Auditions

THE FOLLOWING APPLIES TO ALL THOSE AUDITIONING FOR Concert Junior, Concert Senior, or Symphonic Band

Beginners (known as Cadets) need not audition. Click on Cadet Requirements at the bottom of this page.

You are invited - 25th Annual Winter Concert - January 30, 6:30pm., free admission See our calendar for location details.

Interested in joining? - contact Director

On this page:

2025-2026 Auditions

RESOURCE FROM DIRECTOR

Link to Suggested Strategy for Auditioning
(Above document includes practical tips on how to spread out and pace the preparation of audition requirements.)

The WSHSB Concert Season runs throughout the school year, fall through spring. Those who wish to be part of the WSHSB Annual Summer Chair Competition must submit an audition, YouTube video by the deadline, August 5, 2025. There is no audition for Cadets (beginners). Those who do not submit an audition for Concert Band (Junior, Senior, or Symphonic) levels will not receive music and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED A MEMBER OF THE BAND. Summer is the only time to audition for a chair position.

AUDITION MUSIC RELEASE

TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2025, 9AM – 7PM

No audition is necessary for beginners, Cadets.
See the link to Cadet Requirements at the bottom of this page.

Senior and Symphonic Band Audition packets must be picked up on July 8.

Note to Junior Auditionees: Junior auditions DO NOT require any sheet music. Rather, the audition comes completely from the gold Essential Elements 1 book. See “Suggested Strategy for Auditioning” link above for tips and guide to scheduling audition prep/practice.

Note to Adult Helpers: NO audition required for Cadet or Junior band. Adults wishing to place into Senior or Symphonic for the first time, or move up a level to Senior or Symphonic, are required to produce a one-time, acceptable audition for that band.

IMPORTANT: There is NO EARLY RELEASE of audition packets and UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will audition sheet music be mailed. Plan ahead if you will be on vacation or gone for the holiday and coordinate with a friend to get your music on July 8.

You may not simply “show up” at the director’s home on July 8 and expect to receive audition music. Current members must have previously filled-in the Band Commitment/Declaration at band. New people should have had prior contact with the director to determine for which band(s) they intend to audition. Without the Band Commitment/Declaration from current members or prior contact from new people, no audition music packet will be prepared for you and you will have to arrange, with the director, for pick-up on a later, scheduled date/time.

DEADLINE for SUBMITTING AUDITIONS

To be considered for a ranked chair

YouTube AUDITION(S) MUST BE EMAILED AND
RECEIVED BY THE DIRECTOR
BY 5PM, TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 2025.

After the deadline they will be judged based on the Late Audition Policy.

LATE AUDITION POLICY

In order to be considered for a ranked chair position your YouTube audition link must be received on time, by the deadline. Once the audition deadline has passed, you are still able to join by submitting an audition, knowing you will be placed at the end of the instrument section.

2025-2026 Winter REGISTRATION DEADLINE

August 5, 2025, same deadline as auditions

Return your registration anytime after Booster jobs are released on 7/28 and by the August 5 deadline.

No auditions will be accepted without returning a fully completed 2025-2026 WINTER Registration.

NOTE: Adult members with no students must also submit a completed Registration Form so we have the most Current information

A complete 2025-2026 WINTER Registration includes:

Booster Job(s) – Booster Jobs will be released Monday, July 28 at 7PM, first come first served. You must sign up on WSHSB Signup Schedule first. Then enter the job(s) you signed up for on page 2 of the registration form (job title, time and date for each job).
The commitment page – Due to increasing conflicts with other activities, all members are required to complete page 3, the Commitment page. PARENTS: List any and all known conflicts/absences your students will have. A parent’s signature is required.
Handbook Agreement – After reading and reviewing the Handbook on our website, a parent and each band member must sign, date and initial the Handbook Agreement on page 4.
Payment of registration fees – see page 1 of the form for fee table. Late fee is applicable after August 5.
Rental Form and fee(s) if applicable – Online, fillable Rental form(s) must be completed, printed and RECEIVED with fee(s) by the Registration deadline. Adult helpers must also complete a Rental form if using a WSHSB owned instrument.

AUDITION PROCEDURES/POLICIES

Students wishing to join the WSHSB for the first time must contact the director to discuss their specific audition requirements.

Current students must audition for each band on the instrument they intend to play. Every audition must be COMPLETELY NEW for 2025-2026 including ALL REQUIRED ELEMENTS as defined within the respective audition requirements at the bottom of this page.

Current students who desire to move up to the next band level – In order to be considered for a band level promotion, the student needs to prepare and perform BOTH an audition for the band they are in currently, along with an audition for the new level to which the student is aspiring.

