Concordia's National Honor Orchestra
We invite and encourage the best high school string instrumentalist from around the country to audition! In their time on campus, student selected to participate will work with Concordia's music department students and faculty in clinics and rehearsals. They will receive a full day of high energy, focused rehearsing and acclaimed performances. Any high school string orchestra students are encouraged to audition! For those selected to participate, a $45 registration fee applies and covers event costs, lunch and an Honor Orchestra t-shirt.
Applications and video auditions are due October 1.
Schedule
Check-in at 8:30 a.m.
Rehearsals, lunch, rehearsals
4 p.m. concert in the PE Gym
Audition Instructions
Make a video recording including the following, in this order:
- State your name, current grade level and the name of the school you attend. (Please make sure we can hear you!)
- Play scales:
- Violins and basses: play a two-octave D major scale (basses: start on an open D and drop to open E on the second note to work up from there)
- Violas and cellos: play a two-octave G major scale
- Perform a 1 or 2‐minute excerpt from whichever of the following best shows your skills:
- Solo piece
- Etude piece
- Excerpt from your current orchestra music
- (optional) Repeat steps 2 & 3 if you are auditioning on multiple instruments.
FAQs
We welcome – and encourage ‐‐ auditions for choir, band and orchestra from high school level students (freshman through senior) from any public, private or home school.
Absolutely! Just make sure you complete an application and submit a video for each ensemble for which you’d like to audition. Please clearly state your name, grade level and high school at the beginning of each video. Note: you can audition for both, but you cannot be selected for both Honor Band and Honor Orchestra, since they will meet and rehearse at the same times.
If it’s helpful to start your scales by playing a note on the piano, feel free! Excerpts from solos or etudes can also be accompanied – just make sure we can hear you on the video and not just the piano. For vocal auditions, the stanza of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” should be unaccompanied. If you’d like to sing a short excerpt from an additional song with accompaniment, you may... but again, be sure we can hear your voice clearly and not just the piano! Your audition should not include video of you playing/singing in an ensemble.
Give it your best shot! Your school ensemble director, lesson teacher or church musician can also be a great resource if you have any questions about what to do for your audition or how best to prepare. And you can always email music@cune.edu with your questions, too.
Auditions and applications will be reviewed in the first week of October and results sent via email by October 8. Make sure you include your correct contact information on your application form so we can reach you! Those selected for the ensembles MUST confirm their participation. An online confirmation form will be with the audition results.