All-State Middle School String Orchestra

• Students auditioning must be in 6^th – 8^th grade.
• The ensemble director of students auditioning must be a current LMEA member.
• Students auditioning must be enrolled in a Louisiana-accredited middle school and must be an active member of that school’s string or instrumental ensemble program. Students’ ensemble directors must be current full LMEA members.
  
• In a situation where there is no ensemble in the school, the student must be enrolled in a Louisiana-accredited middle school and be certified by the eligible music teacher at that school or a private teacher who is a current full LMEA member. Click for a list of Nonpublic Accredited Approved Schools 2024-25.
  
• Students must audition in their school’s LMEA district.
• District directors will verify that teachers of all students participating in these auditions are current members of LMEA.
• Students are eligible for membership in only one All-State ensemble.

• Student Release of Information Form – this will need to be printed, signed, and must be turned in to your district. Follow your district’s instructions for submitting this form. Auditions cannot be adjudicated without this form.
• Registration – the information for all students auditioning must be submitted by the District Director or the District’s designee to the state Orchestra Chair. Students and their directors must follow their districts instructions and deadlines for submitting this information.

The date, time, and location will be set by the district to allow enough time to have all audition recordings and registration information uploaded by the set deadline.

• $15 per audition
• Ensemble directors should follow their District Director’s instructions and deadline for submitting school checks.
  Note: Audition fees must be received before an audition will be recorded.
  
• District Directors must confirm with the Orchestra Division Chair that they have received all audition fees by the deadline for submitting audition recordings.
• Each District Director will submit a single district check (made out to LMEA) to the Orchestra Division Chair for all string audition entries from their district.
• An audition cannot be adjudicated if the audition fee has not been received.
• All auditioner information will be submitted on the Google form by the District Director or his/her designee. This includes: Name, School, Grade, Instrument or Voice, All-State Ensemble preference, T-Shirt Size, Audio audition file, Verification of receipt of the “Student Release of Information Form.” District Directors will communicate to their district regarding how they want to receive student information.
• All audition recordings must also be submitted via the Google form by the District Director or his/her designee by the deadline set by the Orchestra Division Chair. (Links will be sent to the District Director.)
• The current year’s deadline for submitting all audition recordings and registrations will be determined by the Orchestra Division Chair.

MULTIPLE INSTRUMENTS. Students may audition on more than one instrument, but must submit the audition fee and a separate registration for each instrument.

Each LMEA district will conduct and record district level auditions and submit the audio recordings to the LMEA Orchestra Chair to determine:

1. Membership in the string sections of the LMEA All-State Middle School Orchestra
2. To establish a preliminary rank order of students by string section

The violin rank order will be used to assign 1st or 2nd parts to students selected to the orchestra. All rank orders may be used to break ties in the state level chair placement auditions.

AUDITION CYCLE:

There is a 3-year rotation cycle of audition materials for strings consisting of selected major scales and prepared selections. 
Note: The Orchestra Division Chair can also elect to require orchestral excerpts from the upcoming All-State repertoire. If this occurs, the information will be posted to the LMEA website.

• SCALES (30% of score) – Scales will consist of the following 2 octave major scales: C, G, D, A, and Bb. Scales must be played as described, including the order, articulation, and minimum tempo. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo. The students may use music to perform their scales.

Major Scales: minimum tempo is quarter note = 60 (scales will be played regardless of year or corresponding set for that particular year)

VIOLIN – Two octaves; play four slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.

G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 2 Oct.: Down GABC Up DEF#G Down ABCD Up EF#GF# Down GF#ED Up CBAG Down F#EDC Up BAG)

VIOLA – Two octaves; play four slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.

G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 2 Oct.: Down GABC Up DEF#G Down ABCD Up EF#GF# Down GF#ED Up CBAG Down F#EDC Up BAG)

CELLO – Two octaves; play two slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.

G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 2 Oct.: Down GA Up BC, Down DE Up F#G, Down AB Up CD, Down EF# Up GF#, Down GF# Up ED, Down CB Up AG, Down F#E Up DC, Down BAG)

BASS – One octave; play two slurred sixteenth notes per bow, ascending and descending.

G, C, D, A, Bb major scales
(Bowing Ex. 1Oct.: Down GA Up BC Down DE Up F#G Down GF# Up ED Down CB Up AG)

PIANO and HARP – Two octaves; play sixteenth notes, legato ascending and descending.

G, C, D, A, Bb major scales

• PREPARED SELECTIONS (70% of score) – There is a 3-year rotation of prepared selections. Audition material will be organized into three sets of etudes derived from Suzuki books 3 and 4 for Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass. Music must be performed in the order listed. This portion of the audition will be evaluated on tone quality, note and rhythmic accuracy, intonation, bowing, and tempo.

