Classen School of Advanced Studies High Schools at Northeast
Orchestra Major Program

Middle School & High School Orchestra/Strings 

Major Audition Guidelines

Middle School & High School Orchestra/Strings 

Major Audition Guidelines

Classen SAS Mission Statement:

To ensure that all students learn at high levels to become high quality, academically prepared, global citizens.

MS & HS (incoming 6th- 12th) Strings Major Audition Details: 

Day/Date: 

• Tuesday, February 13th, 2024

Time for Arrival: 

• Auditions will be scheduled between 4:30 and 7:00pm. 

• Please click here to fill out the Google Form to sign up for an audition time. 

  • An Orchestra Director will contact you with your audition time once it is scheduled. 

• Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled audition time. 

Location: 

• CSAS MS, 1901 N. Ellison Ave, OKC  - Orchestra Room (A200) on the 2nd floor. 

Point of Entry: 

• Front Doors (east doors - Ellison Ave entrance)

Parking Information: 

• Parking is available around the entire school (street parking and in parking lots).

  • Keep in mind school ends @4pm, so there will be pick-up traffic just before & just after that time. 

  • Also, Parent Teacher Conferences are occurring during this timeframe, so parking will be in demand.

How to Apply & What to Prepare Before Arrival:

CSAS General Application requirements: 

• OKCPS Application Schools Website

Strings Major Audition Specific Requirements: 

• All applicants will perform the following: 

  • Any Major Scale (2-3 octave preferred). 

    • Slur two notes to a bow. 

    • Quarter note = 76 bpm. 

  • Perform 1-2 minutes of your solo selection. 

    • Please bring a copy of your solo selection. 

      • You MUST provide a copy of your music for the judges. 

  • Sight Read: all applicants will perform a brief selection of music they have never seen before in order to demonstrate their musical literacy skills. 

Please Bring: 

• Instrument: Violin, Viola, Cello, or Bass

• Copies of Solo Music (can be photocopied, originals not necessary) for judges’ perusal

• Any needed accessories: (i.e.Violins & Violas - Shoulder Rest; Cello & Bass - Rock Stop)

Audition Guidelines:

What to expect: 

Applicants will enter through the north entrance, check in for their audition, then be led to the 2nd floor hallway by a current Orchestra student to warm up. Please plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled audition time to check-in, find the orchestra room, tune, and warm up. Applicants may warm up in the 2nd floor hallway while waiting for their audition. An Orchestra Director, or a current Classen SAS Orchestra student will find you when it is your audition time. Family members will wait in the hallway until their student’s audition is finished. There will be a panel of three judges, as well as the Orchestra Directors, present in the Orchestra room during your audition time. We are rooting for you, and want you to perform well! 

Judging Criteria (how applicants will be evaluated):

Scale 17% - 50 / 300 pts

(Criteria: Tone, Intonation, Pitch Accuracy) 

Solo 33% - 100 / 300 pts

(Criteria: Difficulty, Performance, Intonation, Tone, Musicianship) 

Sight Reading 17% -  50 / 300 pts

(Criteria: Rhythmic / Pitch Accuracy, Tempo) 

Technique 33% - 100 / 300 pts

(Criteria: Position, Posture, Tone, Intonation) 

Orchestra Director Contact Name[s] & Email[s]:

Kimberly Banz - High School Orchestra Director (Grades 9 - 12) 

• Phone: 405-587-5470

• Email: kmbanz@okcps.org

Michele Contreras - Middle School Orchestra Director (Grades 6 - 8) 

• Phone: 405-587-5307

• Email: mecontreras@okcps.org

Pertinent Links:

• CSAS MS Website: https://www.okcps.org/Domain/45

• CSAS HS Website: https://www.okcps.org/Domain/80

• High School Orchestra Website: https://classenorchestras.weebly.com/

• Middle School Orchestra Website: https://csasmiddleorchestras.weebly.com/

• Find us on Facebook: Classen SAS Orchestras

• High School Orchestra Instagram: csasorchestra

• Middle School Orchestra Instagram: csasms_orch