Dates and Locations Expand Applications Monday 8 January 2024 - Applications open Friday 1 March 2024 - Applications close, 11:59pm Applicants will be notified by Friday 15 March 2024 whether or not they are invited to the semi-finals. . Live Audition Dates Monday 8 April 2024 - Live semi-final auditions in Frankfurt. Thursday 11 April 2024 - Live semi-final auditions in London. Successful applicants will also need to be available on the day following their semi-final audition for a short spoken interview. Friday 16 May 2024 - Public Final Auditions, Wigmore Hall - London Selected artists may need to be available on the day following the final auditions for a photoshoot. . Still have questions? See our Audition FAQs
Eligibility Expand Instrumental Categories YCAT auditions are open to the following instruments: Strings Woodwind, Brass & Percussion Voice Solo Piano / Keyboard (includes Accordion) Ensemble 2-6 members; groups comprising singers and instrumentalists, and piano duos (one piano) are eligible to apply. Instrumental duos with piano (e.g. violin/piano, cello/piano etc.) and two piano duos are not eligible. Age Limit As of 16 May 2024, you must be: Instrumentalists - aged 28 or under Singers - aged 30 or under Ensembles - average age of 30 or under Management If you are currently, or have previously been, signed and received representation from local or international commercial management you are not eligible to apply. Education You have completed (or are enrolled in) a recognised course of study for your instrument/voice. Visas If you are not currently resident or studying in the UK, you must have the right to undertake regular paid performance work in the UK without the need for individual work visas/permits, and be eligible to visit and undertake performances in the UK via the Permitted Paid Engagements route. We regret that anyone currently holding a 'visa national' passport (and not currently holding a valid UK student visa) is ineligible to apply for YCAT. Please refer to this current list of UK government recognised visa national countries: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-visitor-visa-national-list If you are currently studying in the UK on a Student Visa, you can apply for YCAT, but must be able to guarantee that any paid work as result of YCAT does not contravene the visa obligations and requirements with the issuing institution. For those students in their final year of study (i.e. finishing their course of study in summer 2024), you must be applying for either the 2 year UK Graduate Route in 2024 in order to remain in UK (https://study-uk.britishcouncil.org/after-your-studies/post-study-work), or have confirmation of the UK Global Talent visa for the following five years (https://www.gov.uk/global-talent). Still have questions? See our Audition FAQs
How do I Apply Expand All applications must be submitted via the Muvac portal. You will first need to create a free account and then select the correct application form (specific to your discipline) to apply. We are unable to accept any applications sent directly to YCAT. The application form will be available on Muvac from Monday, 8th January 2024. If you're considering applying to audition in 2024, we strongly recommend you download our Audition Form preparation pack as a guide, prior to commencing your online application. Apply to audition Still have questions? See our Audition FAQs
Other information Expand Audition fee of £50 (inc. VAT) Applicants are responsible for their own travel and accommodation expenses. Soloists must provide their own pianists at every stage (including the public finals), make all rehearsal arrangements, and pay any fees Still have questions? See our Audition FAQs
Repertoire Requirements Expand Repertoire at all stages is free choice and should demonstrate a versatile, varied and curious musical personality. All applicants can repeat repertoire in each round. Please note, soloists must provide their own pianists at every stage (including the public finals), make all rehearsal arrangements, and pay any fees. . Preliminary Audition (video submission) 1 minute introductory video about why you are applying to YCAT 10 minutes of live, unedited performance/s The video must have been recorded after 1 January 2023 and can include both live concert and/or specifically recorded materials . Semi-Final Audition (Live performance) Repertoire from the preliminary round may be repeated in the semifinal and final rounds. At the live audition, you will choose your opening work, after which the panel will request excerpts from the remainder of the submitted programme. You may be asked to verbally introduce some of this repertoire as you would in various concert settings. Those invited to the live semi-final auditions will be asked to submit a repertoire list for the audition which adheres to the following time limits: Instrumentalists - 100 minutes Vocalists - 60 minutes (including at least three languages) Ensembles - 120 minutes (complete works only) . Final Audition (Public performance) Prepare 25 minutes of repertoire to be performed in a live performance at Wigmore Hall, London. This programme will be discussed at the interview following selection of finalists. (Note that you are not required to submit this programme at the point of application). . Still have questions? See our Audition FAQs