYOP subsidizes tuition for all students to make its programs affordable and accessible. We offer additional financial assistance to all students on a sliding scale and a scholarship experience for intermediate and advanced students.
Audition information
Join us for the 2024-2025 season! Auditions for all ten DCYOP ensembles will be held on two consecutive Saturday, August 17th and August 24th. All auditions will take place in person at Takoma Elementary School, located at 7010 Piney Branch Rd, NW in Washington, DC.
If you are interested in auditioning, please review the requirements below and submit the Audition Request Form. All students are welcome to join and will be placed into one of the ensembles.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the audition requirements, please contact the Artistic Director, Evan Ross Solomon, at evan@dcyop.org. For assistance with signing up for an audition, please reach out to the Director of Students and Family Engagement, Rashida Coleman, at rashida@dcyop.org.
Audition Requirements
Students interested in participating in DCYOP should prepare the following:
- Any piece of music that you are currently practicing either at school or with your teacher
- Two scales of your choice
For students interested in our advanced orchestras (Youth Orchestra and Youth Philharmonic), please prepare the following:
1
6 – 7 minutes of a solo work (concerto or sonata) or two contrasting works demonstrating your current ability
2
Two scales. You may pick between: all major scales and minor scales up to three flats and sharps (melodic form) for Youth Philharmonic; all major scales and minor scales up to four flats and sharps (melodic form) for Youth Orchestra. Scales should be memorized
- Strings – three octave scales performed slowly, one note per bow, and 4 notes per bow, legato (eighth notes at quarter note = 72)
- Winds – As many octaves as possible performed slurred and tongued (eighth notes at quarter note = 72)
Percussion students, please contact evan@dcyop.org for specific audition requirements.
FAQ
Where and when are rehearsals?
Takoma Elementary School, 7010 Piney Branch Rd. NW on Saturdays throughout the D.C. Public Schools calendar year.
What time will my child’s ensemble meet?
The timing of your child’s rehearsal depends on their level. In general, beginning classes and introductory and advanced ensembles meet in the morning and intermediate ensembles meet in the afternoon.
Do we need to live in D.C. in order to participate?
No! We accept students from the entire D.C. metropolitan area.
Is it too late to join?
We accept new students at the beginning of the fall semester in September and the spring semester in January. Registration stays open on a case-by-case basis for the first couple weeks of each semester.
Do you teach adults?
No
Do you teach guitar or piano?
No
