2018-2019 Audition Information

Beginning Students Must Attend an Instrument Fitting

Beginning students do not need to audition but should attend an Instrument Fitting.  
To sign up for a fitting click on the button to the right.

New Student Auditions (non-beginners)

All new 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 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 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. 









Intermediate Band & Orchestra Do Not Require an Audition

Last 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

Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Brass/Woodwinds/Mallet Percussion: Tradition of Excellence Book 3 #94 (Skill Builder), the Tonguing Exercise and a Sight-Reading. Also, be prepared to play the following scales from memory (in concert pitch, one octave): C, Bb, Eb, Db; and (in concert pitch, two octaves): Ab, Gb. The music is available on SmartMusic or may be downloaded by clicking the link to the right.

Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Percussion:
Percussion students will be required to play the mallet percussion requirements listed above, plus on your snare you must play: Rhythmic Compositions Advanced, Levels 9-10, Level 9, Etude 7 (found on Smartmusic) , the Tonguing Exercise for percussion and a Sight-Reading. ​The music is available on SmartMusic or may be downloaded by clicking the link to the right. ALL PERCUSSION STUDENTS NEED TO SCHEDULE TWO AUDITION APPOINTMENTS, ONE FOR MALLET PERCUSSION AND ONE FOR 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 an earlier date.


Returning Orchestra Student Auditions
ALL students enrolling in Symphony Orchestra must audition

Advanced Orchestra (Grand Rapids) audition:
The Advanced Orchestra is open to students who have played at least two years on the Violin, Viola, Cello or String Bass (No Beginning Orchestra students).  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.

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 piece of your choice.
      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
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.

Audition Requirements for Northern Lights Chorale Members: The Chorale audition music is "America the Beautiful" (memorized). Sight-reading is required and a tonal memory test.

Auditions are by appointment only. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come basis. If the audition date you prefer is not available, please schedule an earlier date.

Colorguard Auditions
New Students for Middle Guard and Sr. Guard must audition before enrolling in the class (this includes students moving up from Jr. Guard to Middle Guard and students moving up from Middle Guard to Sr. Guard).

Returning Students

2018
Advanced Band / Concert Band
Audition Music