Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

All-State Honors Orchestra 2023-24

Announcing the 2023-24 Middle School All-State Orchestra

Dear Parents of 7th and 8th Graders of MSBOA Member Schools,

Seventh and eighth grade students from all over Michigan are invited to audition for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) All-State Middle School Orchestra, which will rehearse and perform at the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids, Jan. 25-27, 2024. A gala concert on Saturday, January 27th concludes the event. We encourage every student who is interested in an advanced ensemble experience to audition.

Members of the All-State Orchestra will be selected through recorded auditions from throughout the entire state of Michigan. Selected musicians will rehearse with some of the finest conductors in the country, and it is a distinct honor and accomplishment for students to be selected. This year’s All-State Middle School Orchestra conductor will be announced at a later time.

Registration and Audition: The registration form must be filled out no later than 3:00 PM on September 26. The information provided will be processed and registered with MSBOA after which you will be sent a payment link to the email provided, which must be paid in a timely fashion. Auditions for Ann Arbor and the surrounding area will be at Saline High School on Oct. 21 & 22. Registered students will be assigned an audition time by October 11 which will be posted on the MSBOA website. The audition will consist of specified scales, the prepared music, and sight reading. Click the Audition Requirement’s link above for detailed information and excerpts.

Fees: The audition fee is $15.00. If selected, the participation fee is $80. Housing arrangements, transportation and expenses in Grand Rapids are the responsibility of those selected students. All fees and acceptance documents must be submitted to MSBOA no later than December 1, 2023.

The Audition & Acceptance: Each student will perform one or two prepared excerpts, a series of scales, and will sight read a short musical example. After Thanksgiving break, Ms. Alwin will be sent the list of accepted students. You will need to fill out the acceptance forms and pay your participation fee as soon as you have been notified of your acceptance (due by December 1, 2023).

All-State Weekend: Students will rehearse Thursday starting in the late morning, all day Friday, and Saturday morning, January 25-27, 2024. The concert will be presented Saturday Jan. 27, 2024. All rehearsals and the performance will be in the DeVos Place Convention Center as a part of the Michigan Music Conference (MMC) and will be open to registered convention attendees. In addition, the students selected for this honor will have access to the conference including exhibits and concerts. Housing arrangements and expenses will be up to the families of the selected students.