The Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras (SEMAYO) will be holding auditions for the 2019-2020 season on September 11 and September 12 during evening hours at UMass Dartmouth. 

The SEMAYO is made up of five ensembles, plus a chamber music program. Students are placed into the appropriate level ensemble by audition. All SEMAYO musicians must be members in good standing in their school instrumental music programs. New students wishing to join one of our ensembles, as well as current students looking to move up to the next highest ensemble, should email Jamie Wiksten, Program Coordinator, at jwiksten@nbsymphony.org to schedule an audition. Current students wishing to remain in the same ensemble they were in last year do not have to audition at this time.

The season runs from September to May and will begin on Saturday, September 14, for Poco Strings, Preparatory String Ensemble, and Debut Orchestra, and on Monday, September 16, for Repertory Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. There will be four scheduled concerts, including a side-by-side performance for Symphony Orchestra ensemble members with the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra at their December Holiday Pops concerts at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center. Other performance opportunities include chamber music performances at community events throughout the year, as well as performances at SEMAYO functions.

The Southeastern Massachusetts Youth Orchestras are the youth orchestras of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra. Their mission is to  bring together young musicians from across Southeastern Massachusetts to participate in an educational and artistic experience in a full orchestra setting. Membership is open to all students through age 21. Tuition and additional information is available on the website: www.semayo.org.