The Young People's Auditions
A non-competitive program where students receive evaluations and ratings from an impartial panel of judges.
Covid-19 Update: Please see below for the 2021 Alternative to Auditions plan and Scholarship and Audition forms.
2021 Auditions Update
Due to the ongoing pandemic and resultant restrictions, the Guild will not be holding our regular Student Auditions this year. In lieu of this and to offer our students an opportunity to share their accomplishments we are offering a performance venue similar to the recent Marathon event. Under the guidance and discretion of their teacher, students may submit a video performance of up to 10 minutes in length that will be posted on our Guild YouTube channel. The videos can be submitted through the Submit Content option on the Guild Website from April 23rd through May 7th. No additional forms are required. The videos will be available for viewing within a few days of submission and up until May 14th.
History of the Young People's Auditions
The Young People's Auditions were conceived in the late 1950's by the Rockland Symphony Orchestra to select young soloists for perform at its Young People's Concerts. When the Rockland County Music Teachers Guild was founded in 1962, it assumed responsibility for conducting the auditions and expanded the program to include a non-competitive division where students receive evaluations and ratings from an impartial panel of judges.
Judging
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Students will be heard by two impartial judges.
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For pianists, both judges will be pianists. For instrumentalists and singers, when there are five or more applicants for a given instrument, at least one will have expertise in the instrument.
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Judges will be provided with the applicant's first name, age, grade in school and seasons studied, but not the teacher's name.
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Judges are selected from outside the RCMTG and county when possible.
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Judges will select one work as "best performed." If the student qualifies for the Blue and Gold Recital, this will be the work performed.
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Comments regarding judging and grading should be addresssed to the audition chairs. Any unauthorized communication with judges, prior to or after the audition, may result in disqualification of the teacher or student the following season.
Eligibility
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All applicants must study with a teacher that is a RCMTG member.
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Applicants must be of school age to 25 years, and vocal applicants must be at least 14.
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If a student has not completed one season (30 weeks) with the current teacher by the application deadline, the student will need written consent from the previous teacher.
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Concerto Division applicants must not have graduated high school yet.
Fees
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Teachers must list exact repertoire and create a program under 10 or 20 minutes and indicate this on the application.
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Teachers are required to indicate the exact length of the program to assist in appropriate scheduling of judges.
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One fee covers the ensemble in the ensemble division.
Under 10 min. = $30
Under 20 min. = $40
Concerto Division: if program will run over 20 minutes the fee is $50.
Repertoire
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Selections should demonstrate at least two contrasting moods or tempi, with the program arranged in any order.
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The student must provide the panel with one score of each selection whether or not the music is memorized. Avoid photocopies when possible. Transcriptions are permitted; simplified arrangements are not.
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Teachers are urged to select material well within the student's technical and emotional grasp.
ALL INSTRUMENTS
Three contrasting selections demonstrating a variety of styles, moods and tempi.
VOICE
CLASSICAL: Three selections in three languages demonstrating a variety of styles, moods and tempI.
MUSICAL THEATER: Three selections in a variety of styles, moods and tempi. All may be in English.
Students may enter both categories for a double fee, but no duplication of repertoire is allowed.
(Students may enter both categories for a double fee, but no duplication of repertoire is allowed.)
Requirements
Division
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All applicants (except solo piano) must provide an accompanist. The student is responsible for scores and fees. Names of accompanists are available on request.
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The judges retain the right not to declare winners or alternates.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE DIVISION
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Applicants will not be required to perform from memory. Judges will not alter grades of applicants if music is memorized or not memorized.
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Students who do perform from memory will receive special recognition in the Blue and Gold Program if they are selected.
CONCERTO DIVISION
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Applicants compete for the honor of performing with the Rockland Symphony Orchestra (RSO), a concerto movement or comparable work for solo instrument or voice and orchestra.
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Concerto movements must be memorized, solo works are not required to be memorized.
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The movement counts as one selection of the three works required. Follow the guidelines in Repertoire Requirements for the other two solo works.
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Any cuts to long scores in the concerto movement must be approved by the audition committee at the time of the application. Should the concerto be chosen for performance, the musical director of the RSO must approve cuts or change in repertoire. If the work is not standard repertoire, the teacher must determine availability of the orchestral score and parts. The RSO will generally accept one pianist, one instrumentalist and one vocalist. An alternate may be names in each category, to be used at the discretion of the RSO.
Requirements
Standards
Teachers should review these standards below with students and parents well
before Audition day.
A pair of judges will score from 80 to 100.
The average score determines the ribbon color.
Scores which average 1/2 will be rounded to the next higher grade.
Teachers should pick up their evaluations and grades at the designated center at the end of Audition day, or authorize someone to do so.
Scores 100-81 indicated below. Scores of 80 and below indicate unsatisfactory performance, unprepared and poorly executed. Perhaps severe memory or technical lapses.
All students receive a Certificate of Participation
Grades | Ribbons
GOLD
100-96
Outstanding performance,
played with expression, style, taste, technical security and poise. Any missed notes do not disturb the flow. Instrumentalists and vocalists show mastery of intonation. Repertoire is appropriate for age and seasons of study. All three pieces are well mastered and ready for public performance.
BLUE
95-91
Superior performance,
well prepared and executed. Perhaps one or two musical or technical elements are not quite mastered, or there is a brief memory or technical slip. Instrumentalists and vocalists demonstrate a pleasing level of intonation. At least two, if not all three, pieces are mastered and ready for public performance.
GREEN
90-86
Commendable performance, with moments of beauty. Although there is some work worth noting, student may appear unnerved, or at times perform hesitantly or perfunctorily. Instrumentalists and vocalists may show lapses in intonation. At least two pieces are not ready for public performance.
RED
85-81
Satisfactory performance,
but perhaps a mechanical or academic rendition with limited awareness of style and little attention to musical and technical elements. Instrumentalists and vocalists may show poor intonation. Perhaps all three pieces or not ready for public performance.