Registration opens 10/1/26
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 before 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 two weeks before the auditions. The audition chair will not communicate directly with students or their families.
Directors are responsible for submitting registration fees by the postmark date and mailing checks so that they arrive before auditions. Directors will receive audition numbers for their students only after payment has been received.
Directors sponsoring violin, viola, cello, or bass students are required to be present, in person, at Hough High School on January 16, 2027. 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
11:00 AM - The absolute latest a student should arrive to auditions. If your students are traveling separately to auditions, have them arrive before 11:00 AM.
Auditions are over when all present students have auditioned
Day-of student registrations are permitted on audition day until 9:00 am, but should only be used in unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances. Directors should aim to register students before December 9, 2026 if possible. For day-of registrations, bring the $20 fee per student (cash, cashiers check, booster check, or school check made out to NCMEA) to the registration table before 9:00 am. Directors should also complete the director/organization registration form prior to audition day. Directors who do not register themselves before the audition day will be assigned to a duty at registration.
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 19 - 20 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.
Directors are responsible for submitting all registration fees so that they arrive before January 8, 2027. Registration is $10 per student for checks postmarked by December 9, 2026 and registration fees postmarked after December 9, 2026 are $20. Late registration for piano closes January 6, 2027.
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 8 - 12, 2027. You will receive video links and instructions for judging audition videos. All scores will be due by 11:59 PM on January 12th. 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 19 - 20, 2027 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 6th, 2027. 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
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 9th are $20. Late registration for piano closes January 6, 2027. All audition registration fees must be postmarked by January 8th.
Directors must submit a video for each auditioning student by 11:59 PM on Wednesday, January 6th, 2027. 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