FOOSA PHILHARMONIC PROGRAM

Conductor, Thomas Loewenheim
Repertoire 2026: Richard Strauss An Alpine Symphony, Béla Bartók Miraculous Mandarin Suite

Auditions will open on the Acceptd Platform October 28th

Our FOOSA Philharmonic is a pre-professional orchestra that offers advanced musicians of graduate school, college, and high school age* the opportunity to perform alongside our exceptional faculty members.

*A select number of exceptionally advanced younger pre-college students may be offered spots in the FOOSA Philharmonic. Eligibility will be decided on the basis of submitted audition videos and teacher recommendations.

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Musicians accepted into this program enjoy…

  • Daily private lessons

  • Daily orchestra rehearsals and sectionals

  • Recital opportunities

  • Concerto competition

  • Professional orchestral recording session

  • Performances in Fresno and Los Angeles

Tuition and Fees

  • Audition fee: $75

  • Tuition: $1975

  • Dorm: $650

  • Total Tuition + audition = $2050

  • Total Tuition + registration + dorm = $2700

  • Non-refundable registration (if accepted): $250 (registration is applied toward tuition)

Audition & Application Information

Instrumentation

Instrumentation needs: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, clarinet/bass clarinet/e-flat clarinet, bassoon/contra, horn, trumpet, trombone/bass trombone, tuba, timpani, percussion, and harp. Rolling admissions will continue until we have filled all available positions.

We will make our selections based on applications received by March 18, 2026. If we need additional instrumentation, rolling admissions will continue until positions are filled.

Scholarships for college and graduate students. Please note that scholarship awards apply to tuition only. Dorm fees are not covered by scholarship and must be paid by the applicant.

Only college and graduate students, or college graduates, are eligible to apply for a limited number of FOOSA Philharmonic Scholarships. These special positions are designed for advanced players who demonstrate exceptional skill, provide strong recommendations, submit compelling audition videos, and express a genuine interest in teaching. All scholarship recipients are expected to “pay back” to the festival by mentoring younger musicians in the FOOSA Chamber Orchestra, assisting with the FOOSA Symphony, or performing assigned tasks such as stage support. To be considered for a merit scholarship, applicants must submit their materials—including a letter of recommendation from their major teacher or another authoritative source—by March 18, 2026.

Applications

All applicants must submit audition videos and information via Accceptd.

Click Below to start your application today.

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Audition videos

You will need to record a video in which you perform whatever is listed on our audition requirements page as required for your instrument.  No professional videography is needed. A video recorded with a smartphone or computer will be good enough. Accompaniment is acceptable on solos but by no means required.

*Those who play doubling instruments will also find instructions for those instruments. If you have any trouble uploading videos or have additional questions, just contact us at cmarchese@yoofresno.org.

Tuition Assistance

Please be reminded of the following information:

If you meet the March 18, 2026 application deadline and submit a completed Tuition Assistance Form along with all required additional materials, you may be eligible for need-based tuition assistance. Do not submit a partially completed form or a form without the accompanying materials, as incomplete applications cannot be accepted. Please submit tuition assistance forms only after you have been accepted into the program. All tuition forms must be submitted by April 4, 2026. Please note that tuition assistance does not cover the cost of dorm fees (if applicable).

Tuition Assistance Form

    • The deadline this year is March 18th for FOOSA Philharmonic and FOOSA Symphony.

    • Notifications of acceptance will go out by March 27th

    • All applications for tuition assistance must be submitted by April 4th

    • Registration accompanied by a non-refundable $250 deposit must be submitted by April 18th.

    • May 15th Tuition payments in full

    • A limited number of scholarships are available. Requests must be accompanied by a teacher recommendation.

    • The deadline this year is March 18th for FOOSA Philharmonic and FOOSA Symphony.

    • Notifications of acceptance will go out by March 27th

    • All applications for tuition assistance must be submitted by April 4th

    • Registration accompanied by a non-refundable $250 deposit must be submitted by April 18th.

    • May 15th Tuition payments in full

    • A limited number of scholarships are available. Requests must be accompanied by a teacher recommendation.

FAQs for FOOSA Philharmonic