AUDITIONING FOR A PARTICULAR BAND DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTANCE IN THAT BAND

There may be limits in instrument sections within each band level.

The WSHSB Concert Season roster, which runs fall through spring each school year, will be set and emailed to members prior to the first, fall band rehearsal.

The bands for which students choose to audition have a direct effect on planning the entire concert season. The balance and number of instruments affect the composition of each band as well as the selection of music. The WSHSB will not be able to accommodate changes once members choose an instrument and band level at the beginning of the band year.

No member has the authority to acquire another band’s/instrument’s music or to insert themselves into a band for which they never auditioned. This is different from being a director-approved helper on your primary instrument in another band, which does not require an extra audition to fulfill that role. There are times when the director may request a member’s help, in another band level, but these kinds of situations are up to the director’s discretion.

RECORDING AUDITIONS

Recording audition(s) at home allows the student to record multiple “takes” of each required passage. The student can then re-record something with which they are not happy. Even if the student feels their audition is not very good, they should submit it anyway. They have nothing to lose. Having a recorded audition allows the director to go back and re-listen to specific elements.

REQUIRED AUDITION VIDEO FORMAT
No auditions will be accepted on external storage devices or DVDs
Only YouTube Auditions will be accepted.

The director is not able to assist in making any YouTube audition(s).
Every audition must be COMPLETELY NEW for 2025-2026 including ALL REQUIRED ELEMENTS as defined within each audition. Do not skip any elements. Points will be deducted for missing elements.
Once students have pieced together the clips of each passage that are most satisfying, in accuracy and technicality, it’s time to upload. Set the YouTube audition link to UNLISTED. DO NOT set it to private or public.
Include YouTube links for all elements of each member’s audition in one email. DO NOT send individual elements in separate emails.
Email links to the director at her REGULAR .org email address. DO NOT send through the WSHSB website contact form.
The WSHSB director is aware YouTube uploading can take up to a few hours or more, depending on various factors, electronic and otherwise.

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO UPLOAD your audition to YouTube.

ROSTER CONSIDERATIONS

AUDITIONING FOR A PARTICULAR BAND DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTANCE IN THAT BAND.

You will be placed in a band level based on your complete audition, your proficiency and the needs within each band section. Omitting audition elements has a negative effect on the audition score. Also, a student’s ability to commit to/attend band regularly, also factors in that decision. Much time, thought and prayer go into making the assignments.

After the director has reviewed and evaluated all auditions, band/roster assignments are determined and set, prior to the first band rehearsal. Assignments remain unchanged for the duration of the concert season, unless initiated by the director alone. Students are not allowed to “promote” or change bands during the year, unless invited by the director. For example, this may be done for musical/instrumentation needs.

It is important to remember that each student is placed on their own ability as compared to all of the other students on that instrument. It is sometimes difficult to realize you are joining a band program whose current members have been playing, practicing and studying their instruments for some years. This ensures the quality of all our bands is continuously improving.

CONFLICTS WITH BAND

We are asking parents to help guide their students to make prudent, responsible and reasonable decisions about their commitment choices, instilling the importance of following through to the best of their ability. Students can only do what their parents will allow.

Wanting to take advantage of and experience a wide variety of things, some students are over-committing themselves. The question becomes, “What is the least I can do and still belong?” In the case of band, when a player is missing, a crucial or exposed part may go vacant. If that part is covered by another student, their part goes vacant and so on.

Life involves making choices, being faithful to one’s commitments, taking pride in what we do and doing the BEST we can. It’s not always easy but it’s always worth it and builds character.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR AFTER THE AUDITION MATTERS

The director reserves the right to change roster positions and/or part assignments as needed to benefit the band.

The director has had to make changes in the past and regrets when she is left with that difficult decision. Infractions are taken very seriously and may include: lack of regular weekly attendance, disrespectful attitude, students’ personal behavior issues and/or uncooperative spirit, etc.

One’s attendance record weighs very heavily and can be a major factor and catalyst influencing a roster position or part assignment change. An outstanding audition may earn a student a top chair. However, students need to realize it is more than just a title. Highly ranked chairs are expected to accept their position as a serious responsibility with a personal commitment to band.

Indeed, the WSHSB needs all students to take their commitment to the band seriously. The director, fellow band members and parents are gratified by all those who do so.

The director adds, “We expect good attendance throughout the year. It is crucial to the entire band and to the success of the concert that all rehearsals, but ESPECIALLY the FINAL 3 REHEARSALS before a concert, are not missed by any percussionist or wind musician.” Failure to do so may result in a change in part assignment, roster position, or possible exclusion from a concert.