Fall Auditions
The fall festival includes the following ensembles: MS Chorus, MS Jazz Band, HS A Capella Choir, and HS Concert Band. The audition process for the middle school students will be different than that of high school students. Please see ensemble-specific guidelines below and register your students using the 2024-25 Festival Registration Form (Coming Soon). Here is the Invoice form for Directors.
Ensemble-Specific Guidelines
MS Chorus (updated as of August 2024)
On Thursday, October 10 at 6:00 PM, MS Chorus and MS Jazz Band teachers will have a selection meeting via Zoom.
6th graders are able to participate
Teachers will recommend students.
MS Jazz Band (updated August 2024)
On Thursday, October 10 at 6:00 PM, MS Chorus and MS Jazz Band teachers will have a selection meeting via Zoom.
6th graders are welcome.
Teachers will recommend students.
All instruments are now welcome.
HS A Cappella Choir (updated Sept. 2024)
Teachers will audition their students at their schools using the HS A Cappella Ballot. All ballots are due to the manager Julie Ackerman-Hovis (jackerman-hovis@wsesdvt.org) by Tuesday, October 8. Once the results of the auditions are released, teachers will have one week to complete the appropriate registration for the festival for accepted students.
When auditioning, teachers should choose the following scales for the following voices: Soprano- F major, Alto- D major, Tenor- E major, Bass- B major
If a school is unable to form a complete SATB students should audition with the recorded tracks with the missing parts only being played. Example: a soprano and bass are auditioning, use the track with just alto and tenor for the audition.
Students audition on selections from a 4 year rotation
There is no sight reading component for the A Cappella Audition
HS Concert Band (August 2024)
See audition information and dates below (#s 3 and 4).
Please note: HS Band will be done by audio recording. See the piece repetition. In addition to the piece, students will play 2 major scales.
1. Students wishing to play in the district high school concert band will submit recorded auditions using the selections designated for the 2024-25 school year. This includes:
a. The appropriate solo for your instrument.
b. Selected Scales and Rudiments for auditions: Fall 24 Scales and Rudiments
Two major scales selected by the judge and the chromatic scale designated on the district scales sheet. Snare drummers will play rudiments in place of scales. Timpanists will play sticking exercises. The rudiments and scales will be selected from the options by the judges by September 23rd.
i. Snare Drum Rudiments will be selected from the following:
Flam Rudiments: Flam Tap, Flam Accent, Flam
Diddle Rudiments: Paradiddle, Double Paradiddle, Paradiddle Diddle
Ruff/Drag Rudiments: Single Ratamacue, Double Ratamacue
Roll Rudiments: 5 Stroke Roll, 7 Stroke Roll
Drum rudiment performance examples (audio files) are available on the website of The Percussive Arts Society.
2. Auditions must be submitted by the student's teacher. It is the responsibility of the teacher to verify that the student in the recording is the student the submission is for.
3. All recordings must be submitted in the Google Form by Monday, September 30th: HS Concert Band Submission Form
4. Judges will send scores to the manager (James Pecsok) by Tuesday, October 8. Once the results of the auditions are released, teachers will have one week to complete the appropriate registration for the festival for accepted students.
Judges include:
Flute/Piccolo: Danielle St. Amand
Saxophones: Stan Rumrill
Brass - Rene Bernard
Bass - Steve Cady
Percussion/Clarinets/Double Reeds - James Pecsok