All-State High School Orchestra

• Students auditioning must be in 9^th – 12^th grade.
• Students auditioning must be enrolled in a Louisiana-accredited high school and must be an active member of that school’s string or instrumental ensemble program. Click for a list of Nonpublic Accredited Approved Schools 2024-25. 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 high school and be certified by the eligible music teacher at that school or a private teacher who is a current full LMEA member.
• 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.

DATE AND LOCATION. Each district director will schedule the date, time, and location for recording all string auditions in his/her district.

STUDENT RELEASE OF INFORMATION FORM – this form will need to be printed, signed, and submitted to your District Director. Follow your his/her instructions for submitting it. Auditions cannot be adjudicated without this form. 

AUDITION FEE and REGISTRATION:

• $15 per audition
• Ensemble directors should follow their District Director’s instructions and deadline for submitting school checks and registration information.
  
• District Directors must confirm the receipt all audition fees and forms by the date the audition files are uploaded. An audition cannot be adjudicated if the audition fee has not been received.
• All auditioner information will be submitted 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 “Release of Information” Form.
• All audition recordings and registration forms must be uploaded via the Google form by 11:59 pm on Monday, September 30, 2024 by the District Director or his/her designee. (Links will be sent to the District Director.)
• Students auditioning for more than one ensemble must indicate their preference of ensembles when their audition registration information is submitted. This information will be used should he/she be selected to participate in more than one of this year’s LMEA All-State ensembles.

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, harp, and piano sections of the LMEA All-State 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 4-year rotation cycle of audition materials for strings, harp, and piano, 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 by the last Saturday in August.

• Scales (30% of score) – Scales will be chosen from the following major scales: C, G, D, A, E, F, Bb, and Eb. These will rotate on a yearly basis as listed in the current year’s set (see below). 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.
• Prepared selections (70% of score) – There is a 4-year rotation of prepared selections consisting of one slow and one fast selection. 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.

Set I   – 2024-25
Set II  – 2025-26
Set III – 2026-27
Set IV – 2027-28

Wind players and percussionists will be selected from the All-State Band auditions. Click link to see the All-State Band requirements and follow that process.

CHAIR PLACEMENT AUDITIONS – Excerpts for all strings will be taken from the All-State program. These will be posted at a later date.

MONITORS and AUDITION:

• All string, piano, and harp 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.
• 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. Each recorded audition must be unedited and made in one single file.
   
2. Identification Information: The monitor will read the following script and identify each auditioner: “On (Insert Instrument), this is Audition Number (Insert Audition Number).”
   
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, adhering to the current year’s deadline.
• Links will be sent to the District Director by the Division Chair.
• The current year’s state deadline for submitting all information and audition recordings Saturday, September 23, 2023 by 11:59 pm. 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.

• Audition Results: 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 Monday, October 14, 2024 (by 11:59 pm).
  
• 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.

• Students must learn all their music prior to arriving at the All-State event. Music will be available to students selected to the All-State Orchestra’s string section approximately one month before the event.
• State level auditions, which function as chair-placement auditions, will be held for all string members and will take place at the All-State Orchestra site just prior to the first All-State rehearsal. The exact times will be on the All-State schedule of rehearsals.
  
• 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.

• 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.

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.