- Schools must appear at their assigned time or, when possible, earlier, due to scratches, unless affected by emergency situations. Penalty: Forfeiture of right to appear.
- Directors may not enter the audition room, nor attempt to communicate with the auditor in any way. If communication with an auditor must take place, it may only occur through the room monitor or center manager.
- Choral alternates may be selected up until the first rehearsal of the All-State Chorus.
- Accepted students’ names will be printed in the All-State program. Be certain they are printed legibly on the audition cards.
- All students accepted into the Chorus, Band, or Orchestra should report to the audition site office immediately following notification of their acceptance. Chorus students should pick up their information packet.
- No student or student pitch giver will be allowed to use a cell phone or any other recording capable device in the audition center.
- Each entry must consist of 1, 2, 3, or 4 singers auditioning on one of the following voice parts: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, or Bass. No duplication of voice part within an entry is allowed.
- Music need not be memorized for auditions.
- Auditioning ensembles will be identified to the auditor by ONLY: school code number, performance time, names of singers and voice parts. Be certain your students know their performance time! The school name shall not appear on the audition card, music folder, or any article of clothing. Ensembles may not display the school name in any manner.
- Choral groups or individuals auditioning may NOT wear school concert attire for auditions (this includes robes, tuxedos, and formal gowns).
- Audition sites will post a list of singers to be recalled and a list of accepted students at the conclusion of the initial auditions.
- Materials to be used for auditions will be posted online (www.ihsma.org) at 5:00 AM and at each audition site at 8:00 A.M. on October 20, 2018.
- All vocal auditions are a cappella.
- For first round auditions, singers may get their starting pitches from:
- a singer in the ensemble using a pitch-pipe to play pitches;
- a singer in the ensemble playing pitches on a keyboard;
- a high school student, who is not a member of the auditioning ensemble, playing the pitches on a keyboard;
- an adult pitch giver provided by the host site. Pitch giving instructions will appear with the first round excerpts. (Example video or on YouTube)
Each entry will be instructed to sing portions of the chosen All-State selections. A maximum of 7 minutes will be allotted for each audition. Students will be judged on the following factors: Intonation, Rhythm, Tone Quality, and Musicianship. 10 points will be awarded in each of the four categories, with the total score used to determine accepted and recalled students. The intonation score is used as a tie breaker when needed.
All selections must be performed in the designated key.
For recalls, singers will appear alone and sing their voice part unaccompanied. A qualified person designated by the audition manager will play pitches for recall. Pitch giving instructions will be provided with the recall excerpts.
Singers will not be allowed to restart a selection once they have made it through a significant portion of a work. They may stop, get pitches, and then continue on if the performance has broken down to a point warranting this action.
In the interest of balancing sections, accepted vocalists will be posted as either I or II.
Vocal entries must audition on the voice part indicated on the initial registration. Illness or emergency circumstances may reduce an entry below the original registration, however a school may increase the number of participants only by following the provisions specified in Errors In Registration.
Auditioning groups may be asked to audition on the Carmen Dragon arrangement of “America the Beautiful” and the Wilhousky arrangement of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
All-State Chorus Soloists:
- There are no soloists required for this year’s choral selections.
The All-State Chorus will utilize four additional instruments for the performance of All Of Us. Audition material for the following parts: Drum Set (mm 13-33), Double Bass (mm 13-end), Acoustic Guitar (mm. 13-end), Marimba (mm. 54-end), will be available from the IHSMA office. Interested students should email alan@ihsma.org and request the appropriate part. Accepted All State Chorus students that are interested in auditioning for one of the instrumental parts will need to prepare the audition material cited above and submit a video recording of those materials to alan@ihsma.org by October 29. Students should state their name only on the recording. They should NOT identify their school on the recording but should identify their school in the email they send to alan@ihsma.org. Please confirm receipt of the materials from Alan. NOTE: Directors of the students selected as finalists will be notified once a committee makes their selections. Finalists must be available to Audition for Dr. Peter Thursday evening, November 15, 2018 in Ames.
Five All-State Chorus selections (in addition to the patriotic works) will be released on July 25, 2018. The sixth piece will be released and distributed to the accepted students at the first chorus rehearsal in Ames on Friday, November 16, and will be taught to the students by the All-State Chorus Conductor, Dr. Timothy Peter.
What does it mean to be recalled? Being recalled means the judge wants to hear you again for whatever reason. The process for Chorus, wind/percussion, and string recalls are each different and can be confusing. Chorus Audition: The initial audition for chorus is performed by 1, 2, 3, or 4 singers in a group singing for a single auditor. The recall audition is a solo audition performed for a panel of 2 or 3 auditors. Both auditions are a cappella.
What IS All-State? The Iowa All-State Music Festival is a regional representation of the finest high school musicians Iowa has.
How is quota determined? Iowa is divided into 6 All-State regions/districts. The number of students in those districts accepted into the All-State Chorus, Band, or Orchestra is based upon a quota for each voice part/instrument. That quota is the ratio of the number of students auditioning on each voice part/instrument within that district versus the total number audition statewide applied to the total number needed for each All-State Ensemble. In instances of a tie, the district with the lowest scratch ratio is awarded that folder/position.
Where’s the bar? What does it mean to be “All-State caliber”? This is difficult to answer because that threshold is different for different voice parts and different instruments. The audition process for some voice parts and instruments is more competitive than others due to the number of students auditioning on those instruments or voice parts. At the very least “AllState Caliber” means that the student has reached a level of mastery that allows them to perform the required music with a proficient level of competency.
What does it mean to be selected as an “alternate”? Being selected as an alternate means that the student is All-State caliber but there are not enough slots available to accept them.
If an accepted student cannot participate what is the process for replacing them? The first alternate on that instrument or voice part from their audition district is then invited. If that district had no alternates designated then the 1st alternates from all districts are pooled and the audition cards are reviewed by the corresponding All-State Chair. From those, the top candidate is invited. If the Chair cannot decide between two or more candidates, the district with the lowest scratch ratio is awarded the position.
