Openings for 2008-2009 Season
Wind Symphony
Audition forms are now being accepted online for MYA’s new Honors Wind Symphony which starts rehearsals in November.
Choral Program
All Voices - High School (Chorale)
All Voices - Grades 2-4 (Choristers)
Jazz Program
Acoustic Bass - advanced middle school, high school
Alto sax - advanced
junior high, high school freshman
Trumpet - all levels
Trombone - all
levels
Piano - advanced junior high
Orchestra Program
Double Basses: all orchestras
Violins: advanced only
Violas: younger orchestras
Cellos: Reading Orchestra (no audition required)
Percussion: 2/Symphony; 1/Prep
Flute: Prep Orchestra
Clarinet: Prep Orchestra
Bassoon: Prep & Concert Orchestras
Horn: Cadet, Prep & Concert Orchestras
Trumpet: Cadet & Concert Orchestras
Trombone: Prep & Concert Orchestras
How do I Sign Up and Schedule an Audition?
You may sign up to audition by completing the on-line Audition Form. A $30 non-refundable audition fee is required. All auditions are scheduled for 30 minutes; it is not necessary to have an accompanist.
When filling out the Audition Form, please provide your active e-mail address for audition-related communications. After you submit the on-line Audition Form, please print out and keep your audition scheduling code.
You will be offered the choice to pay your $30 non-refundable audition fee by credit card or check.
- If you opt to pay by credit card, PayPal will process your payment instantly and you will be able to immediately select from available audition time slots to schedule your appointment.
- If you prefer to pay by check, send it to MYA as soon as possible. Once the check has been processed, you will be notified by E-mail to schedule your appointment.
Be sure to double-check your family and school calendars before selecting an audition time. Due to the demand for audition times, each rescheduling of an audition appointment requires the payment of an additional $30 non-refundable rescheduling fee.
During peak audition sign-up period, we may temporarily run out of audition time slots; please rest assured that we actively monitor the audition schedule. Thank you for your understanding!
Sign up Today!
To register for an audition, begin by submitting an online Audition Form. If you encounter any difficulty with the on-line audition scheduling process, please contact the friendly MYA staff at 847-926-9898 for assistance!
Audition requirements of each program are detailed below; please seek guidance from your private teacher when preparing for the audition.
Auditions for 2009-2010 Season
Most auditions take place in the spring at the MYA Center at Fort Sheridan. Entrance into all programs, except Reading Orchestra and Choristers, is based on the result of an audition. All auditions are taped and reviewed by a committee of ensemble directors in late-May. Placement decisions are announced in June and after that, auditions are held only for open spots (see list above).
Spring is the best time to audition because there are openings in all ensembles for the coming season, for all instruments and voice parts. We recommend that students do not wait past May to apply for audition. After June placement decisions, auditions will be held only for unfilled positions in mid-August. Applications received after the first round of auditions (held mid-March to late-May) will be scheduled only if positions remain open.
Prospective students and their families should become acquainted with the various programs offered by Midwest Young Artists before scheduling an audition. MYA staff are available to answer program-related questions during office hours. Visits to our regularly-scheduled rehearsals are always welcome and attendance at MYA concerts is strongly encouraged!
Once selected to participate in an ensemble, active MYA members are not required to audition in subsequent years unless they wish to apply for the next higher level ensemble. In April, current members who plan to remain in MYA for the coming season should fill out an Intent to Participate Form and return it with a tuition deposit by the stated due date to hold a spot in their current ensemble.
What do I play for the Audition? What are the Audition Requirements?
MYA Jazz Ensemble and/or Comparable Level Jazz Combos
- Prepared Pieces: Students should bring a prepared piece of their choice that they are comfortable with (in either a jazz or non-jazz context) which demonstrates technique, tone, intonation, and overall musicianship. “Play-a-longs” are acceptable, and students should bring all necessary CDs with them. Students should be prepared to audition with no accompaniment.
- Scales: In addition, students should prepare all 12 major scales (memorization is preferred but not required).
- Improvisation: Students will be asked to improvise over Bb Blues (optional).
- Sight-Reading: The audition concludes with sight-reading.
-
Note:
Drummers should demonstrate swing and latin (bossa nova, samba, mambo) rhythms with fills every 4 or 8 bars at the discretion of the auditioner.
Guitarists and Pianists should demonstrate ability to ready chord charts.
Bassists may be asked to demonstrate their ability to construct bass lines from chord symbols (optional).
