Young Artist Auditions

The 71^st Annual Young Artist Auditions will be held on Sunday, March 15^th, 2026. Applications are now open. Apply by January 31, 2026.

The Young Artist Auditions are open to all high school students in grades 10 through 12, who reside or study music in one of these New York State counties: Monroe, Cayuga, Chemung, Genesee, Livingston, Onondaga, Orleans, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Tomkins, Wayne, Wyoming, or Yates.

Auditions are scheduled after all applications are received, based on the number of contestants and the availability of space, judges, and accompanists.

Candidates will be notified of the time and room location of their first-round auditions in mid-February. Candidates need to be sure to arrive in plenty of time to register and find their audition rooms. The audition schedule is precise and cannot allow for late arrivals. First-round auditions usually begin at 8:00am and end by 1:00pm.

Final-round auditions for winners and runners-up are arranged after the last morning session is completed. Final-round auditions usually begin at 12 noon and end after the announcement of the winners, by 4:00pm. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled warm-up time.

Candidates need to be completely flexible on the audition date. You should make no other plans for the day that would require you to be elsewhere.

Candidates are assigned to a dedicated warm-up space for 15 minutes prior to their auditions. A YAA volunteer will be available to guide you to and from warm-up and audition rooms. If you choose not to warm up in your assigned space, you are responsible for being at your audition location at least five minutes before your scheduled audition time.

The winners of the three instrumental and two vocal award categories will be announced at the end of each audition set, usually between 11:30 and 1:00. Scholarship and Grand Prize winners will be announced at the end of the final round of the competition.