Audition Guidelines

Guidelines for All-State High School Ensemble Auditions

The following guidelines were adopted by the KMEA Board of Directors on July 29, 2017. Updated on July 29, 2023.

Music Requirements for the String Live Auditions:

  1. Students auditioning will be required to perform a three-octave major scale posted on the KMEA website. (ascending/descending)
  2. Students auditioning will be required to perform a three-octave minor scale posted on the KMEA website. (ascending/descending)
  3. Three required excerpts from orchestra literature posted on the KMEA website.
  4. No sight reading

Scales and excerpts will be posted on the KMEA website by May 1st prior to the next year’s auditions.

Music Requirements for the Winds Live Auditions:

  1. Students auditioning will be required to perform one major scale slurred up and tongued down. The scale will be determined the day of the live auditions by the State Band Chairs. The major scales for each instrument are posted on the KMEA website. The scales are to be prepared as marked and performed at quarter note = MM 60; slurred up and tongued down. Memorization is not required.
  2. The required chromatic scale slurred up and tongued down. Performed as written. Quarter note MM=60, four sixteenths per quarter note. Memorization is not required.
  3. Sections of the required etude/solos posted on the KMEA website.
  4. Sight reading

Etudes will be posted on the KMEA website by May 1st prior to the next year’s auditions.

Music Requirements for Percussion Live Auditions:

  1. Percussionists may audition on mallets, snare drum, timpani and/or jazz drum set.
  2. Each percussion instrument audition must have its own entry application and each fee submitted.
  3. Sections of the required etude/solos posted on the KMEA website.
  4. Sight reading

Etudes will be posted on the KMEA website by May 1st prior to the next year’s auditions.

Music Requirements for the Jazz Live Auditions:

  1. Horns (Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Bari Sax, Trumpet, Trombone)
    Full Range Chromatic Scale: Quarter Note = 120 BPM. In quarter notes play the full range chromatic scale. Slur ascending and tongue descending. Play the full and practical range for your instrument. A metronome will be sounded (8 clicks) to establish the tempo. Playing the correct tempo is part of your score. Memorization is not required.
  2. Rhythm section requirements are posted on the KMEA website.
  3. Sections of the required etude/solos posted on the KMEA website.
  4. Sight reading
  5. Improvisation is any optional activity used to demonstrate solo skills.
  6. Students who submit an entry for Lead Trumpet or Bass Trombone will be able to access the excerpts required for those two entries.

Etudes will be posted on the KMEA website by May 1st prior to the next year’s auditions.

Music Requirements for the Choir All-State Auditions:

  1. Students who audition for District and State choirs audition with the portions of ALL three songs that are selected by the State Choir Chairperson.
  2. Sight-reading is an additional component that can be used by districts to determine ensemble eligibility. The decision to add sight-reading is determined by each individual district.
  3. Each KMEA District uses the same music for district and state choir auditions.

All-State Choir Auditions occur on the same day as the District Honor Choir auditions.

Participation Eligibility Requirements (Choral)

There are four requirements for a student to be eligible to audition for the KMEA All-State High School Choir membership:

  1. The student must first be a performing member of their District’s KMEA choir.
  2. The student’s director must submit an online audition form and a printed form with payment to the District Chairperson or District Executive Director, as indicated. This form must be submitted by the AUDITION FORM DEADLINE established by the District.
  3. The student must be deemed an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing in their high school.
  4. The student must meet the KSHSAA eligibility requirements.

Participation Eligibility Requirements (Instrumental)

There are four requirements for a student to be eligible to audition for the KMEA All-State Band and Orchestra/Winds Percussion membership:

  1. The student must first be a performing member of their District’s KMEA Band, Jazz Ensemble, or Orchestra.
  2. The student’s director must submit an online audition form and send a printed form with payment to the KMEA Payment Manager for each student auditioning. This form must be submitted by the AUDITION FORM DEADLINE established by KMEA.
  3. The student must be deemed an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing in their high school.
  4. The student must meet the KSHSAA eligibility requirements.

School Responsibilities

Each School:

  1. will be a member of the KSHSAA and be in good standing with the organization;
  2. will be eligible to enter students as determined in the rules and guidelines established by each KMEA District;
  3. will not allow students to audition for both KMEA festival choir and KMEA festival instrumental groups.  All instrumental woodwind, brass, and percussion students who participated in the instrumental festival groups at the District Mini-Conventions are eligible to audition for any KMEA Instrumental festival group; and,
  4. will be responsible for the supervision, conduct, and behavior of its students during the entire KMEA In-Service Workshop.
  5. the director is a “member in good standing” of NAfME and KMEA.