Youth Ensembles
Updated: Apr 11, 2019
Looking for a place to play outside of your school band for 2019/20? Check out these ensembles!

Auditions: none
Age: 8 +
Fees: $60/4 week term
Start date: new term starts every ~ 2 months
Community flute group open to all ages and experience levels. Music is arranged to be approachable to a wide range of players, who can choose to play in either the beginner or intermediate ensembles. More information can be found on the O'Neill Flute Studio website or by emailing novascotiaflute@gmail.com.
Nova Scotia Junior Wind Ensemble (NSJWE)
Auditions: via video March 5-April 30, 2019 Age: grade 6 - high school
Fees: $150 (some bursaries available)
Audition playing requirements:
One short challenging excerpts from a method book or band music of your choice. (30-50 measures)
Concert Bb, Eb, and F Major scales as well as the Bb Chromatic Scale, in two octaves where possible (from memory)
Nova Scotia Youth Wind Ensemble (NSYWE)
Auditions: via video by May 17, 2019
Age: mostly grade 10 and up, special exceptions may be made for dedicated students
Fees: $300 (some bursaries and family rates available)
Audition playing requirements: posted on the website when auditions are open.
Auditions: via video, deadline May 31st
Age: 12 - 26
Fees: $550 (some bursaries available)
Start date: August/September 2019
Audition playing requirements: listed here (scales, solo, study, orchestral excerpts)
Halifax Regional Arts (Music West: Halifax Region)
Growing out of the HRCE music programs, the regional arts programs are designed to provide extra challenges to students who want to be more involved in music.
Auditions: contact Nathan Beeler for dates
Age: mainly high school, younger dedicated students also accepted
Rehearsals: Thursdays 4:30-6:30 at the Music Centre (Oxford School, Halifax)
Audition playing requirements: contact Nathan Beeler
St. Margaret's Bay Honour Band
Ages: students in grade 7-12 from HRCE schools
Levels: up to grade 10 band repertoire
Rehearsals: Thursdays 6:30-8:00 at Five Bridges Junior High School
More info, contact Ken MacKay
Halifax Regional Arts (Music East: Dartmouth Region)
Growing out of the HRCE music programs, the regional arts programs are designed to provide extra challenges to students who want to be more involved in music.
Junior & Intermediate Concert Band
Auditions: none
Ages: open to all students enrolled in HRCE school bands
Auditions: in person in Dartmouth in June
Age: high school
Audition playing requirements: sight-reading, scales and solo piece, details are listed here and here
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Halifax Regional Arts Music (West) (Oxford School)
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
If you are in your first year of band, talk to your music teacher about coming to the Beginner Honour Band. The music will be Grade 1 band level and each attendee will also attend an individual instrumental clinic during the day.
Looking for scholarships to help you as you learn? There are some in the community available to students of all ages, and many to help if you're going on to study music at university. Check out our list here!
Do you have a Nova Scotian ensemble that is open to student musicians? Email your details to novascotiaflute@gmail.com.
All information is up to date at the time of publishing, but confirm details with individual ensemble directors.
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