BCMEA FESTIVAL AUDITIONS
The Bucks County Music Educators Association will be holding auditions for middle school band students to perform as part of an all BucksCounty music festival.
The idea is similar to what some students experienced with Council Rock District Elementary Band except on a greater level involving schools from all of Bucks County. Audition requirements can be found on the BCMEA web site by going to . All audition pieces are part of collections so that a student auditioning in the 7th grade will also have music for their 8th grade auditions. Auditions this year will take place on Thursday, November 20th. Students will be bused after school from Council Rock to Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School, 1001 Veterans Hwy, Bristol, PA 19007. (Times to be announced)
Auditions are judged by professional musicians who are members of the BCMEA. In addition to the pre-selected piece of music, students will also be responsible to learn major scales up to 2sharps and 4 flats and will be required to sight read a short selection as well. Snare drummers must perform rudiments and timpanists must demonstrate ability to tune drums to pitches. All auditions are done "blind", meaning the judges will not see the students perform. It is recommended but not required that students get help from a private teacher to help them prepare. I can provide names and phone numbers of some excellent teachers if you are interested.
According to the rules of BCMEA, each school is allowed to send only six students per instrument to audition. If there are more than six students interested on any instrument, I will decide who will be allowed to go based onindividual band assessmentsthat take place in October. Students who are selected from the audition will get the opportunityto rehearse and perform a concert with the best student musicians in Bucks County on Saturday, March 7 in the Neshaminy School District.A special guest conductor will be chosen to work with the students for two days prior to the concert.Please do not audition if you are unable to commit to the 3/7 performance date.If you are interested in auditioning please let me know by October 30. Also let me know if you would like me to order the audition musicfor you to work on.
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!
Mitch Frank
Band Director
Holland Middle School