Every Fall, the strongest players from areas including Waco, Temple, Belton, Killeen, and Bryan/ College Station, audition for the Texas Music Educators Association All-Region 8 Orchestras. Students earn chairs in the orchestras based on the extremely competitive audition. High school audition were High School auditions are Sept 30th at College Station HS, and Middle School auditions are Oct 7th at Harker Heights HS. Students that are placed in the ensembles will rehearsed and performed at Baylor University on December 9th.
Middle School auditions are October 7th at Harker Heights HS.
At the high school level, students have the option of auditioning for String Orchestra or Full Orchestra. The String Orchestra is slightly less competitive and Full Orchestra is highly competitive. The Full Orchestra audition is a part of the TMEA All-State audition process. High school audition were High School auditions are Sept 30th at College Station HS.
The TMEA All-State Orchestras features the best students across Texas. This is an extremely competitive and massive accomplishment. Students that wish the audition should start rigorous practice on the audition material starting May - private lessons are a must. Students that audition for the All-Region Full Orchestra qualify to audition for for All-State. Auditions will take place on Oct 28th at River Valley MS in Hewitt.
UIL Solo & Ensemble is an individual and small group contest for high schoolers only. Students will prepare a solo or ensemble (such as a trio or quartet) to play for a judge. Music selections must be made from the UIL Prescribed Music List (PML), which can be found on the UIL website. Students that perform a class 1 ensemble, or a class 1 solo from memory, and receive a superior rating, will advance to State Solo & Ensemble. UIL Solo & Ensemble will be on Jan 27th, 2024 at Harker Heights HS.
UIL State Solo & Ensemble is held at the University of Texas in Austin on Memorial Day weekend.
UIL Concert & Sight Reading is a large group contest. Orchestras will prepare three concert selections to play for a panel of judges. Orchestra will also be give a newly composed piece to perform with only 7-10 minutes of instruction/rehearsal. Music selections must be made from the UIL Prescribed Music List (PML), which can be found on the UIL website. UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest will be held on Feb 29th (location TBA).
BISD Solo & Ensemble is an individual and small group contest, much UIL Solo & Ensemble, except students in 6-12th grade may participate. Students will prepare a solo or ensemble (such as a trio or quartet) to play for a judge. BISD Solo & Ensemble will be on April 13th, 2024 at Belton HS.
Mandatory for all students, this audition will count as a major test grade and will be used in determining placement in Chamber or Concert Orchestras. This will take place during the 4th quarter of the year. PDFs of audition material can be downloaded below starting on Jan 1st, 2024.
Visit the private lessons page for more information!