How to be a Member

Orchestra Fees: In addition to the $20.00 audition fee, there is a programme fee for full members. Each regular member pays a $725 registration fee, alternates pay $365. These fees contribute in part to the season costs of auditions, music purchase or rental, instruction by professional musicians, and other operational expenses. Member fees account for only about 10% of the total operating cost of NBYO with the balance coming from generous donors, concert ticket sales, CD sales, and other sources. Note that there could be additional fees charged for essential materials.

Financial Aid: Each year the NBYO foundation offers bursaries to players with financial need. If you are not able to afford the fees associated with playing in NBYO, please contact Allain Arseneau at a.arseneau@nbyo-ojnb.com / (506) 588-7312 for an application form and submit it no later than August 15th 2023.

Since NBYO members are from various areas of New Brunswick, the NBYO gathers in various centres around New Brunswick, including, but not limited to, Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, Bathurst, Edmundston... etc.

The NBYO season consists of the following :

• NBYO Camp Week: 5 days of rehearsal in late August or early September
• Rehearsal/Concert Weekends: Rehearsals are Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday morning. Concerts are typically Sundays at 2:00pm (except Moncton Rehearsal/Concert Weekend is typically Saturday at 7:00pm) Rehearsal/Concert Weekends are held once per month from September - March, except December. 
• Day Rehearsals: Scheduled on 2-3 Saturdays between the regularly scheduled weekends.

Depending on where you are traveling from, you may be required to miss class time of the Friday on Rehearsal/Concert weekends. We recommend that you clear these absences with your school as early as possible. 

Once you have been accepted to NBYO, you become an essential part of NBYO, where every member’s participation is important. We expect you to honour your commitment to us, and to make NBYO your first priority. Orchestra members are automatically excused from rehearsal and/or concerts in the case of illness or family emergancy only. For all other cases, please consult with your orchestra manager as soon as possible. Please plan your year accordingly to avoid scheduling conflicts with other activities. We encourage you to advise your other directors, teachers and coaches of the details of your NBYO schedule, at the beginning of the school year.

The Music Director reserves the right to accept or refuse your request to be absent from rehearsals and concerts. If you are unable to attend rehearsals at a particular weekend, you will not usually be permitted to play that weekend’s concert. In any case, absence should be a rare exception; frequent, persistent or unexcused absences will usually result in your being asked to leave the orchestra.

Our regular season ends in March, as we are sensitive to the fact that music festivals and university exams occur in April and May, when your availability might be compromised.

All NBYO members are expected to attend all rehearsal and concert weekends and are to be fully prepared by having practiced their parts in the repertoire in advance of the weekend. The repertoire is often very demanding; you must schedule individual practice time between rehearsals. The Music Director and faculty will supply practice tips to enhance and improve your experience.

In addition, you are expected to continue your commitment to playing in your music ensemble(s) in your region during the season, which remains essential to your development.

All other questions can be directed to orchestra manager Claire Leslie-Turnbull, cleslieturnbull@nbyo-ojnb.com & (506) 229-4918.