Music Opportunities for High School Students
Music opportunities for high schoolers split fairly cleanly into performance (youth ensembles, summer intensives, competitions judged by audition or recording) and composition (competitions and programs judged on original work). Almost all require some kind of audition or submission — recording a strong audition tape well before deadlines matters more here than in most other subjects.
Regional and community-level ensembles and competitions are worth taking seriously alongside the more famous national programs — they're less selective but still give real performance experience and, in many cases, actual public performance credit.
Real music opportunities right now
Common questions
Do I need a private teacher to apply to music programs?
It helps for audition preparation, but isn't always required — some programs specifically welcome self-taught or school-program-trained students.
Is composition different from performance opportunities?
Yes — performance opportunities judge you playing or singing (often live or via recording); composition opportunities judge original written work, submitted as a score or recording.
How far in advance should I prepare an audition tape?
Several weeks to a few months, depending on the piece's difficulty — leaving it until close to the deadline is one of the most common avoidable mistakes.