The Black Hills Youth Orchestra features students in grades four through twelve in public, private, and home schools throughout the Black Hills region and beyond. Details on ensembles and audition information can be found here.

 

To remain eligible for the BHYO, students must participate in a large ensemble within the instrumental music program at their school. This school ensemble must support the instrument the student plays in the BHYO. If a music program within the student's school cannot support the student on their BHYO instrument, a student may participate in the instrumental program on a secondary instrument or on their BHYO instrument at another school. If a student is unable to fulfill this requirement at their school or another school nearby, the requirement of participation in a school ensemble may be waived at the discretion of the Music Director.​ The eligibility requirement for participation may be waived for one semester during a student's high school career. This would normally be due to an academic graduation requirement conflict or a conflict caused by an academic course sequence. Students must provide proof from their school counselor that they are not able to be in any instrumental music class because of schedule conflict.