AUDITIONS

Registration/Preparation
  • Each student must be a 6th, 7th, or 8th grader enrolled in a band class at a WCPSS middle school.  The student’s director will ensure an auditioning student is registered in a band class and will be in compliance with New Essential Standards.
  • All participating students must complete a WCPSS field trip permission form for auditions. 
  • The auditions chair will activate the registration form on the Wake County Bands Website to all WCPSS middle school band directors at least one month prior to the date of auditions.
  • Included in the registration process, there must be one parent volunteer for every five students auditioning from each school. If parent volunteers are not received then the students from that school will not be allowed to audition. 
  • A $5.00 audition fee is required for each student. Students may only audition on one instrument.  Instructions for fee collection will be sent out by the auditions chair.  Students are not allowed to audition on more than one instrument.  Payment is due before the start of auditions by the director before the start of auditions.
  • Students who are not registered by their band director prior to the pre-registration deadline will not be allowed to audition.
  • Note that directors who have auditioning students are required to adjudicate during the auditions.
  • Scale Requirements: Students will only play four of the major scales, in addition to the chromatic.  These scales are divided into an “A” list and a “B” list. There is a 2-minute time limit to perform four major scales and chromatic, in that order.  When time runs out, the student stops playing, and a score of zero is entered for any unfinished scales. 
  • Audition solos are the same as those of the East Central District Bandmasters Association.  These solos can be trimmed to smaller excerpts by the auditions chair.  Cuts will be communicated via the website. 
  • Students will receive 30 seconds to look over the sight reading excerpt. Students are NOT allowed to play during the thirty seconds. Playing during the thirty seconds will result in an automatic 0. The judge will announce when it is time to play the excerpt.  

Student Check-In
  • Students should arrive at their designated audition group arrival time to check in.
  • Students will be handed an audition ticket at the check-in table
  • After check-in, students should report to the warm-up area and wait for their audition numbers to be called.
  • Students who arrive after their audition group has finished the check-in process will not be allowed to check in late or audition.

Adjudication
  • When called to the audition rooms, the student should present their audition ticket (with audition number) to the door monitor.
  • The door monitor should announce the student as they enters the audition room.  (“This is clarinet number six.”)
  • Auditions are considered “blind”, with the exception of string bass and percussion.  Adjudicators should be facing away from the auditioning students.  If students have questions, they should ask the door monitor, not the judge. Likewise, adjudicators should refrain from conversation with students, other than giving basic directions.

CLINIC
  • All participating students must complete a WCPSS field trip permission form for the clinic.
  • All participating students must complete a student contract for the clinic.
  • There will be a clinic fee of $10.00.  Optional fee of $5.00 if students would like to purchase lunch on Friday.
  • All directors with participating students must be on-site for the duration of the clinic.
  • The  clinic schedule will run as follows:
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DAY ONE
3:00pm-3:20pm Registration
3:30pm-7:00pm Rehearsals (breaks determined by clinicians and clinic chair)

DAY TWO
8:45am-9:00am Arrival and warm up
9:00am-12:00pm Rehearsals (breaks determined by clinicians and clinic chair)
12:00pm-12:45pm Lunch (on-site)
12:15pm-3:30pm Rehearsals (breaks determined by clinicians and clinic chair)
3:30pm All students picked up from clinic site
3:30pm-6:15pm Dinner (off-site & change into concert clothes)
6:15pm Arrive for concert
7:00pm Concert

Concert attire will consist of dark dress shoes, dark socks (or neutral hose), dark pants or skirt, and a white dress shirt with a tie (Boys Only) or blouse.