PMEA District 2 - Orchestra Selection Procedures

Districts 2, 3 & 5

General Information

A District 2,3,5 Orchestra coordinator will be named to a paid position of $.50 per selected participant to be paid from ticket sales. Payment will be made at the end of the festival.

1. In the PMEA Calendar, Districts 2, 3 & 5 for the PMEA District Orchestra shall rotate location of the festival yearly.

1998-99 District 5
1999-00 District 2
2000-01 District 3
2001-02 District 5
Etc.

Because of the small number of schools in District 3, if a host is not secured, then the other districts will provide the host.

2. Prospective hosts should send a letter of intent to their district president prior to the PMEA state conference of the preceding year.

3. Application letters will be sent to all schools in districts 2, 3 & 5 each year. A current address list shall be provided to the host by the district presidents. First letter to schools must include statement that percussion applicants will audition on ALL percussion instruments if selected and all FLAUTISTS will audition on piccolo.

4. Applications must be received by the host a minimum of 10 weeks prior to the festival. From this point, directors shall be informed of acceptance of applicants within a three- (3) week period and music shall be mailed at this time.

5. Music must arrive with notification of acceptance. Music must be mailed 1st class, Priority mail or UPS. Absolutely no exceptions.

1. The selection committee shall consist of a member of the PMEA ExCom from each district and one director from each district. It is highly recommended that if the host of the Region Orchestra festival is a member of district 2, 3 or 5 that he/she be a member of the selection committee. The district president of each district will appoint the director to represent their district.

2. The district president of the host district will chair the selection committee.

3. The selection committee meeting will be held within 10 days of receipt of the applications so acceptances can be mailed within the established timeframe.

4. The date, time and location of the meeting will be included with the initial application letter sent to each school. All participating directors are welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting as observers. All completed applications must be in hand at the time of the selection meeting. (Jan.'93)

5. The selection committee shall be listed on the acceptance letters.

6. As a courtesy, rejection letters will be mailed to those schools that did not secure participants in the festival.

8. If Violin I section is filled and there are still applicants for that section, then perusal of credentials is recommended before filling the Violin II section.

9. A statement signed by the principal of each school will be required to verify the existence of a string program which offers in-school rehearsal time.

10. Students who have participated in Region Orchestra on a 2^nd or lower part the previous year must audition on a higher part at their District festival.

11. Courtesy appointments will be continued.

12. Directors will be sent a listing of the concert program selections so that they will know if their students have received all of their music. (Jan. 98)

1. It is recommended that a scale of 1 to 5 be used. No half points are allowed. The scores achieved in tone, articulation, and rhythm in that order will break ties. Scoring will at all times reflect district policy.

2. The audition committee will be responsible for adding scores, double checking numbers and listing ratings in order so as to facilitate the work of the tabulation committee. Calculators should be used.

AUDITIONS

1. Blind auditions will be held Wednesday evening, starting no later than 7:00 PM.

2. Each audition committee will consist of at least 3 directors who must be PMEA members.

3. Rehearsal may be held concurrently with auditions if so desired.

4. All directors must be present for auditions, unless excused by the district president.

5. All students must audition.

1. Excerpts from a maximum of three selections should be used.

2. Music should give the students a chance to demonstrate technique and tone.

1. No later than 6:30 PM directors will convene for a meeting with the host where audition materials will be distributed and committee assignments will be announced.

2. Audition committees will then report directly to their respective audition rooms.

3. One director will be set up as the spokesman in each audition committee. He/She will collect all music from the students and give directions clearly and in a similar manner to all students.

4. Remind the students to remain in their audition or rehearsal area until excused by the spokesperson. (This in the event of ties and to return music.)

5. Students will receive an audition number prior to entering the audition room.

6. Directors are to allow students to warm-up, to use their own music, and to sit or stand, as they so desire.

7. Each committee member shall evaluate each student on the forms provided.

8. At the conclusion of the auditions the total scores of all the committee members shall be recorded on the master score sheet.

9. Each student will be ranked according to the total score. All ties must be broken before the students are dismissed. Scores earned in tone, articulation and rhythm in that order will break ties.

10. The chairperson shall return all signed score sheets (including the individual worksheets) to the tabulation committee. Individuals should sign their own sheets and all members should sign the master sheet.

11. Absolutely no audition results will be announced until Thursday morning.

12. Score sheets will not be taken from the director’s room.

STUDENT PROCEDURES

1. Students will report to the auditorium at the specified time to receive all information regarding audition procedures.

2. Guides will then take the students to their individual audition room.

3. Students will turn in all music to the audition committee.

4. Students will receive a try-out number prior to entering the audition room.

5. All students must complete audition sign-up sheets and all pertinent festival forms provided by the guides.

The top half of each section will be seated for this festival. Region participation is determined as below:

STRINGS: Players going to Region orchestra will be seated by chair according to scores.

8 Violin I
8 Violin II
7 Viola
6 Cello
4 Bass

WINDS/PERCUSSION: Winds/Percussion will advance to Region orchestra based on highest scores, not on parts. In addition to the festival music, an appropriate excerpt will be issued to each student in a particular section. The selection committee of the festival will be responsible for choosing the appropriate excerpt.

2 Flute
2 Oboe
2 Clarinet
2 Bassoon
4 Horn
3 Trumpet
3 Trombone
1 Percussion

A conference call will determine whether the Tuba or Timpani advance to Region orchestra.

All violin folders must include the same re-audition excerpt to be used to determine the last 3 2^nd violin chairs in region orchestra. Violin I chairs 9, 10, 11 and Violin II chairs 6, 7, 8 will re-audition with the top 3 advancing to region orchestra on 2^nd violin.

The student participation fee charged will be the fee for the host district. It will be shared among the districts by sending the appropriate amount times the # of students from each district to the respective districts.