Honor Bands

All County Band is open to all band students attending a public school in Durham, NC. Auditions typically take place in October and are held at Rogers-Herr Middle School. Audition materials can be found here and consist of scales and sight reading. More detailed information about audition schedule and procedure can be found here. Percussionists may audition on mallets, snare, or both. The All County Band clinic is held in November and includes 2 days of rehearsal followed by a concert. Students get music in advance and will be conducted by a respected conductor in the area, typically a retired band director. The audition and clinic processes are free, but transportation must be provided by the student.

All District Band is open to all band students enrolled in a band program in the Central District (districts). The audition process mirrors the All State audition process and includes memorized scales, a prepared solo, and a short sight reading selection. Audition requirements (scale sheets, solos, etc.) can be found here. Audition instructions and information can be found here. Audition solos with cuts can be found here. Students should only prepare the bracketed sections. Percussionists may choose to audition on mallets, snare, and/or timpani. Snare and timpani auditions will not include scales and will have an additional technical exercise to perform. Auditions typically occur in January with the clinic being held in late Jan/early Feb. There is a $10 fee to audition. All District tends to be a higher level than All County. There is no transportation provided, but the school may opt to take a bus if enough students audition and/or make the band. Again, the clinic consists of 2 days of rehearsal followed by a concert. 

All State Band is the highest level a middle school band musician can achieve. Auditions take place in March with the clinic occurring in May. In order qualify for an audition, students must place within the top few of their section within their All District Band. See this chart for eligibility requirements. A $20 audition fee is charged per student. Auditions are held at Asheville High School. Audition requirements are similar to the All District requirements, but they include the entire audition solo with the B ending. The full solos can be found here. The All State clinic is held at UNC Greensboro. While transportation is not provided by the state, VAMS may be able to take a bus depending on how many students are selected to participate. To participate in the NC All State Band is a high honor and is only achieved by a select few middle school musicians in all of North Carolina.