VIOLIN

SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Humoresque by A. Dvorak, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m25 to end).
Selection 2: Concerto for two violins by J.S. Bach, Suzuki BK#4 Revised Edition (beginning to end of m22).

SET 2 – 2025-26
Selection 1: Gavotte by J. Becker, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to m26).
Selection 2: Concerto a minor, Mvt. 1, by A. Vivaldi, Suzuki BK#4 (beginning to m 17 down beat).

SET 3 – 2026-27
Selection 1: Bourree by J.S. Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end no repeat).
Selection 2: Concerto No. 5, Mvt. 1, by F. Seitz, Suzuki BK#4 Revised Edition (m35 to end of m59).

VIOLA

SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Gavotte by Martini, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m16-32 downbeat before A).
Selection 2: Gavotte in G Minor by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (16 B to m40 down beat before A).

SET 2 – 2025-26
Selection 1: Minuet by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m57 to end).
Selection 2: Gavotte by Becker, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (3^rd beat of m42 to end).

SET 3 – 2026-27
Selection 1: Minuet in D by Mozart, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end no repeats).
Selection 2: Gavotte from Orchestral Suite No. 3 by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (mvt.II m1-15).

CELLO

SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Gavotte in C minor by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beg to m32).
Selection 2: Scherzo by Webster, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (m33 to end).

SET 2 – 2025-26
Selection 1: Minuet by Boccherini, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end no repeat).
Selection 2: Humoresque by Dvorak, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (25 to end).

SET 3 – 2026-27
Selection 1: Minuet in G by Beethoven, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end no repeat).
Selection 2: Allegro Moderato by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to m37).

BASS

SET 1 – 2024-25
Selection 1: Minuet 2 by Bach, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end no repeats).
Selection 2: Scherzo by Webster, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to meno mosso).

SET 2 – 2025-26
Selection 1: Andantino by Suzuki, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end).
Selection 2: L’Elephant by Saint-Saens, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end).

SET 3 – 2026-27
Selection 1: Moon over the Ruined Castle by Taki, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end).
Selection 2: Bouree by Handel, Suzuki BK#3 Revised Edition (beginning to end).

HARP and PIANO

ALL YEARS
Prepare approximately 3 to 4 minutes of an etude or solo that demonstrates the full range of the student’s performance ability. The choice of music is left to the discretion of the student, but should include contrasting tempi and styles. The title and composer of the selection must be included with the audition recording.

MONITORS and AUDITION:

• All string auditions will be audio recorded (.mp3 file).
• Each District Director will assign one or more monitors to record the auditions and certify that each auditioner played the material without any restarts.
• Monitors should be carefully selected by the district director to ensure procedural continuity of the audition.
  
• An audio test of the recorder and room should be done before any auditions begin. Be sure the student will be clearly heard.
• The monitor will read the following script to announce and identify each auditioner:
  “On (Insert Instrument), this is Audition Number (Insert Audition Number).”
• Be sure that the instrument and audition number announced on the recording are accurately entered on the track sheet. (A link to the track sheet will be sent to the District Director.)
  
• Monitors should verify that the recording is on the recorder before the auditioner leaves the room (if possible). (This can be done by playing a few seconds of the recording and checking the length of the file on the recorder.)
• Audition restarts will only be allowed if there is a technical issue with the recorder.
• Each recorded audition must be unedited and made in one single file – do not dub any portion of the audition.

TRACK SHEET

• A track sheet, which will be shared with the District Director via Google Sheets, will be used to enter the audition information at the “room” level. This includes: Room Number, Recorder Number, File Name, File Duration, Last Name, First Name, Instrument/Voice, Audition Number.
• The Room Number, Recorder Number, File Name and Audition Number are to be determined by the District Director or his/her designee.
• There should be one track sheet for each room used at the audition.

RECORDING EQUIPMENT

• Given the two-fold purpose of these auditions (selection to All-State Orchestra and establishment of the preliminary ranking), it is paramount that the district director or the designated orchestra representative make every effort to utilize recording equipment that exceeds that of consumer grade.
• The recommended recorder is a typical “voice recorder” like those used for adjudicators at large ensemble assessment. District Directors have received information about these recorders.
• For optimal results and to ensure an even playing field for students, have students stand no more than four feet away from the microphone.

AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS and ORDER:

1. Start the recorder.
   
2. Identification Information: The monitor will read the student identification script (see above).
3. Scales: The student will then play the scales on the current set’s scale sheet (in the printed order).
   
