All Bismarck Orchestra students have an opportunity to earn a Letter each year for orchestra (a lyre pin, then with yearly pins starting the first year you Letter) by meeting the requirements listed below:
I have: auditioned for All-State Orchestra this school year.
I have: participated in WDA Music Festival, and State Music Festival (if selected).
I have: attended 1 community or school music event EACH semester (at the HS level or above)
I have: participated in *1* or more "extras" this school year: 2 or more hours of private lessons, a recital performance on my instrument, Strolling Strings/Youth Symphony/Bismarck Mandan Symphony Orchestra, or High School Orchestra Festival
I have: remained through the year a member in good standing based on the following: eligibility, maintained a 3.5 grade average in orchestra at all times, displaying appropriate behavior in orchestra at all times (cooperation, integrity, effort), and no unexcused absences from concerts, festivals, or classes
Students who want to obtain a Varsity Letter are responsible for collecting and submitting materials needed for their award through Google Classroom. Final decisions will be made by the orchestra director. We abide by the same policies as the North Dakota High School Activities Association, so please remember that violations concerning grades, attendance, chemical and tobacco use, and harassment can affect your application.
This sight-reading festival (kids have never seen the music before), is an opportunity to rehearse and perform at an excellent level within 24 hours with a great guest conductor. This festival is open to all 9-12th grade students from across the state of North Dakota, so you will get to meet new people from all over the state and work with an excellent conductor and clinician. Directors reserve a bus and chaperone students at this event. Students will be responsible for paying for the hotel room and bringing $$ for lunches.
UND Honors Festival - January 20-22, 2023
UND Honors Orchestra is a statewide, live-auditioned ensemble that takes place at UND in Grand Forks. There is no audition fee. UND is for grades 10-12, but if you are passionate about auditioning and you are a freshman, please visit with me. Directors reserve a bus and chaperone students at this event. I do recommend auditioning - it is a great experience!
Before your audition, please remember to wear/put on professional attire, which includes dress slacks, dress shirt/blouse, tasteful skirt or dress. If you wouldn’t wear it to a business interview, please don’t wear it to your audition.
Here are the requirements:
One (1) excerpt from appropriate solo literature and/or etudes that will exhibit both lyrical playing and technical proficiency (approximately three minutes in length total for this repertoire).
One (1), 2-octaves or more major OR minor scale (students may choose the style and tempo).
Selected students need to reserve January 20-22nd for the festival which takes place in Grand Forks, ND. Directors reserve a bus and chaperone students at this event. Students are responsible for paying for hotel stay and bringing $$ for meals.
All-State Music Festival - March 23-25, 2023 - Bismarck Event Center
ND All-State is a distinguished, auditioned, music festival grades 9-12. All-State is held in Bismarck every year, so students are responsible for their own transportation and meals; directors will be onsite should students need assistance. This festival requires auditionees to live-audition in front of a judge with the following:
Prepare one (1) solo piece, approx. 1 minute in length
Prepare the required 3-octave scale at marked tempo
Prepare the required excerpt at marked tempo
Anticipate that there will be a difficult sight-reading excerpt following the requirements
Teachers note: You will generally find better success utilizing weekly private lessons for your audition as the material is very advanced.
The cost to audition is $16. Make checks payable to Bismarck High School. Before your audition, please remember to wear/put on professional attire, which includes dress slacks, dress shirt/blouse, tasteful skirt or dress. If you wouldn’t wear it to a business interview, please don’t wear it to your audition.
If you plan to audition, fill in this form by October 30th and pay $16. If you want to Letter in Orchestra, auditioning for All-State is a requirement.
If you have any questions about the information I shared, or would like to know more before answering these questions, please talk to me after class.
The NDHSAA-sponsored WDA Music Festival is an annual event for any high school orchestra student who wishes to participate. Students will prepare and perform solo and/or chamber music for a judge who will listen and offer praise and constructive feedback to encourage growth in musicianship. If not in Bismarck, directors reserve a bus and chaperone students at this event. The format of WDA Strings Festival is a one-and-done, where students can receive a WDA, and State, star rating based on their performance. Participation in WDA is voluntary for Concert Orchestra students and mandatory for Chamber Orchestra students.
Auditions for Chamber Orchestra will be open to current freshman through junior students at Bismarck High School. The requirements for auditions will be the exact same as those for All-State auditions (see above), so it is highly recommended that students take some supplementary lessons to prepare for the audition.