Region/All-State
District Audition Music
Music to be auditioned at each level will be determined on Wednesday, July 17th. This page will be updated as soon as that rep has been finalized.
Region Audition Music
TBA
Pre-Area Audition Music
TBA
Area / All-State Audition Music
Amen from Requiem - Mozart (All Singers)
The Coolin from Reincarnations - Barber (All Singers)
I'll Never Study - Thomas (Women Only)
The Wall Breaks Asunder - Maglione (Men Only)
Ordering Region Music
JW Pepper
1-800-345-6296
2025 Texas All-State Large School Treble
2025 Texas All-State Large School Tenor Bass
* - Make SURE you buy the correct packet using the names above!! Purchase the Treble packet for girls, and Tenor Bass packet for boys. Also note the "Large School" designation.
Sightreading Practice
Sightreading is included at the Pre-Area and Area levels of the audition process. Singers will be given their tonic triad and starting pitch (but will not be told whether that pitch is Do, Mi, or Sol. They will have 30 seconds to practice and CAN practice out loud. After hearing the tonic triad and starting pitch once again they will have an opportunity to perform the exercise.
Sight Reading Criteria (from the TMEA website)
(last updated 6/3/2023)
Sightreading may be used at any level of audition but is mandatory at high school Pre-Area and Area auditions. The sightreading audition shall be 20% of the total score.
The sightreading exercise shall be written in one of the following key signatures: C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat or A-flat. There will be no modulations or altered tones.
The sightreading exercise shall be written in one of the following meter signatures: 2/4, 3/4 or 4/4, and approximately 8 measures in length.
The sightreading exercise may include the following rhythmic devices: half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, dotted quarter notes, dotted eighth notes, sixteenth notes, quarter rests, eighth rests, and simple syncopation.
The sightreading exercise will include a minimum of 30 notes.
For use in Sight Reading practice for the Pre-Area and Area auditions, these audio tracks are the OFFICIAL tracks that will be used on audition day. These can be used to prepare in advance. You will hear the tonic triad, starting pitch, 30 seconds of silence, and finally the tonic triad and starting pitch again.
Region Summer Camps
Every summer colleges and universities across Texas hold camps on their campus that last for several days. This is an excellent opportunity for students to get a major head start on learning their Region/State music. If students are considering attending a Texas university or college, this is also a great chance to visit the school and stay in the dorms to see if you like it! The fees can be somewhat steep, but remember that it covers the cost of rooming (usually 3 or 4 nights), all meals, typically a camp t-shirt, all activities and lessons with top directors from all over the state, and, in some cases, they will also purchase a music packet for you. Keep in mind that some of these camps fill up REALLY fast once registration is open!
Click to view Texas Summer Camp information
If you don't see a university camp listed and you are curious if they offer a choir camp, simply try a Google search for "[School Name] Choir Camp" and it will usually come up. Otherwise, search that school's music department website for information.
Below are a few camps that come highly recommended by your directors:
Houston Christian University Choir Camp (July 8th-11th)
$200 Fee includes music packet, t-shirt, lunch all four days, and a private 30 minute voice lesson (seniors only)
Fee raises to $250 if registering after May 31st
The directors teaching at this camp are some of the most sought after educators in the Houston area
Deer Park High School Choir Camp (June 24th-26th)
https://www.dpisd.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1567325&type=d&pREC_ID=1696130
$150 Fee includes a music packet, t-shirt, and lunch each day
Fee raises to $185 if registering after June 3rd
Clear Creek High School (July 30th-August 2nd)
$50 fee does NOT include music packet.
Cheapest by far, and it's local. Make sure to order music several weeks before the camp since they don't include it in the cost of the camp.
"What Is Region/All State?" - Audition Info & FAQ (Click Here!)
There is a competition series in the Fall Semester that we generally refer to at the "Region Process" or the "All-State Process."
