SarahPlaysHorn

I'm a 15 yr old serious horn player, I'm planning on going to a conservatory and hopefully going into horn performance. How selective is BUTI YAO? Is it do-able for a "serious sopmore horn player"?

thumper1

Hi Sarah and welcome. The only way to know is to audition. The YAO is comprised of high school students. There is also the YAWE (Wind ensemble)...and it needs horns too!

Good luck to you. Our son went there for two summers and LOVED it.

binx

Hi Sarah! Thumper is right - only way to know is to audition. The whole high school program is made up of kids just like you -students who are serious about their instrument and wanting to pursue it at a deeper level.

While you're at it, though, take a look at Kendall Betts Horn Camp. Kendall Betts Horn Camp My S spent several summers at KBHC. Fabulous teaching, networking, etc. He went on to major in horn performance at Juilliard, and is now finishing up his masters there. KBHC gave his a really good start.

He also spent this past summer at TMC - the college version of Tanglewood. He did not go to Tanglewood as an undergrad, though. Just wasn't on our radar then. (team_mom's son has attended several summers as a HS hornist - she's not on here much anymore, but I know her S really enjoyed it.)

violadad

sarah, you may also want to peruse the thread here Music Festival Master List for additional options.

Even for a "serious" player, it doesn't hurt to have your bases covered.

Good luck.

thumper1

Eastern Music Festival also has high school students...worth checking out...DS loved that one too. There are both high school and college aged students at that one.

BassDad

As others have said, the only way to know is to try. BUTI YAO does not take all that many horns (they tend toward large sections so it may be one or two more than a typical orchestra,) so the competition is going to be tough. I believe BUTI has a separate wind ensemble that takes more horns than the orchestra and they also have a 2-week French Horn workshop that takes place before YAO which takes a fair number, so look into those as well.

One tough thing about BUTI is that you do not find out until early April whether or not you have been accepted. That is past the application deadline for most summer programs and the better ones tend to fill quickly, so you may want to apply to another program as a backup. (Hopefully one without a large application fee.)

musicprnt

A friend of our son's went there several years on the horn, and though he was in Juilliard's pre college program starting Sophomore yet (to give an idea of his level) he didn't make it into BUTI until his senior year (he did the wind ensemble program and maybe the chamber, not sure). From everything we have been told by others who have gone to the program, the same thing is true across the board, there is that much competition.

SarahPlaysHorn

ok, thank you for all your suggestions, help and answers!