Several honor band audition opportunities will be offered during the year! Eighth grade students will work on the material in class in the Honors Audition Project, and motivated seventh grade band students are strongly encouraged to audition as well.  The Honor Band opportunities are:

SCDBA ALL-REGION HONOR BAND

Click HERE to register for auditions

The Region 3 Band is selected by audition from band students throughout northern and mid South Carolina.

Springfield 7th and 8th Grade students may audition. If a student places high enough at the All-Region Band auditions, they will be eligible to audition for the SC All-State Honor Band.

Auditions times are assigned by the SCBDA and will be sent out two weeks prior to auditions.

AUDITION: January 10th, 2026 @ Blythewood High School

CLINIC: February 27th - 28th, 2026 @ Nation Ford High School

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Audition Fee: There is a $15.00 fee for the audition that must be paid through the FMSD Online Fee Payment Portal (Click here). Registration will not be completed until the confirmation letter is returned. Search for fee "Region Band Audition Fee," add to cart and finalize payment.

Scales: Scales are to be played from memory in order as they appear on the sheet. Scale requirements can be found here.

Terms: Students will define 5 terms in a multiple choice format. Students will be responsible for knowing the terms linked here.

Solo: Each student will play their selected solo through the “region ending” (the "A" ending) for region band auditions. If a student is registered to audition for battery/mallet percussion, they will need to perform BOTH the snare and mallet solos. If they are registered for timpani, the student only needs to play the timpani solo. Students should see a band director if they need a copy of the solo.

Sight Reading: Students will perform 2 sight reading excerpts. Students will be given 30 seconds to study each sight reading selection. Sight reading guidelines can be found here.

Additional information about audition requirements can be found on the SCBDA website. Middle school students audition and perform in the junior division. Springfield Middle School is part of SCBDA Region 3.

SCDBA ALL-STATE HONOR BAND

This honor band is sanctioned by the South Carolina Band Directors Association and is the highest honor that a middle school band student can receive. After earning a top placement in the All-Region Band audition, musicians complete a second round of auditions with a more difficult solo ending and additionally complex sight reading exercises. Students earning placement in this prestigious ensemble are recognized as the best musicians in our state and are conducted by nationally renown music educators.

AUDITION: January 24th, 2026 @ Chapin High School

CLINIC: March 13th - 15th, 2026 @ Furman University - Greenville, SC

CATAWBA RIVER WINDS HONOR BAND

Click HERE to for nomination consideration

While similar to Region Band, this clinic is primarily for only the school districts in York County. During the selection process for this clinic, eligible students are nominated by their directors to participate. Students are then selected from the director-provided lists. Only 10 students from Springfield Middle School are eligible to participate. 

If selected to participate, students will submit a brief audition video no later than Monday, November 24th, 2025, to be used for chair placements. Seating will be announced at the clinic or before via e-mail to participating directors.

Wind Players:

    Chromatic Scale (as much as the student knows).

    Concert C, F, Bb, and Eb Major scales (any articulation or pattern).

    The student’s region solo (the first 8 measures only).

Percussion:

    Concert F and Bb Major scales on xylophone.

    5 Stroke Roll, 9 Stroke Roll on snare drum

AND

The student’s region mallet solo (the first eight measures only).

OR

The student’s region snare drum solo (the first eight measures only).

**Timpani will be determined at the clinic.**

NOMINATION FORM DUE: Friday, October 24th, 2025

AUDITION: Monday, November 24th, 2025 [Virtual]

CLINIC: Friday, December 12, 2025 @ Nation Ford High School

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What do I need to do to register my student for the auditions? Complete the google forms above and pay audition fees via PAY FEES this link.

When is the honor band audition registration deadline?  Friday, October 24th, 2026

What is the audition process? During the audition, students will perform their scales, a provided solo, and 1-2 sight-reading examples for a judge. They will receive a score based on their performance, and the top-ranked students on each instrument will be selected for the honor band. The audition material is consistent for all auditions, except for the solo ending in the All-State audition. 

If my student earns a spot in an honor band, what is the commitment? Selected students will attend a one or two-day clinic, where they will rehearse with a guest conductor and perform the music they have been working on. This is an extremely fun and rewarding experience for our band students!