2025 Audition Information
Beginning Band & Orchestra Students Must Attend an Instrument Fitting
Beginning students do not need to audition but must attend an Instrument Fitting.
To sign up for a fitting click on the button below.
To sign up for a fitting click on the button below.
New Student Auditions (non-beginners)
All new instrumental students to WMHFA who are NOT enrolling in Beginning Band or Beginning Orchestra must audition. To request an audition click the button to the right.
New Band Student Auditions
The prepared music is in Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. In addition be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
Percussion: Prepared music for bells is Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. Prepared music for snare is in Essential Elements, Book 1, exercise #122, “Jumpin’ for Joy”. In addition, be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
(New students who would like to audition for Advanced or Concert Band should also prepare the Returning Band Student Audition music below.)
New Band Student Auditions
The prepared music is in Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. In addition be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
Percussion: Prepared music for bells is Essential Elements, Book 2, exercise #100, “Sight-reading Challenge”. Prepared music for snare is in Essential Elements, Book 1, exercise #122, “Jumpin’ for Joy”. In addition, be prepared to play a piece of your choice and do a sight-reading.
(New students who would like to audition for Advanced or Concert Band should also prepare the Returning Band Student Audition music below.)
New Orchestra Student Auditions
The audition will consist of two scales of your choice, a musical piece of your choice, and sight-reading provided at the audition. (Students should prepare scales and a piece that demonstrates the level at which they are currently playing.)
The audition will consist of two scales of your choice, a musical piece of your choice, and sight-reading provided at the audition. (Students should prepare scales and a piece that demonstrates the level at which they are currently playing.)
Intermediate Band & Orchestra Do Not Require an AuditionLast year's Beginners automatically move up to the Intermediate groups in the fall. No audition is required
Only NEW STUDENTS need to audition to get into the Intermediate classes. (See section above) |
Returning Band Student Auditions - 2025
Last year's Beginning Band students may enroll in Intermediate Band with no audition. Last year's Intermediate Students may audition for Advanced Band or remain in Intermediate Band. Last year's Advanced and Concert Band students must audition.
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Brass/Woodwinds/Mallet Percussion:
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Snare:
ALL PERCUSSION STUDENTS MUST PREPARE AUDITIONS FOR BOTH MALLET PERCUSSION AND SNARE.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the audition date you prefer is full, check the schedule for another date.
Returning students who do not have their audition scheduled by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Brass/Woodwinds/Mallet Percussion:
- Essential Technique Book 3 #127 (Wolsey's Wilde) & #160 (Reading Skill Builder No. 3).
- The Tonguing Exercise and a Rhythm Study (see music packet below)
- A Sight-Reading
- Memorized Scales: will be chosen from Proficiency 1 scales
Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Snare:
- Essential Technique Book 3 #160 (Reading Skill Builder No. 3).
- The Tonguing Exercise for Percussion and a Rhythm Study (see music packet below)
- A Sight-Reading
- Percussion Etude (see music packet below)
ALL PERCUSSION STUDENTS MUST PREPARE AUDITIONS FOR BOTH MALLET PERCUSSION AND SNARE.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the audition date you prefer is full, check the schedule for another date.
Returning students who do not have their audition scheduled by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
Returning Orchestra Student Auditions
ALL students enrolling in Advanced, Philharmonia, Chamber Strings or Symphony Orchestra must audition
Advanced Orchestra (Grand Rapids) audition:
The Advanced Orchestra is open to experienced students who play Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass (Last year's Beginning Orchestra students must move to Intermediate Orchestra). ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN THE GRAND RAPIDS ADVANCED ORCHESTRA.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Philharmonia Orchestra (Kalamazoo) audition:
All students in Philharmonia Orchestra last year must audition again.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Chamber Strings (Kalamazoo) & Symphony Orchestra (Grand Rapids) auditions:
This Orchestra is open to all experienced string students and advanced level wind and percussion instruments. ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN CHAMBER STRINGS OR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
String players:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
2) Prepared classical solo that demonstrates shifting and vibrato skills, for example something from Suzuki Book 4 or above.
3) Sight-reading.
Winds and Percussion:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales
2) Band audition piece---OR------prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the desired audition date is full, schedule an earlier date.
