WASO Auditions
King, Simon
Dear Parents and WASO Members
It is that time of year where we need to start to think about next year’s ensembles with pupils auditioning to move up to the next level ensemble, please read the following information and do speak with your ensemble conductor if you are unsure if you should be auditioning.
WASO Auditions – 2025
You start with WAYSE and Introductory Band and move up the pyramid as your standard grows. Some members play in more than one ensemble, for example, WYO and Concert Band members can play in both because they rehearse at different times. Having our more advanced students helping our younger members is also a great benefit and we like to encourage this as much as possible.
What does an audition involve?
- A piece of your own choice
- Sight reading.
- Scales/alternate exercises (Trinity College London Syllabus): usually something relating to the grade/stage/level you have reached.
Does everyone need to audition every year?
No, we will generally only be listening to those who want to move up to another ensemble. Auditions are for the following:
- WASTO/Concert band auditioning to join WYO.
- Wind Band auditioning to move up to concert band.
- WAYSE auditioning to move up to WASTO.
- The introductory band do not do auditions, members will be moved up to the wind band when they are ready, as discussed with the conductors and their teachers.
Further seating auditions for WYO may also take place in September.
Audition requirements.
If you are in WAYSE.....
You can audition to move up to WASTO. You need to be a confident Grade/Stage 3 standard.
If you are in WASTO.....
You can audition to move up to WYO. Cellists and Violists need to be playing at a confident Grade 5 standard as a minimum. Violinists need to be playing at a confident Grade 6 standard as a minimum.
If you are a 3rd violin in WASTO you can audition to move up a section. You should be able to play confidently at Grade/Stage 4 standard.
If you are in Wind Band....
You can audition to move up to Winchester Youth Concert Band. The current standard for this is Grade/Stage 4+.
Winchester Youth Concert Band members
You can audition to move up to Winchester Youth Orchestra (any instrument but no Saxes). The current standard for this is grade/stage 5/6 depending on instrument.
Please remember you can do joint membership of WYO and Concert Band.
Concert Band
If you are auditioning for the Concert Band, auditions will be video recorded and submitted online to the secure online folder in the link below. These will then be watched by the conductors. You will need to:
- Label your recording with your first and last name before uploading so we can tell who it is.
- Introduce the name of the piece of music you are playing, can you also scan and upload a copy of the music to the folder for us to see labelled with your name.
- Scales - Chromatic scale showing off your full range on your instrument.
Your audition will need to be uploaded before the 9th of July in order for us to watch.
Concert Band Audition Upload Folder
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Auditions will take place on Wednesday’s 9th or 16th of July between 4.30pm and 8:00pm at Henry Beaufort School.
- Start practising now!
- Auditions are very informal… nothing to worry about. We are looking forward to listening to you. I hope you are looking forward to playing to us!
- The audition will last around 10 minutes.
- If you have any problems understanding all this, send me an email at wa...@hms.hants.gov.uk , Simon...@hants.gov.uk
Please complete the below link to the online google form to pick your own audition time, this is on a first come first served basis.
Deadline to sign up for auditions is the 18th of June. This is so that the timetabling for auditions can be sorted in advance of the day so please do fill in the form by then.
Kind Regards,
Jamie
🎺
This email has been sent on behalf of the WASO Director Jamie Langridge
Kind regards
Simon King
Hampshire Music Service
Bar End
Winchester
SO23 9NR
(
023 8065 2037
www.hants.gov.uk/hms
King, Simon
Hello Parents,
To clear up any confusion over the auditions, for concert band the audition process will be through submitting a video recording. You do not need to fill out the online form, but you will need to do the following things by the 9th of July:
Record yourself playing a grade 4+ piece of music and a chromatic scale showing off your full range on your instrument. Introduce the name of the piece you are playing and what note you are starting and going up to on your chromatic scale, i.e. 'Low G to C above the stave’.
Please label your recording with your first and last name before uploading so we can tell who it is.
Please also scan and upload a copy of the music to the folder for us to see labelled with your name again so we can find it.
Upload to the folder below:
Any further questions do email me : wa...@hms.hants.gov.uk