Youth Orchestra

The Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra is an audition-only group of young musicians that offers students a fun and educational musical environment, where a strong emphasis is placed on artistic excellence and personal growth. In addition to working with gifted professional conductors and musicians, Youth Orchestra members can enjoy the enrichment and challenge of performing with their serious and dedicated peers. 

We present several concerts each year, as well as a Gala. Our Spring concert features the winner of the annual Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition.

Rehearsals are held on Sunday afternoons from 2–5pm at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. Our season runs from August through May.

  • Showcase Gala—Sunday, March 9, 4pm
    Center for Visual & Performing Arts, Munster
    REGISTER

    Bring-a-Buddy Day—March 16, 2–5pm
    Center for Visual & Performing Arts, Munster

    Director’s Day for Band and Orchestra Teachers—March 16, 2:30–5pm
    Center for Visual & Performing Arts, Munster

    Spring Concert—Sunday, May 4, 4pm
    Indiana University Northwest Auditorium

  • May 19 & 20, 1–6pm

  • ELIGIBILITY (Including Home Schooled Students)

    Play an orchestral instrument (Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion)

    Take private lessons

    Enroll in a curricular school/district instrumental music program (where available). If no school program is available, applicant must be taking regular private lessons.

    Age/Grade
    String Players: Students between 8th grade–age 22 during the academic year.

    Winds, Brass, Percussion: Students between 9th grade–age 22 during the academic year.

    REHEARSAL SCHEDULE

    Weekly rehearsals on Sundays, 2–5pm, from August through May held at the Center for Visual & Performing Arts (CVPA), 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, IN 46321.

    AUDITION REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL INSTRUMENTS

    Scales through 4 flats and sharps (major) with arpeggios:

    • one or two octaves for winds and brass

    • two octaves for string bass

    • three octaves strongly preferred for violin, viola and cello

    4 minutes of contrasting material from student's repertoire (Solo or Etude)

    Excerpts for your specific instrument listed on the Youth Orchestra Web Page

    Sight Reading

    Failure to comply with any criteria above may result in dismissal from the audition. Auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length.

    No decision will be made without Director or private teacher recommendation.

  • Tuition is $450 per year payable at the first rehearsal or $250 for the spring semester only. A fundraising component is required. Applications for partial scholarships are available and are due by the third Sunday in September (applications for the spring semester only are due upon acceptance into the orchestra).

    Audition fee is $25.

  • Fill out an application. Have your director or teacher complete it and have your custodial parent sign it.

    Mail it or bring it to your audition.

    SIGN UP for an Audition—HERE

    Bring your music: the required selections and your solo piece.

    REQUIRED MUSIC SELECTIONS—HERE

  • BENJAMIN NADEL, CONDUCTOR

    Benjamin Nadel is a classically trained conductor, pianist, and violinist based in the Chicago area. From 2016–2024 he was the Associate Conductor and Orchestra Librarian for the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra. He has held those same two positions at the New Philharmonic since 2016. In addition, he has been the Orchestra Director at North Central College since 2017 and the Northwest Indiana Symphony Youth Orchestra since 2022. Fall of 2024 marks his first season as Music Director for the Youth Symphony of DuPage.

    From 2011–2015 Nadel spent his summers with the Midwest Institute of Opera, as the assistant conductor to Maestro Joshua Greene of the Metropolitan Opera. While there, he conducted productions of Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, and Carmen in addition to assisting and coaching productions of Die Zauberflöte and La Cenerentola.

    Nadel began his conducting studies with Dr. Glenn Block at Illinois State University while completing his undergraduate degree in Music Education. He then went on to receive his MA in Orchestral Conducting at the University of Iowa with Dr. William LaRue Jones. He has participated in several summer music festivals, including a program with Cincinnati Conservatory as a part of the summer music festival in Spoleto, Italy.

    Aside from his work as a professional conductor, Nadel has a strong connection and personal interest to music education. He believes that one of the most important aspects of being an artist is to pass along that experience and knowledge to the next generation of musicians. To that end, Nadel has worked with several high school ensembles in the Chicago area, including New Trier, Metea Valley, Glenbard West, Glenbard South, and Stevenson High School. His work has included side by side concerts with New Philharmonic. He has also led conducting workshops for the Opus Chamber Music camp, North Central College, and Illinois State University.

    Nadel is a current member of the International Conductor’s Guild (ICG), Major Orchestra Librarians Association (MOLA), and the Illinois Council of Orchestras (ICO).

Benjamin Nadel, Conductor

“It’s my goal to provide the students with outstanding experiences in music-making and to watch the students continue to grow and learn as individuals and artists.”
— Conductor Benjamin Nadel

Marilyn Stuckert, Manager