All State Audition Information

Purpose

GMEA organizes and carries out the All-State performance program in order to allow the selected students an opportunity to work with other students of equal caliber under the direction of highly qualified conductors. Each student auditions on a statewide basis and is selected on merit when judged by professionals against all other applicants across the state. Selection to All-State is recognition of excellence in musical knowledge, technique, and interpretation.

FIRST AUDITION

In order for a student to be eligible to participate, two (2) components of the regional audition must be completed: Scales/Solo and Sight Reading. Students should be prepared to audition first on EITHER the scales and solo components (Component 1) OR the sight-reading component (Component 2). Students will be assigned a room when they arrive for the audition.

COMPONENT 1

I. Scales (To Top)

Students will sing a Major, Natural Minor, and Chromatic scale (a cappella) using the appropriate starting pitch as listed on the All-State Chorus Information page of the GMEA website. Judges adjudicating scales and solo will assess each scale for accuracy, ascending and descending. This component will comprise a potential 6 points of the overall audition. The rubric for assessing scales can be seen on the All-State Chorus Information page of the GMEA website.

II. Solos (To Top)

Students will sing the appropriate required song from memory for their level in the key for which they have registered in Opus. See the Chorus Division Webpage link for All-State Chorus Information to view and download the pdf copy of the appropriate level solo as well as the “Learning and Accompaniment” mp3 files. Solos must be sung in the appropriate key for the part they have registered. Students will not need to bring any materials to the audition. Accompaniment tracks will be provided at each solo adjudication panel. Failing to comply with the audition song requirements will result in disqualification.

The adjudication panel will rate singers on intonation/pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, vocal tone quality, diction, breath control/phrasing, and dynamics/appropriate style. The rubric can be viewed on the All-State Chorus Information page of the GMEA website. This component will comprise a potential 30 points of the overall audition.

COMPONENT 2

III. Sight-Reading (To Top)

Students will sing three (3) different 4-measure sight-reading examples using the method with which they are accustomed. Before each example, students will hear the block chord in the appropriate tonality, the arpeggio of the block chord, and the starting pitch before being given a 30-second practice period during which students can sing out loud without being scored. At the end of each 30-second practice period, students will hear the block chord and starting pitch again before performing each example. A rest will be performed silently.

Students will receive credit for each half measure sung with correct pitches and rhythms. They will receive bonus points for each example for maintaining intonation and a relatively steady tempo throughout the performance. The rubric used to score sight-reading may be seen on the Chorus Division Webpage link for All-State Chorus Information. This component will comprise a potential 30 points of the overall audition.

If a student begins a sight-reading example on a pitch other than the one given by the judge, BUT sings intervallic relationships and rhythms correctly throughout the example, credit for the remaining half measures will not be affected. If a student changes tonality midway through a sight-reading example, BUT sings intervallic relationships and rhythms correctly throughout the rest of the example, credit for all subsequent measures beyond the half measure where the tonality change occurred will not be affected.

SECOND AUDITION

The second All-State chorus audition will be on the music for the choir to which the student has been assigned. The student will be scored on correct pitches and rhythms only, and NOT on language. The student may choose to sing the language of the piece or sing on a neutral syllable.

The student will sing an excerpt from each piece on the program. Students are not allowed to bring their music into the audition room. Music marked with the excerpts will be provided for the audition.

A student must attain a passing score of 70 on the second audition to attend the All-State Chorus event. Students scoring 100 will receive a gold seal on their certificate.

The scoring formula is based on the number of measures included in the audition and the number of correct measures the student sings. The student can miss all pitches and all rhythms in one measure and that will be counted as one measure missed or one mistake. The number of measures can vary between 75 and 120 per choir.

REGISTRATION FEES

All-State Chorus Application: $25

All-State Chorus Acceptance Form: $20