4. Prepared Selections: Next, the student will play the prepared selections in the order listed in the current year’s set.
   

AUDITION FILE SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:

• Each District Director (or designee) will be responsible for submitting the auditioner information and uploading the audio audition files (.mp3 files only) into the Google form provided by the audition coordinator no later than the deadline set by the orchestra division chair.
• All information and audition recordings must be submitted by the deadline set by the orchestra division chair. District Directors will communicate to their district regarding how they want to receive student information – name, school, grade, instrument, All-State ensemble preference, t-shirt size, audio audition file, verification of receipt of the “Student Release of Information Form.”
• Google Drive is one of the easiest and most accessible platforms to use for file sharing. However, some school districts restrict the sharing of files from their school google drives. Files must be accessible to the chairperson to be judged for inclusion in the All-State ensemble. Discussions with your school district’s IT department may be necessary to ensure inclusion in the All-State audition adjudication process.

• The audition results will create a preliminary rank order of students in all sections and will determine the assignment of 1st and 2nd violin parts. These results will be posted on the website by the Orchestra Chair (under Audition Results: All-State.)
• Music for the All-State program is selected by the current year’s All-State conductor. Approximately one month before the All-State event, students selected to the string section should receive their music.
• Tentative instrumentation for the All-State String Orchestra will be:
  1. (18) 1st Violins (18) 2nd Violins
  2. (12) Violas
  3. (12) Celli
  4. (8) Basses

• Students must learn all their music prior to arriving at the All-State event.
  
• State level auditions will be held for all string members and will take place at the All-State Middle School String Orchestra site just prior to the first All-State rehearsal. The exact times will be on the All-State schedule of rehearsals. These will function as chair-placement auditions.
  
• Ties for chair placement will be broken by the rank orders from the initial audition.
• Ordinarily, one harp and one piano player (as required by the All-State music) will be selected for membership in the All-State Orchestra, based on the district level audition. There is no state level audition for these students.

• Students are responsible for preparing all of their music prior to arriving at the All-State event.
• Audition material for the state level (chair placement) auditions will consist of excerpts from the current All-State Orchestra program. Music will be sent to the District Director or district’s designated Orchestra Chair approximately one month before the All-State event. Additional information will also be posted on this page as it becomes available.
• These auditions will be evaluated based on tone quality, intonation, note accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, bowing, and musicality. Approximate tempos will be indicated in these parts.
• Results of the chair placement will be posted outside of the designated rehearsal hall before the first rehearsal.

All-State Rules and Regulations are part of the All-State School and Emergency Permission Form and are to be signed by each student, parent, director and principal involved.

Rules and Regulations for LMEA All-State:

1. Teachers are required to screen students who are discipline problems and not allow them to audition.
2. Students are expected to follow their school’s rules while at LMEA All-State.
3. Students must be present and on time for registration, all rehearsals, and any other scheduled All-State events.
4. Students failing to adhere to their LMEA All-State schedule or the rules and regulations are subject to dismissal.
5. Students are responsible for their personal equipment and instruments, including any school instruments or other items checked out to them. LMEA will not assume responsibility for lost, damaged or stolen equipment or instruments.
6. Any student who participates in any type of vandalism will be subject to immediate dismissal. The student and the school will be held responsible for damages.
7. Any student in possession of prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription, any illegal drugs or other illegal substances, including alcoholic beverages, or who consumes any of these will be subject to immediate dismissal. The parent, director, and administrator will be notified.
8. Students’ teachers are required to be current LMEA members and to register for and be present at the All-State event and Professional Development Conference to ensure students are supervised/chaperoned when not in rehearsals or another scheduled All-State activity.
9. Parents or a designated chaperone are responsible for students when they are not in a rehearsal or at an LMEA sponsored event.

Consequences and procedures related to the violation of any rules:

1. The student’s principal, director and parents will be immediately notified of any rule violation.
2. A disciplinary committee consisting of the Executive Director, the LMEA President, and the Band, Orchestra, Vocal, Guitar, Handbell, or Jazz Ensemble Chairperson (as pertinent) shall review any disciplinary problems before dismissal from the All-State group is recommended.
3. Any student dismissed (sent home) from an All-State event will be prohibited from participating in any LMEA event for one (1) full year starting from the time of the dismissal.
4. Any school organization whose student (or students) must be dismissed from an LMEA All-State event will be placed on a one-year probation. If a student is dismissed within the probation period, that school organization will be prohibited from participating in LMEA All-State events the following year.
5. Any infraction and subsequent dismissal will be referred to the LMEA Executive Board for resolution and clarification.