Carnegie Hall

Apprenticeship Opportunities

Orchestra Library Apprentice

Orchestra librarians have the important role of preparing all of the music a symphony orchestra uses in rehearsal and performance. This includes researching available editions, ensuring the material is as accurate as possible and marked consistently for all players and conductors, and preparing parts so that bowings are in sync. NYO-USA’s orchestra library apprentice will receive first-hand experience working alongside NYO-USA’s principal orchestra librarian during the orchestra’s residency and tour. The apprentice will also explore this little-known profession through meetings and conversations arranged by NYO-USA with leaders in the field. The interest and background of the apprentice will help shape the experience in order to introduce aspects of the field that are of special relevance.

The successful candidate for this apprenticeship will have a strong interest in printed music, the ability to read full scores, and strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Orchestra Management Apprentice

This apprenticeship is an opportunity to work alongside NYO-USA’s orchestra personnel manager and other artistic and administrative staff to learn about the planning and execution of an orchestra’s activities in rehearsals and the successful presentation of concerts. Orchestra personnel managers are musicians who serve as the key liaison between and among conductors, players, and other administrative personnel. The apprentice will assist with seating assignments and rotation, rehearsal orders and timings, backstage logistics, and preparation of venues for rehearsals and concerts. He or she will also have a window into the larger planning of an orchestra tour, particularly from the perspective of ensuring that the artistic needs of the musicians are addressed as fully as possible.

The successful candidate will have experience as a member of instrumental ensembles, a general familiarity with orchestral music, and excellent communication and organizational abilities.

Apprentice Composers

One of the goals of the apprenticeship will be to give the composers experience with orchestration and writing for larger forces. These new pieces will be workshopped, rehearsed, and recorded during NYO-USA’s residency. Apprentice composers will have the opportunity to meet and learn from a number of guest composers during the residency, and to work on additional music with input from their peers in the orchestra.

Celebrated American composer Sean Shepherd—who wrote Magiya for NYO-USA’s inaugural season in 2013—serves as the composition program director and mentor to the apprentices. He has earned acclaim for his “fantastic gift for orchestral color” (The New York Times). His music has been commissioned and performed by the BBC, Chicago, and National symphony orchestras; Minnesota and New World symphonies; Orchestre symphonique de Montréal; and leading European ensembles; as well as at the music festivals of Aldeburgh, Heidelberg, La Jolla, Lucerne, Santa Fe, Aspen, Grand Teton, and Tanglewood. Shepherd is the 2024 recipient of the Charles Ives Living Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Timeline

• September 5, 2024: Application opens
• December 3, 2024: Application deadline
• December 16, 2024: Recommendation deadline
• February 6, 2025: Applicants notified of status via email
• July 5–August 8, 2025: Program dates

Application Requirements

• Video Essay: Please record your answer to one of the questions below. This is an opportunity for you to share your personality and interests, or a side of yourself that may not be evident from other elements of the application. There is no right or wrong answer to any of the prompts. A minute or two is a good length for many applicants, but shorter or longer videos are welcome. While we understand that not everyone may be comfortable speaking to a camera, our best advice is “be yourself.”
  • What is a non-musical interest or activity that you are passionate about and why?
  • If you could choose any composer to write a concerto for you, whom would it be and why?
  • What is your favorite non-musical creative work (book, painting, poem, movie, etc.) and why does it speak to you?
• Personal Essay: Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your experiences as a musician/composer and any educational or family background you may wish to share. Please also describe how participating in an NYO-USA apprenticeship would help you advance your personal or artistic goals. Suggested length is 200–300 words, though shorter or longer submissions will be accepted.
• Recommendations: You will be asked to enter email addresses for two required references; a third is optional. Each reference will receive a link to an online recommendation form after you submit your completed application. Please note that this email will be sent directly from Acceptd (not Carnegie Hall or NYO-USA). Your references will have until December 16, 2024, to complete and submit their confidential recommendations. References who can address both your personal and musical qualities, such as your music teacher(s) and/or ensemble conductor(s), are preferred.
• Score Requirement (Composition Apprenticeship applicants only): Apprentice composer applicants are also required to submit two original scores (PDF files only) for any size of ensemble. If possible, please include a piece that shows some experience with varied instrumentation and orchestration. You may also upload video and/or audio recordings of your music if available, but candidates will be judged on their written scores—there is no expectation that recordings will be submitted.

Eligibility

Citizenship: NYO-USA is open to US citizens or permanent residents (green card holders) from all backgrounds.

Age Limit: You must be between the ages of 16 and 19 during the summer of your participation. For 2025, this means your birthdate must be between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2009, without exception. Please note that if you are under 18 at the time that you apply, the consent of your parent or guardian is required.

Grade Level: Participation in NYO-USA is limited to high school students within the age range above. You must be enrolled in high school or the equivalent level of homeschooling during the 2024–2025 academic year to be eligible for the 2025 NYO-USA program. Gap-year students who graduated from high school in 2024 (or earlier) are not eligible.

Travel Arrangements

Invited students and their parent/guardian(s) are expected to arrange air or ground transportation to attend the NYO-USA program, traveling to/from Purchase, NY on designated arrival and departure dates. (If applicable based on the tour flight itinerary, the option to depart from NYO-USA via an airport outside of New York may be provided.) Each student must also arrange to have a valid passport by the deadline provided for visa and other travel requirements. Assistance to cover these travel costs is available in cases of financial need, and information about how to apply for a travel award will be provided to accepted applicants.

All other travel associated with participation in NYO-USA, including international and domestic flights between tour cities, airport transfers, sightseeing excursions, and all other ground transportation (including any activities during the residency period taking place outside of the Purchase College campus) is arranged and paid for by Carnegie Hall.

Accessibility

Carnegie Hall and its national youth ensembles are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities. NYO-USA welcomes qualified applicants with disabilities, whether or not they need reasonable accommodations. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs reasonable accommodations to complete this application, or if you have questions regarding reasonable accommodations, please contact nyo-usa@carnegiehall.org.