Registration is $10 per student through 12/10/25. After 12/10/25, registration is $20. Please read all tabs before you register.
ORCHESTRA DIRECTORS
Sponsoring directors must be a current member of NAfME/NCMEA
Sponsoring directors are responsible for checking that the students they register are eligible to audition. See Student Eligibility
Directors must complete a Director/Organization Registration Form in addition to registering their students. See Registration Links.
Directors are Responsible for communicating all details and requirements of the auditions and clinic to their students. Directors will receive student audition numbers and approximate audition times in the weeks before the auditions. The audition chair will not communicate directly with students or their families.
Directors sponsoring violin, viola, cello, or bass students are required to be present, in person, at Hough High School on January 17, 2026. Directors will be assigned to judge auditions, run scores, tabulate scores, and supervise students. See timeline for the day below:
8:00 - 8:40 AM - Director's check-in at registration table and distribute name tags to their students OR leave tags in cafeteria to be distributed when students arrive. Students report straight to cafeteria to warm up. Parents wait in the hallway or cafeteria.
8:45 - 9:15 AM - Mandatory Director's meeting - paperwork for judging will be distributed. All Directors attend this meeting.
9:30 AM - Auditions begin
10:30 AM - The absolute latest a student should arrive to auditions. If your students are traveling separately to auditions, have them arrive before 10:30 AM.
Auditions are over when all present students have auditioned
Late registrations are permitted on audition day. The sponsoring director must register the student and bring the $20 fee per student (cash, cashiers check, booster check, or school check made out to NCMEA) to the registration table. Directors should also complete the director/organization registration form prior to audition day.
Complimentary lunch will be provided for all directors who order. A google form will be sent before auditions to collect lunch orders.
Orchestra directors may sponsor woodwind, brass, and percussion students from their school for the audition and/or the clinic if the students meet the Student Eligibility requirements.
Directors whose students are accepted and accept a spot in the clinic must attend the Western Regional Orchestra Clinic with their students, which will be held February 27 - 28 at Appalachian State University. The sponsoring Director is expected to attend the entire clinic with their students. Failure to participate fully as a director can disqualify your school and students from future participation. Exceptions can only be made for emergency or illness situations, in which case, a substitute director can be utilized as sponsor. Written requests for absences must be submitted to the event chair and State Orchestra Chair for approval at least 10 days prior to the event. The absence policy is in place for emergency situations only and does not cover concerts, gigs, vacation plans etc.
BAND DIRECTORS
Sponsoring Directors must be a current member of NAfME/NCMEA.
Directors must complete a Director/Organization Registration Form in addition to registering their students. See Registration Links.
Registration fee is $10 per student and registration fees postmarked after December 10th are $20. Late registration for band instruments closes January 7, 2026.
Orchestra directors may sponsor woodwind, brass, and percussion students from their school for the audition and/or the clinic if the students meet the Student Eligibility requirements.
Sponsoring Band Directors must be available to judge videos at their own pace between January 9-13, 2026. You will receive video links and instructions for judging audition videos. All scores will be due by 11:59 PM on January 13th. Judging should take between 1 - 2 hours or less depending on number of auditions per instrument.
Directors whose students are selected and accept a spot must attend the Western Regional Orchestra Clinic, which will be held February 27 - 28, 2026 at Appalachian State University. The sponsoring Band or Orchestra Director is expected to attend the entire clinic with their students. Failure to participate fully as a director can disqualify your school and students from future participation. Exceptions can only be made for emergency or illness situations, in which case, a substitute director can be utilized as sponsor. Written requests for absences must be submitted to the events chair and State Orchestra Chair for approval at least 10 days prior to the event. The absence policy is in place for emergency situations only and does not cover concerts, gigs, vacation plans etc.
Directors must submit a video for each auditioning student by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026. Videos must be submitted in the form of a google drive OR youtube link. Google drive sharing must be set so that "Anyone with the Link" can view. Youtube link visibility should be set to "unlisted." PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK to be sure that your file can be opened by someone outside of your organization before submitting. Videos that cannot be opened by those outside of your organization will not be viewed.
See instructions for filming video submissions here: Winds and Brass Video Instructions and Percussion Video Instructions a
PIANO
Sponsoring Directors must be a current member of NAfME/NCMEA.
Directors must complete a Director/Organization Registration Form in addition to registering their students. See Registration Links.
Registration fee is $10 per student and registration fees postmarked after December 10th are $20. Late registration for band instruments closes January 7, 2026.
Directors must submit a video for each auditioning student by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, January 7th, 2026. Videos must be submitted in the form of a google drive OR youtube link. Google drive sharing must be set so that "Anyone with the Link" can view. Youtube link visibility should be set to "unlisted." PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK to be sure that your file can be opened by someone outside of your organization before submitting. Videos that cannot be opened by those outside of your organization will not be viewed.
See instructions for filming video submissions here: Piano Video Instructions