Vocal Music Audition Requirements for 2020-2021 Admissions

All applicants must thoroughly read and follow the 4 step application/audition process on the Admissions homepage.

DIRECTOR
Dr. Ryan Garrison and Meaghan Quigley

VOCAL MUSIC WEBSITE
Click Here

ONLINE APPLICATION
November 1, 2019 – January 3, 2020 at 9:00 am

PREAUDITION MEETING
Monday, January 6, 2020
6:00 pm
Schomp Theatre – DSA

PREVIEW DATES
DSA does not have a shadow program. Instead, we have 5 Preview Mornings. Preview is from 7:40 am – 9:30 am. It is for both parents and students. Everyone will spend the first half of the time in one large group hearing from the DSA principal. After the large group session, students and parents will receive a tour of the school from a DSA parent who is in the same major you’re interested in auditioning for.

To sign up for a Preview Morning, click HERE

AUDITION DATES
Your specific audition time will be given to you at the pre-audition meeting. Audition dates are:

January 28, 2020-(preference to 7th-11th grades)
February 1, 2020-(morning and afternoon; preference to incoming 6th grade)
February 4, 2020-(preference to 7th-11th grades)

ACCOMMODATIONS
If your student needs accommodations for the audition, as written in a 504 or IEP, please provide a copy of the 504 or IEP to Assistant Principal Aspen Burkett ONE WEEK before your student’s audition date.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Recommendation Form
Recommendation Form
1 from a music teacher
1 from an academic teacher
1 from a person of choice

Bring to the Audition
1. Two recommendations for each student on provided form:
Vocal Music Recommendation Form
(Do not mail to DSA – bring both forms in sealed envelopes to the audition.
2. 8″ X 10″ Headshot or normal individual photo (current). This will not be returned to you
3. Vocal Repertoire List (If applicable: Incoming grades 10-12 only); include songs formally studied in voice lessons (list song title, composer, and year studied).

Registration
1. Arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled audition time. Please be punctual.
2. Follow signs to check in with volunteer parents & students in the corridor outside of the DSA Concert Hall.
3. Turn in required materials (recommendations, head shot/photo and repertoire list for incoming students in grades 10-12)
4. Complete the Contact Information form
5. Obtain Audition Number and Audition Card (Card will go with you from skill-to-skill, and is required at check-out of audition).

Audition Elements
1. Group vocalization/Major scale as a group.
2. Sing America, the Beautiful as a group and as individuals
3. Aural recall/Sight-Singing/Major scale (individually)
4. America, the Beautiful (individually)
5. Prepared Solo Performance (individually)
6. Music Literacy Test (see below)

Solo Performance
1. Bring sheet music for piano or chords. A piano accompanist will be provided.
2. No CDs/downloads or outside accompanists are allowed.
3. Students may not accompany themselves
4. Introduce your first & last name clearly
5. Introduce your song title.
6. Sing approximately 1 minute of your song; pick the best portion of your song that shows range, vocal flexibility, and expressive qualities.
7. You may be stopped midway through your audition due to time constraints

Song option #1: Santa Lucia:
Santa Lucia sheet music

Santa Lucia piano practice

Santa Lucia vocal practice

Santa Lucia Italian Language practice

Shenanhoah piano practice

Music Literacy
A music literacy test is administered following the completion of the audition.
The test may contain the following:

• Defining or identifying musical terms and symbols
• Note names in both treble and bass clefs
• Key signatures

General Information
Students are scheduled for a 45-minute audition time, but they will also need to complete the music literacy test. There is no time limit on the music literacy test, so the total time for the audition process could be 45 min-1.5 hours.

We schedule groups of 10 to 12 students. Students will only perform in front of directors and vocal staff.

We typically schedule our High School students on the Tuesday audition dates and our Middle School students on Saturday. However, you must keep all three dates available as this could change based on the number of students we get per grade.

If you have further questions about scheduling or audition requirements, please contact our Audition Coordinator: Richard Raedeke vocal.auditions@comcast.net