Please review the specific audition requirements below for each audition type. Please note that repertoire requirements vary by instrument and audition type.
Choruses
Children's Choruses
Includes Preparatory Chorus, Children's Chorus, and Chamber Chorus.
All new students are required to audition. Returning students wishing to change choruses are required to audition. Students with changing voices should audition in the fall. Returning students who wish to remain in the same chorus do not need to audition.
Requirements: Students should be prepared to sing one or two songs of their choice that best demonstrate their voice. No accompanist is required. Folk songs, Happy Birthday, or anything else the student is comfortable singing are all acceptable.
Tourjée Singers
Open to students ages 13-16 as of September 2020.
Only new students are required to audition. Returning students will receive invitations to return and can confirm their positions in June.
Requirements: Prepare 2 contrasting pieces of your choice that best demonstrate your vocal and expressive ability. Suggested repertoire includes art songs or folk songs. Returning students may be asked to participate in a placement hearing in the fall. This hearing will solely be for the conductor to evaluate vocal development since the prior performance season. Video auditions should be performed with accompaniment (either live piano accompaniment or CD accompaniment).
Youth Chorale & Camerata
Open to students ages 14 - 18 as of September 2020.
Only new students are required to audition. Returning students will receive invitations to return and can confirm their positions in June.
Auditions for Camerata will be held in September 2020 for accepted Youth Chorale students who are interested.
Requirements: Prepare 2 pieces of your choice, preferably one in English and one in a foreign language, both in contrasting styles and that best demonstrate your vocal and expressive ability. Suggested repertoire includes art songs or similar pieces. Video auditions should be performed with accompaniment (either live piano accompaniment or CD accompaniment).
Choral Recommendation Letters
NEC Prep Chorus applicants will need to provide at least one recommendation letter as part of your application. The letter of recommendation should speak specifically to the student’s ability to read music. The recommender should be your most recent private teacher (or a music teacher or ensemble director).
The application system will send the recommender an email to register and complete the recommendation via this online system. This process will happen as soon as you enter the contact information and save your application; you do not need to submit the application for your recommenders to be notified. You will be able to check the status of your recommendation on your application.
The recommendation letter is due on the same day as the application deadline of May 15th. We encourage you to add the recommender information as soon as it is confirmed to allow the recommender time to complete the letter prior to the deadline.
Wind Ensembles
Wind ensemble auditions include Sr. MYWE, Jr. MYWE, and MYWE Concert Band. Audition requirements are determined by grade level for the 2020–2021 academic year.
Percussionists: If you have limited access to percussion equipment due to COVID-19, please be in touch with Christine Witmer, Associate Director, at Christine.Witmer@necmusic.edu
Grades 10-12
Open to students in Grades 10-12 as of September 2020. New and returning students are required to audition.
Requirements: Students should prepare two contrasting pieces at the All-State level. Additionally, students should submit 3 scales. 2 scales should be of the students' choice (major or minor, up to four flats and four sharps). The third scale should be a chromatic scale in the range of the students' choice.
Grades 6-9
Open to students in Grades 6-9 as of September 2020. New and returning students are required to audition.
Requirements: Students should prepare two contrasting pieces at the Junior District level. Additionally, students should submit 3 scales. 2 scales should be of the students' choice (major or minor, up to three flats and three sharps). The third scale should be a chromatic scale in the range of the students' choice.
Jazz
Youth Jazz Orchestra
New students are required to audition. Returning students do not need to audition.
Requirements:
- Brass, Saxophone players
- Solo Pieces: Prepare one medium tempo jazz piece of your choice (you should not play a ballad.) Pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter, etc. are acceptable standards.
- Scales: Prepare Major scales in concert pitch: B flat and F two octaves if possible. Prepare minor scales in concert pitch: C and A two octaves if possible. Scales should be prepared in the following tempo: Eighth Note = 60bpm
- Piano, Guitar and Bass players
- Solo Pieces: Prepare one medium tempo jazz piece of your choice (you should not play a ballad.) Pieces by Ellington, Parker, Gershwin, Mingus, Monk, Porter, etc. are acceptable standards.
- Scales: Prepare Major scales in concert pitch: B flat and F two octaves if possible. Prepare minor scales in concert pitch: C and A two octaves if possible. Scales should be prepared in the following tempo: Eighth Note = 60bpm
- Prepare a video comp/walking over a 12 bar blues
- Drummers:
- Please play various tempos, swings, and Latin grooves. It is not necessary to present the requirements listed above.
Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar
Open to students ages 13-18 as of September 2020. New and returning students are required to audition each year.
Requirements: Prepare two contrasting solo pieces or two contrasting movements from the same solo work. Students are required to prepare the chamber music excerpts available below. Students will also be asked to complete the supplemental form available below before their audition.
