Honors Chamber Ensembles
Honors Chamber Ensembles
Applications Are Open
EYSO’s Honors Chamber Ensembles (HCE) offer advanced high school and college-aged musicians the opportunity to perform chamber music at the highest artistic level.
As premier honors ensembles within the Chamber Music Institute (CMI), HCE musicians collaborate closely with distinguished professional artist-educators and chamber music coaches while representing the highest level of chamber music achievement at EYSO.
Current Honors Chamber Ensembles:
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Maud Powell String Quartet (Violin, Viola, Cello)
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Hanson String Quartet (Violin, Viola, Cello)
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Sterling Brass Quintet (Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba)
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Earl Clemens Wind Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon)
These advanced ensembles serve as ambassadors of both CMI and EYSO, maintaining active, high-profile performance schedules that include mainstage concerts, community engagements, and special events.
Participation is designed for students ready to engage in a rigorous, collaborative, and pre-professional chamber music environment.
Audition for An Honors Chamber Ensemble
Ready to take your chamber music experience to the highest level?
Apply to audition for EYSO’s Honors Chamber Ensembles and join a community of dedicated, advanced musicians committed to collaboration, artistry, and performance excellence.
Audition Info
Step 1 — Youth Symphony Eligibility
If you are not already a Youth Symphony member, complete the
Youth Symphony audition application.
(Students who have already applied for the upcoming season do not need to reapply.)
Step 2 — HCE Application
All applicants must complete the dedicated Honors Chamber Ensemble Application.
The application includes:
• Summer and school-year schedule review
• Short essay responses
• Optional résumé
• Optional reference letter
Estimated completion time: 30–60 minutes. Applicants are encouraged to draft longer responses offline before submitting.
Application Deadline: Sunday, June 7 at 11:59 PM
Audition Dates: June 9 & 11, 2026
Auditions include:
• Same playing requirements as Youth Symphony auditions
• Brief interview component
Audition times are scheduled after application submission.
Ensembles are formed through a comprehensive evaluation of musicianship, preparation, artistic maturity, and collaborative readiness.
Schedule
Because chamber music depends on consistency and collaboration, students should expect a meaningful weekly commitment in addition to their Youth Symphony responsibilities.
Weekly Components
Students participate in three core components each week:
• Self-led Rehearsals — Ensembles rehearse weekly to prepare repertoire, refine ensemble communication, and implement coaching feedback.
• Coachings — Each ensemble receives a weekly coaching on Sundays with their primary coach (or a guest coach around once a month), focusing on interpretation, rehearsal technique, and professional chamber music practices
• Individual Practice & Preparation — Members are expected to arrive fully prepared, having thoroughly learned and refined their parts in advance.
Additional Commitments
• Youth Symphony weekly rehearsals
• Dress rehearsals prior to concerts
• Fall Camp participation
• Chamber Music Institute concerts
• Ambassador and community performances
Detailed calendars are provided prior to the start of the season.
Community Engagement
& Donor Events
Community Engagement Events
Honors Chamber Ensembles perform at select community events throughout the season, bringing chamber music into intimate and meaningful spaces. These performances may include outreach concerts, educational collaborations, and special appearances designed to share the impact of EYSO beyond the concert hall.
Through these events, students develop confidence, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of music’s role in strengthening community connection.
Donor & Sponsor Recognition Events
As premier ensembles within EYSO, HCE groups are occasionally invited to perform at donor and sponsor recognition events. These performances celebrate the individuals and organizations whose generosity makes tuition-free chamber music training possible.
Students gain valuable experience performing in professional settings while representing EYSO’s highest artistic standards.
Tuition Information
All Honors Chamber Ensembles are tuition-free.
Through the generosity of dedicated sponsors, EYSO is able to provide this advanced chamber music training without additional cost to participating students.
Accepted musicians receive:
• Weekly professional coaching
• Performance opportunities
• Ambassador engagements
• Program resources and ensemble materials
• Mentorship from leading professional musicians
This sponsorship model ensures that financial barriers do not limit access to high-level chamber music training.
