Application and Auditions

Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra 2024

The Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra is aimed at advanced instrumental students between the ages of 18 and 24 with an interest in historically informed performance. (Exceptional players outside of the age range will be considered.)

We are delighted to announce the details of the Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra Performance Course for 2024.

  • IYBO Performance Course | 15 – 20 July 2024 | This course will be a performance course held in Dublin with concerts on Friday, 19 July in Waterford City Hall in association with Waterford Symphony Club and on Saturday, 20 July in Dublin Castle as part of the Irish Baroque Orchestra’s HandelFest (TBC).
  • To be confirmed: Cultural exchange trip to Higashikawa & Tokyo, Japan in early September 2024 (dates TBC but approx. 10 days including travel). A selection of participants from IYBO 2024 may be invited to give a performance in Japan this autumn, subject to funding. Therefore, we recommend that you keep early September free in your diaries and indicate if you are available or unavailable when applying. There may be a fee for participating in this opportunity which we will confirm before applications close.

Applications for the IYBO Performance Course & exchange are now closed.

Please note: There will be an online course “Introduction to Historical Performance” which will take place from 6 – 7 July 2024. We strongly encourage players who apply for the performance course and have not previously taken part in any Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra activities to take part in this online course.
Players may apply for the online course only if they wish. Please apply here for the online course.

Note: A video submission is required to apply for the IYBO Performance Course. Please see further information below.

For more details on both courses, please see here.

Course Information for IYBO Performance Course

  • IYBO 2024 will be held in Wesley House, Leeson Park, Dublin from Monday, 15th July – Saturday, 20th July 2024.
  • The fee for participation in the summer course will be €250.
  • The course is non-residential. However, limited accommodation is available at Wesley House for which there will be a charge of €150 to subsidise the overall cost of staying.
  • IYBO will provide daytime meals to participants.
  • Extra-curricular activities may be arranged on some days after the course.
  • All participants will perform on period instruments provided by the IBO, IAYO and other partners if possible.
  • Prior experience of historically informed performance practice is not a prerequisite for taking part in IYBO.

Application Information for IYBO Performance Course

  • Application to the IYBO Performance Course is open to players of violin, viola, cello, double bass, harpsichord, flutes, oboes, recorder, bassoon, natural trumpets, natural horns and timpani.
  • Please note: Ideally we are looking for oboists or flautists who can play the recorder as well, as the recorder player is only needed for two movements.
  • Entry to the IYBO Performance Course is by application form and audition video submission of two contrasting pieces. Audition videos must be included with the application as described below.
  • Places will be offered on the basis of information provided in the application form, on video submissions and also, potentially, on communication with teachers.
  • The IYBO is open to instrumentalists between the ages of 18 and 24. Exceptional players outside the age-range may also be considered.
  • Players should have at least a grade 8 or equivalent playing standard.
  • The IYBO is open to players living and studying in the 32 counties of Ireland and those with Irish citizenship living or studying abroad. A small number of foreign / guest players may be invited to create balance and make links with orchestras, education programmes and teaching institutions internationally.
  • Please note: There will be an online course “Introduction to Historical Performance” which will take place from 6 – 7 July 2024. We strongly encourage players who apply for the performance course and have not previously taken part in any Irish Youth Baroque Orchestra activities to take part in this online course.
  • To be confirmed: Cultural exchange trip to Higashikawa & Tokyo, Japan from in early September 2024 for approximately 10 days (dates TBC). A selection of participants from IYBO 2024 may be invited to give a performance in Japan this autumn, subject to funding. Therefore, we recommend that you keep September free in your diaries and indicate if you are available or unavailable when applying. There may be a fee for participating in this opportunity which we will confirm before applications close.

Audition Videos | IYBO Performance Course

  • Auditions for the IYBO Performance Course will be by submission of a video of two contrasting pieces. Video links must be submitted with the application form.
  • Please provide a link to your audition video. YouTube or Vimeo work best. If you use another video sharing service, please make sure it does not require extra software downloads.
  • Please do not submit video files by email.
  • For continuo, one movement from a baroque sonata or suite will be provided to applicants up to four weeks before the submission date of the video. This movement will have a solo part and an unfigured bass in order to test the applicant’s ability to work out harmonies. Continuo players must accompany another instrumentalist. NB: Harpsichordists must perform the prescribed piece. You can find this piece along with instructions through the following link. Please contact info@iayo.ie for more details.
  • For players of all other instruments, please play two contrasting movements in total, each by a different composer. One composer must be from the Baroque period. The other movement can be from the Baroque or Classical periods. Some examples of suggested repertoire are:
    • Unaccompanied Bach sonatas / partitas / suites
    • Solo Telemann Fantasias
    • Corelli Violin Sonata
    • Geminiani Cello Sonata
    • Mozart Violin Concerto
    • Telemann Viola Concerto
    • Biber, Schmelzer, Castello sonatas
  • String, flute and recorder players may audition on modern instruments. It is preferable for oboe and bassoon players to audition on baroque instruments. It is preferable for horn and trumpet players to audition on natural horns and trumpets. Please note: Successful natural horn and trumpet applicants must have access to their own period instrument.
  • NB: Successful natural horn and natural trumpet applicants will receive an additional 5 lessons with a specialised tutor in advance of the course in addition to the course itself. These lessons will be covered by IYBO and there will be no additional cost to the applicant.
  • If you wish to perform your audition video on a period instrument or with a period bow, please do so. However, it is recommended that you perform on the instrument you are most comfortable with. Prior experience of historically informed performance practice is not a prerequisite for taking part in IYBO.

Video Format and Quality

Please note that it is the quality of playing that we are interested in rather than the quality of the recording. A video recorded on a smartphone or tablet will be perfectly suitable.

YouTube or Vimeo work best. If you use another video sharing service, please make sure it does not require extra software downloads. The video(s) need not be public – you can upload it as an unlisted video if you wish. This video will not be made public by us and will solely be used for the purpose of your audition.

If you have difficulty with uploading to YouTube or Vimeo, please contact the IAYO office at info@iayo.ie or 021-4215185 / 086-0570062.

Application deadline is Friday, 23 February 2024.

Apply here.