MYA Jazz Orchestra and/or Comparable Level Jazz Combos
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Prepared Pieces: Students are asked to prepare the selected required audition piece. In addition, students should bring a prepared piece of their choice (in either jazz or non-jazz context) which demonstrates technique, tone, intonation, and overall musicianship. “Play-a-longs” with improvisation are encouraged, and students should bring all necessary CDs with them. Students should be prepared to audition with no accompaniment.
Required Audition Piece
- Scales: In addition, students should prepare all 12 major scales by memory. Optional: students may be asked to play dorian and mixolydian scales.
- Improvisation: Students will be asked to improvise over Now’s The Time (F Blues), and combo students will also be asked to improvise over Autumn Leaves.
- Sight-Reading: The audition concludes with sight-reading.
-
Note:
Drummers should demonstrate swing and latin (bossa nova, samba, mambo, and afro-cuban) rhythms with fills every 4 or 8 bars.
Guitarists and Pianists should demonstrate ability to ready chord charts.
Bassists may be asked to demonstrate their ability to construct bass lines from chord symbols.
MYA Big Band and/or Comparable Level Jazz Combos
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Prepared Pieces: Students are asked to prepare the required audition piece. In addition, students should bring a prepared piece of their choice that they are comfortable with (in a jazz context) which demonstrates technique, tone, intonation, and overall musicianship. “Play-a-longs” with improvisation are encouraged, and students should bring all necessary CDs with them. Students should be prepared to audition without accompaniment.
- Scales: In addition, students should prepare all 12 major scales from memory. Students interested in auditioning for Jazz Combos should also prepare the 12 dorian modes and the 12 mixolydian modes, all from memory.
- Improvisation: Students will be asked to improvise over Now’s The Time (F Blues), and combo students will also be asked to improvise over How High The Moon.
- Sight-Reading: The audition concludes with sight-reading.
-
Note:
Drummers should demonstrate swing and latin rhythms with fills every 4 or 8 bars at the discretion of the auditioner.
Guitarists should demonstrate ability to ready chord charts and single line melodies.
Trumpet and Trombone players should be prepared to demonstrate their range on a concert B flat major scale.
Saxophonists should be prepared to demonstrate any “doubling” ability on flute, clarinet, etc.
Voices Rising
The student will be asked to sing to demonstrate the ability to match pitch and to give the director an idea of the student’s voice quality, range, and experience. Students can prepare something to sing, but it is optional. With young voices, the primary consideration for entry into Voices Rising is interest in singing and the ability to hear and match pitch. We believe the best training for younger children who love to sing is to join a good chorus (like Voices Rising!) in which they can learn proper vocal technique as their voices mature, and to take piano lessons.
Chorale
Auditions will include singing “My Country ‘tis of Thee”, as well as sight reading, identification of key signatures, meters and rhythms. A prepared piece is OK, but the piece should show the quality of tone in the voice. An accompanist is not necessary.
Orchestra and Chamber Music
Students should prepare two complete, contrasting movements/works of their own choosing. These can include etudes and solos; no Orchestral Excerpts are required. One movement/work should demonstrate the student’s technical level and the other should demonstrate the student’s musical and tonal abilities. Students auditioning for the Symphony Orchestra generally are performing major concertos.
Students should also prepare scales as follows:
- Cadet Orchestra: C, G, and D Major scales (note ~ 90 bpm)
- Prep Orchestra: C, G, D and F Major scales (note ~ 90 bpm)
- Concert Orchestra: all Major scales through 4 sharps and flats (note = 120 bpm)
- Symphony Orchestra: all Major scales (note = 120 bpm)
- Flute, Clarinet, Bassoon: add 3 octave chromatic scale (note = 120 bpm)
- Oboe: add 2 octave chromatic scale (note = 120 bpm)
Percussionists applying for MYA Orchestra and Chamber Music Program should use the following guidelines to prepare for their auditions.
Snare:
- Demonstrate rudiments and rolls at various dynamics
- One solo or etude from Peters, Cirone, Delecluse, Goldenberg, or equivalent
Marimba:
- All major and minor (high school students only) scales, two octaves
- One movement or solo piece/etude from Peters, Abe, Bach (Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin), Creston, Musser, Rosauro, etc...
- One movement or solo piece demonstrating four mallets (high school students only)
Timpani:
- Rolls and general strokes at various dynamics; basic knowledge of intervals and tuning
- One short solo or etude; 3-4 timpani preferred (Goodman, Vic Firth, Peters, Delecluse, Schinstine, etc..
In addition to performing the two solo pieces and scales, sight-reading abilities will be assessed. MYA will provide excerpts to all orchestra applicants at time of audition.
Honors Wind Symphony
Prepared Pieces: Students are asked to prepare 2 pieces that express technical skill and tone color (etudes acceptable)
Scales: In addition, students should prepare all 12 major scales
