2020-2021 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.
Iinstrument Fitting Information

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 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. ​
New Orchestra Student 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:
  1. Essential Technique Book 3 #127 (Wolsey's Wilde) 
  2. The Tonguing Exercise 
  3. A Sight-Reading
  4. Play the following scales from memory: Essential Technique Book 3: #187 Db Major, #190 A Major & #191 Gb Major (play the octaves as written, NO ARPEGGIOS).
The music is available on SmartMusic or may be downloaded by clicking the link below.

Audition Requirements for Advanced & Concert Band Percussion:
  1. Essential Technique Book 3 #127 (Wolsey's Wilde) 
  2. The Tonguing Exercise for Percussion 
  3. A Sight-Reading
  4. Mallet Percussion must play the following scales from memory: Essential Technique Book 3: #187 Db Major, #190 A Major & #191 Gb Major (play the octaves as written, NO ARPEGGIOS).
  5. Rhythmic Compositions - Advanced - Levels 9 and 10 - Level 9 Etude 7 (found on Smartmusic)
The music is available on SmartMusic or may be downloaded by clicking the link 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 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 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.

Philharmonia Orchestra(Kalamazoo) audition:
All students in Advanced/Intermediate 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 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
Schedule an Orchestra Audition
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.
Schedule Chorale Audition

Fiddle Class Auditions
New students for Fiddle Class 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.
Schedule a Fiddle Class Audition