How to join the HHO

Membership in the orchestra is by audition. Auditions are held each September. This process provides an opportunity to University of Toronto students, staff and Hart House senior members to join the orchestra. The skill level required for membership varies from year to year, depending on the field of candidates. All candidates for orchestra membership, including returning member candidates, must audition every year. This ensures that new prospective members are given an opportunity to join the orchestra.

Open Rehearsals and Audition Signup

Drop-in open rehearsals will be held in early September to attract new candidates for membership. All students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members are invited to participate in open rehearsals. Auditions take place around mid to late September.

Auditions are now closed. Thank you to all who auditioned. Results will be posted by the morning of Tuesday, September 26. The first rehearsal will begin that evening at 8pm in The Great Hall, Hart House.

Important Dates

  • Open Rehearsals: Tuesdays, September 12 and 19, 2023 from 8pm to 9pm.
  • Auditions for Returning Members: Tuesdays, September 5, 12 and 19 from 7pm to 11pm. Signup will be announced by e-mail.
  • Auditions for New Members: Sunday, September 24 between 9am and 9pm. Signup will be announced in Open Rehearsals.
  • Audition Results will be announced by morning of Tuesday, September 26th. Regular rehearsals begin that evening at 8pm in the Great Hall.

Audition Requirements

Audition requirements for the upcoming 2023-24 season are online [ here ].

Membership Fees

Following a successful audition, membership in the HHO is official upon the receipt of membership fees. Please view the details regarding membership fees [ here ].

Membership Commitments

Members are expected to attend regular rehearsals which are held in the Hart House Tuesday evenings from 8:00 to 10:15pm. The orchestra performs three home concerts during the school year: A fall concert at the end of November, a winter concert in early February and a spring concert at the beginning of April. Traditionally the winter concert is reprised on a trip to a city in Ontario, Quebec or northeastern USA over a weekend in mid-February. In 2017, the HHO performed in Carnegie Hall, New York City. In 2019, the HHO performed in 3 cities in Germany. Extra rehearsals may take place on Sundays in the weeks leading up to a concert.