Posted by Illinois on October 02, 2003 at 19:11:23:
In Reply to: Differences in All-State Tryouts by Stat posted by Tuba Dad on October 02, 2003 at 17:05:50:
The Illinois Music Educators association holds auditions in October for nine districts across the state. The audition material consists of all major and melodic minor scales, two contrasting etudes from Blazhevich (sorry about spelling) and an original etude for sightreading. The top player from each district is placed in the all-district orchestra and the remaining accepted players are placed in the band.
In November, after the conclusion of the district festivals, a meeting is held in which musicians are nominated for all-state, which is held at the beginning of February. Nominations are based on the results of the October audition. The number of students selected from each district is based on the number of schools in that district, such that bigger districts have send more students to the all-state conference than smaller districts.
There are two all-state bands and two all-state orchestras: the "honors" ensembles and the "all-state" ensembles. The "honors" groups are the higher level ensembles. Ensemble placement is based on a new audtion taken at the beginning of the conference. For tubists in the district band, the audition material is the same. Tubists in the district orchestras also audition on excerpts from the music to be performed by the orchestras. Only those who were in the district orchestra are eligible for participation in the all-state orchestras. However, there are fewer spaces availiable in the orchestras (4) than there are eligible auditionees (9), so some members of the district orchestras will be placed in either of the two bands.