2015-16 season: audition requirements · 2016. 1. 6. · afa 2015-16 season | audition requirements...

2015-16 SEASON: AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS ………………………………………………2

Chamber Music Academy Composer Institute Houston Girls Chorus

SUMMER MUSIC CONSERVATORY

Choir ………………………...………………..…………….……………………3 High School Choir Middle School Choir Sing Out! Cabaret Workshop

Composition…...………………………………….……………….....…….……4 Piano…….…………………………………………………….………….....……4 Jr. Division (including AFA North) & Sr. Division String Orchestras (including AFA North)……….……………….…………...5 Wind & Brass Chamber Music………………………….………………...…...6 Symphony Orchestra Strings…………………..…………………………………………………5

Woodwinds & Brass……………...………………………………………6 Percussion & Harp………………..………………………………………7

Updated January, 2016

AFA 2015-16 Season | Audition Requirements 2

YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS CHAMBER MUSIC ACADEMY

• One Major Scale • One Solo piece (etude, concerto, Suzuki material, etc.) • Applicants will complete a short sight-reading exercise

COMPOSER INSTITUTE

Composers may be asked to submit printed and/or recorded examples of their work and/or to meet with faculty before being accepted to the program.

HOUSTON GIRLS CHORUS

No prepared material is required. Applicants will be lead through the following in the audition:

• Vocal Exercises/Warm Ups • Pitch Memory Exercises • Solfége Exercises • Sightreading

Questions about auditions should be directed to Amanda Heathco [email protected] or (713) 522-9699


SUMMER MUSIC CONSERVATORY HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR • Two solos from the art song, operetta, music theatre or opera repertory,

preferably in contrasting styles. The Prescribed Music List for UIL Solo and Ensemble may be used as a guide for examples of appropriate choices. Pop songs (R&B, Country, etc.) are not appropriate for this audition

• The applicant must provide accompaniment on the day of the audition (see note below)

• Pitch memory exercises and sight reading (given at audition) MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR • One solo from the art song, operetta, music theatre or opera repertory.

The Prescribed Music List for UIL Solo and Ensemble may be used as a guide for examples of appropriate choices. Pop songs (R&B, Country, etc.) are not appropriate for this audition.

• The applicant must provide accompaniment on the day of the audition (see note below)

• Pitch memory exercises and sight reading (given at audition) SING OUT! CABARET WORKSHOP See High School Choir

VOCALISTS PLEASE NOTE: AFA staff pianists will accompany auditions held on Saturdays ONLY; Applicants auditioning at Regional Auditions during the week must provide a CD accompaniment or bring their own accompanist with prior approval. A cappella (without accompaniment) auditions are not permitted.

Questions about auditions should be directed to Amanda Heathco

[email protected] or (713) 522-9699


SUMMER MUSIC CONSERVATORY COMPOSITION • Applicants must submit a portfolio of original compositions at the time

of application, including printed scores and recordings if available (MIDI realizations are acceptable). Adjudicators will review your materials before your audition date. Auditions will not be scheduled until a portfolio is received. Please be sure to retain copies of all materials submitted. Recordings may be submitted on CD or via email.

• Submit materials by email to [email protected], or mail to: AFA

1718A Lubbock Street Houston, TX 77007

PIANO: Junior (Including AFA North) & Senior • Two works in contrasting styles and characters (applicants may choose

excerpts from longer pieces); Total playing time should not exceed 8 minutes. These pieces should demonstrate your current skill level.

• Sight-reading (given when you check in to your audition) to be played after a short practice period.

• A two-hand, four-octave major scale of your choice (in a key other than C, G, or F major) and a two-hand, two-octave chromatic scale.

Questions about auditions should be directed to Amanda Heathco

[email protected] or (713) 522-9699


SUMMER MUSIC CONSERVATORY STRING ORCHESTRAS

• Two solo works in contrasting styles; these may be a movement from a sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice. Your music choices should demonstrate current shifting ability. All-Region audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable, as are pieces from method books (i.e. Suzuki). Please prepare no more than 1 – 11/2 pages of music for each piece.

• Scales should be prepared from the scale sheet provided by AFA; scale sheets will be emailed along with your audition date and time

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Strings • Two solo works in contrasting styles; these may be a movement from a

sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice. Please prepare no more than 1 – 11/2 pages of music from each piece. All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable.

• A two or three octave major scale of your choice and a one-octave chromatic scale. Major scales must demonstrate shifting.



SUMMER MUSIC CONSERVATORY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Woodwinds • Two solo works in contrasting styles; these may be a movement from a

sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice. Please prepare no more than 1 – 11/2 pages of music from each piece. All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable and encouraged for Wind & Brass Chamber Music applicants.

• A two or three octave major scale of your choice and a two or three octave chromatic scale (as appropriate for your instrument).

• Applicants who wish to audition on both flute/piccolo, oboe/English horn, or Bb/bass clarinet should prepare one piece for each instrument.

• Clarinetists who are proficient on either A, Eb or bass clarinet (in addition to Bb) should bring these instruments to the audition.

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Brass • Two solo works in contrasting styles; these may be a movement from a

sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice. Please prepare no more than 1 – 11/2 pages of music from each piece. All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable and encouraged for Wind & Brass Chamber Music applicants.

• A two or three octave major scale of your choice and a two or three octave chromatic scale (as appropriate for your instrument).

• Trumpets: If you have both Bb and C trumpets, prepare excerpts for each for your audition.

WIND & BRASS CHAMBER MUSIC See Symphony Orchestra



SUMMER MUSIC CONSERVATORY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Percussion Applicants should prepare as many of the following items as possible to demonstrate breadth and ability. • Timpani:

o One etude from: ! Goodman, Modern Method for Timpani ! Hochrainer, Etudes for Timpani ! Firth, Solo Timpani ! or a similar publication

• Snare Drum: o One Etude from:

! Goldenberg, Modern School for Snare Drum ! Cirnoe, Portraits in Rhythm ! Delecluse, Twelve Studies for Snare Drum ! or similar publication

• Mallets: o One etude from Goldenberg, Modern School of Xylophone,

Marimba or Vibraphone o An arrangement of Bach, Handel or Haydn or similar material.

• All-Region/All-State audition music and UIL Solo music is acceptable. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Harp • Two solo works in contrasting styles; these may be a movement from a

sonata or a concerto, or an etude of your choice. Please prepare no more than 1 – 11/2 pages of music from each piece.

• A three-octave major scale of your choice.


2015-16 season: audition requirements · 2016. 1. 6. · afa 2015-16 season | audition requirements...

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