Festivals
There are many educational benefits when a student participates in the Fairfield County String Festival and Connecticut Music Educators Association (CMEA) Western Region and All-State audition process. These festivals bring students of like mind and ability together to work with nationally recognized guest conductors. The various ensembles rehearse together for a few days and then perform in concert. Each year, hundreds of high school musicians throughout state practice and prepare for their audition in hopes of being accepted for this special experience.
This activity is an extension of the Newtown music curricula and has many educational benefits. Each student is asked to demonstrate their musical skill, musical literacy, and interpretation through the performance of prepared repertoire, scales, and sight-reading. Students receive an individual critique of their musical strengths and weaknesses as well as recommendations for specific areas of growth. Students can audition for Choir, Concert Band, Orchestra, and/or Jazz Band.
The audition experience is a real world experience that will help students prepare for college and other auditions (ex. youth symphonies, community ensembles). The music that is selected for the audition solo is reflective of standard repertoire for each instrument and voice.
CMEA's Western Region and All-State festival information including dates, repertoire, forms can be found at http://www.cmea.org/auditions. Specific audition dates and details can be obtained through the intermediate, middle school and high school music teachers.
Adjudication score sheets will provide you the exact rubric to which all auditions are judged.