Returning students who do not have their audition scheduled by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
ALL students enrolling in Advanced, Philharmonia, Chamber Strings or Symphony Orchestra must audition
Advanced Orchestra (Grand Rapids) audition:
The Advanced Orchestra is open to experienced students who play Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass (Last year's Beginning Orchestra students must move to Intermediate Orchestra). ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN THE GRAND RAPIDS ADVANCED ORCHESTRA.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Philharmonia Orchestra (Kalamazoo) audition:
All students in Philharmonia Orchestra last year must audition again.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Chamber Strings (Kalamazoo) & Symphony Orchestra (Grand Rapids) auditions:
This Orchestra is open to all experienced string students and advanced level wind and percussion instruments. ALL STUDENTS MUST AUDITION TO ENROLL IN CHAMBER STRINGS OR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
String players:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales--three octaves (String Bass - two octaves)
2) Prepared classical solo that demonstrates shifting and vibrato skills, for example something from Suzuki Book 4 or above.
3) Sight-reading.
Winds and Percussion:
1) Scales: C, G, D, F, and Bb Major scales
a, e, b, d, and g melodic minor scales
2) Band audition piece---OR------prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Auditions are by appointment only. CLICK HERE FOR AUDITION SCHEDULE. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the desired audition date is full, schedule an earlier date.
Returning students who do not have their audition scheduled by the time results are posted may be subject to a $25 late fee and may not be able to audition for the next level group.
Northern Lights Chorale
This talented group of 20 young men and ladies is available by audition only. Several performance opportunities in addition to the Christmas and Spring concerts take place each year along with participation in the District and State MSVMA festivals. Students must be at least 14 years old to audition. Chorale students must also be enrolled in Senior Choir.
Auditions are fairly low-key. They consist of the following:
Auditions are by appointment only. Audition slots are only available until July 31. If you cannot make the scheduled audition dates, please contact us for an alternate time.
This talented group of 20 young men and ladies is available by audition only. Several performance opportunities in addition to the Christmas and Spring concerts take place each year along with participation in the District and State MSVMA festivals. Students must be at least 14 years old to audition. Chorale students must also be enrolled in Senior Choir.
Auditions are fairly low-key. They consist of the following:
- You will demonstrate how high and low you can sing.
- You sing the first stanza of America the Beautiful. You can sing it in whatever key you like.
- There will be 3 pitch memory exercises.
- There will be some simple sight-reading exercises that you can sing on whatever syllable you like.
Auditions are by appointment only. Audition slots are only available until July 31. If you cannot make the scheduled audition dates, please contact us for an alternate time.
Fiddles, Pops, & More Class Auditions
New students for Fiddles, Pops, & More must audition. Returning students need not audition.
1) Scales: C, G, F, and D Major scales--two octaves
a and d melodic minor scales--two octaves
2) Prepared piece of your choice.
3) Sight-reading.
Big Band Auditions
Big Band auditions will be held the first week of class for Big Band 1 and 2. An audition preparation session will be held August 28 from 11am to 12pm.
Auditions will include playing #53, #58, and #59 from the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble, "St. Louis Blues". Students will need to be prepared to play the Original Melody (#53) as well as create their own solo using the F blues scale. Scales can be found in the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble #123.
In addition:
**All Big Band students must also be enrolled in a WMHFA band or orchestra.
Big Band auditions will be held the first week of class for Big Band 1 and 2. An audition preparation session will be held August 28 from 11am to 12pm.
- Big Band 1 is our top-level group. They participate in several Jazz Festivals throughout the year. This group is audition-only.
- Big Band 2 is our mid-level group. They may participate in a Jazz Festival. This group is audition-only.
- Big Band 3 is our entry-level group. This is open for all students with at least a year of experience on their instrument. No auditions are necessary unless a section fills up (e.g. trumpets), but if your student is excited about Jazz and wants something fun to do this summer, working through some of the music below would be great!
Auditions will include playing #53, #58, and #59 from the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble, "St. Louis Blues". Students will need to be prepared to play the Original Melody (#53) as well as create their own solo using the F blues scale. Scales can be found in the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble #123.
In addition:
- Drummers must also demonstrate swing, rock and a Latin rhythm such as salsa found in exercise 119, Salsa Caliente. Work on steady time and interesting fills.
- Guitar players should also be able to demonstrate “Freddy Green “ rhythms (a chord on each beat) in "St. Louis Blues" #58 plus blues solo for 12 bar blues in F.
- Pianists must also demonstrate chords and ability to comp as demonstrated in "St. Louis Blues" #58 plus blues solo for 12 bar blues in F.
**All Big Band students must also be enrolled in a WMHFA band or orchestra.