Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association

2026-27 Middle School All-State Orchestra

Registration Form Due September 25 

Audition Requirements posted on the MSBOA.org

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, January 21-23, 2027.  A gala concert on Saturday January 23rd 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.  

Registration and Audition:  The registration form must be filled out no later than 3:00 PM on September 25. 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.  Registered students will be assigned an audition time by October 14 which will be posted on the MSBOA website.  Auditions for Ann Arbor and the surrounding area will be at Saline High School on Oct. 24 & 25.  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 $100 . 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, 2026.

The Audition & Acceptance: Each student will perform one or two prepared excerpts (provided), 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, 2026).

All-State Weekend:  Students will rehearse Thursday starting in the late morning, all day Friday, and Saturday morning, January 21-23, 2027.  The concert will be presented Saturday Jan. 23, 2027.  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.

MSBOA All-State 

Timeline 2026-2027

(for Clague Orchestras)

September 8, 2026 

• All-State audition requirements and information posted on the MSBOA website and sent to the membership

• September 8, 2026 All-State audition registration opens using https://audition.opusevent.com/Pages/EventSelect

September 25, 2026 DEADLINE for All-State registrations ($15 per registration)

October 14, 2026 All-State audition schedule posted on the MSBOA website

October 24&25, 2026 All-State auditions take place at Saline HS

November 2026 All-State audition results posted on the MSBOA website (Specific

date TBD)

December 1, 2026 DEADLINE for All-State Student Acceptance and fee paid (please

remember that the participation fee was raised to $100 for this year)

December 14, 2026 All-State music and registration materials will be mailed to students

January 21, 2027 All-State on-site registration followed by rehearsals: DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI

January 22, 2027 All-State rehearsals: DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI

January 23, 2027 All-State concerts: DeVos Place (Performance Hall) and the

Amway Grand (Ambassador Ballroom)