This is a series of four auditions in which singers learn 3-4 pieces of music per round, and will compete against singers from Friendswood and other surrounding school districts. Upon advancing from one round to the next, with each round selecting a smaller number of singers, they learn 3-4 new pieces, and so on as they attempt to become a member of the Texas All-State Choir. The audition series looks like this:
District (Round 1)
In mid September
Top 48 in each voice part advance to the next round
Region (Round 2)
In mid October
Top 15 in each voice part advance to the next round
A Region Concert including all singers that have advanced this far will occur on Saturday, November 11th
There are also a mandatory rehearsals for this concert during the school day on November 9th, and during the day on Saturday, Nov. 11th.
Pre-Area (Round 3)
In late November or early December
Top 5 in each voice part advance to the next round
Area (Round 4) - also known as the "All-State" audition
In early January
Singers in the top 5 from our Region are combined with top 5's from three other Regions. These 20 singers per voice part compete for a spot in the All-State Choir. The top 9 boys and 11 girls at this round will be named as members of the All-State Choirs.
Note: Singers will have to perform their music for Mr. Tyer or Mrs. Smith in "sing-offs" prior to going to the audition. For District and Region, sing-offs will begin on Monday two weeks before the audition date, and for Pre-Area and Area this will occur one week out.
FAQ:
Q: Where can I find information on ordering the music for the Region process?
A: That information is all on the Choir Website under the Region/All-State tab. Make sure you order the Large School packet (Treble for girls, Tenor-Bass for boys)
If music has been ordered and hasn't come in, ask Mr. Tyer or Mrs. Smith for photocopies to use until real music arrives. (Keep in mind, singers can be disqualified if auditioning using photocopies -- make sure you purchase the real copies)
Q: How do I know which songs are on each round?
A: That information is all on the Choir Website under the Region/All-State tab.
Q: How do I learn the music if it isn't being taught in class?
A: On the Choir Website under the Region/All-State tab, there is box at the top containing folders with practice recordings. Every song has a track with a professional singing their part with the piano track -- students can listen to these tracks to learn the songs. Please note: when they audition, they will sing with the piano track only (without a singer singing with them). These piano tracks can also be found on the choir website.
There are also summer camps offered at most major universities in Texas. Try a Google search (something like "Texas Tech Choir Camp") to see if there is a camp offered. You can also call the music department at the school to ask questions.
FHS also offers a 1 day workshop around the beginning of the school year to get a boost for District.
Q: Is there a fee?
A: Yes - $11. (There is actually a $20 fee for each singer. The booster club pays $9, and the student is responsible for $11. This is to cut the student cost to encourage more singers to participate)
Q: How much should I be practicing?
A: We generally encourage singers to practice on their audition music for about an hour each day.
Q: Do singers need to memorize their music?
A: No. Singers are able to use their music when they audition.
Q: What if I don't think I'm talented enough to make the Region/All-State Choir? Should I still try?
A: ABSOLUTELY!! Even if you don't make the choir, you get to experience some great music, and will grow as a musician. Each time we go, we set a bar that we want to beat the next time we try. If it is your FIRST time, there are no expectations -- do your best, and set the bar to beat for your next time out.
THIS IS IMPORTANT: Mr. Tyer and Mrs. Smith are NEVER disappointed in our students when they are not as successful as they would like to be. We are proud of them for putting forth the effort to try! The only thing that disappoints us is when singers commit and then don't put forth the effort to succeed. We just want everyone to TRY!
Q: Is it too late for me to start now?
A: The deadline to be registered is the Saturday two weeks before the District audition date. Mr. Tyer will usually register everyone several days before this date, but that is the hard deadline. Many of our singers have attended summer camps, and have been working on this music for many weeks. While it isn't impossible to begin only two weeks before the audition, it would require outstanding dedication, and focused practice to catch up. On most years, jumping in immediately after Meet & Greet is not too late, but, as mentioned above, singers will need to put in a lot of focued practice to catch up. Don't be discouraged - just work hard!!