Music Auditions

Students who are taking a music performance class, such as band, chorus, piano, guitar, or orchestra, and have music experience are encouraged to audition to be placed in an advanced performance class. The music department will hold auditions in person on May 14th and 16th from 3:30-5:30 pm. Email the director listed below to schedule an audition. If you are unable to attend in-person, you may also contact the director to schedule a virtual audition.  Instructions for virtual auditions are included below for all performance class.

Please consider attending our Spring Concerts!

-Guitar: April 24th at 3:30 pm at Lane
-Orchestra: April 26th at 6 pm at Lane
-Choir: May 15th at 7 pm at Lane
–Band: May 8th at 6 pm at Lane

Orchestra
Any students who have string playing experience should contact Ms. Morales at dreedy1@cps.edu to schedule an audition. Students who are auditioning virtually will submit a video to that includes the following:
1. The student playing a solo or song of their choice
2. The student playing the D major scale and G major scale – either 1, 2, or 3 octaves, depending on what they are most comfortable with
3. The parent’s email address and phone number so that Ms. Morales can schedule a time for an over-the-phone sight reading portion of the audition.

At the scheduled time, Ms. Morales will call the parent and email the parent a sight-reading excerpt.  The student will play the excerpt over the phone. Sight-reading is important to place students in the correct level. This will often tip the scales between one class or another.

Contact Ms. Morales via email at dreedy1@cps.edu if you have additional questions.


Band
If you have previous experience with a band instrument, please contact Mr. Flygt at aflygt@cps.edu and Mr. Veren at sveren@cps.edu to set up an audition.  Students who are auditioning virtually should submit a video labeled with the student’s full name(First and Last), and should contain the following:

Email Mr. Flygt and Mr. Veren a continuous video of you playing:
1. A solo piece/band piece of your choice that demonstrates your playing ability
2. Play up and down two scales of your choice (two-octaves if possible)
3. A one-octave chromatic scale (if possible)
Contact Mr. Flygt at aflygt@cps.edu and Mr. Veren  at sveren@cps.edu if you have additional questions.

Choir
Incoming students interested in choir classes have two options for enrollment. OPTION #1: Students can enroll in Beginning Mixed Choir without an audition.  Beginning choir is appropriate for all levels of singing experience. These ensembles perform at concerts and special events. The goal of the class is to teach singing technique and sight reading and music theory skills needed to participate and succeed in higher level choir classes.  OPTION #2: Students who have experience in singing or take private lessons can audition for advanced level choir classes, such as Bel Canto Choir and Mixed Concert Choir.  Students auditioning for advanced classes can schedule an audition with Mr. Carrera at mcarrera@cps.edu or Ms. McKinstry at aemckinstry@cps.edu, or can submit a performance video via email.  Ms. McKinstry will follow-up with a phone call to ask any questions that she has for the parents and students.  Please contact Ms. McKinstry with any questions.
Click here for full choir details and additional information.

 

Piano
Incoming students interested in Piano/Keyboard class have two options for enrollment.  OPTION #1: Students can enroll in a Beginning Piano/Keyboard class without an audition.  There are limited seats available for incoming students and there may not be room for all students.  OPTION #2:  Students who have experience in piano/keyboard or take private lessons can audition for Intermediate or Advanced level piano classes.  Students who want to audition for Intermediate or Advanced Piano/Keyboard class need to contact Mr. Carrera at mcarrera@cps.edu or Ms. McKinstry at aemckinstry@cps.edu for audition and submission information.  Please email Mr. Carrera if you have any questions about piano/keyboard classes!

 

Guitar

Students with guitar experience should contact Mr. Saltz at basaltz@cps.edu to set up an audition. Students who are auditioning virtually should submit a video that includes the student:

  1. playing an excerpt of a song that includes barre chords.
  2. demonstrating the open chords A, C, E, G, Am, Dm, and Em.
  3. playing down and up a blues scale of their choice.

Please contact Mr. Saltz at basaltz@cps.edu if you have additional questions.