High School Band

2025-26

Clinicians
1234A - Anya Pogorelova, Washburn University
56A - Caroline Hand, Oklahoma University

Important Dates
Aug. 23 - Kick-off meeting @ Andover-Central HS
Oct. 14 - Audition Registration Deadline - $10 per audition
Oct. 26 - Audition Registration - Late Deadline #1 - $35 per audition
Nov. 7 - Audition Registration - Late Deadline #2 - $60 per audition
Nov. 8 - Audition Registration - Late Deadline #3 - $100 per audition
Nov. 8 - Auditions @ Goddard HS
Dec. 6 - Clinics & Concerts @ Maize HS - $15 participation fee per selected student

Participation Eligibility Requirements
For a student to be eligible to audition for the SCKMEA Festival Band and Orchestra Winds/Percussion membership:

1. The student's director must submit an online audition form and a printed form with payment to the SCKMEA Executive Director for each student auditioning. This form must be submitted by the AUDITION FORM DEADLINE established by SCKMEA.
2. The student must be deemed an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing in their high school. The student must be enrolled in the instrumental ensemble at their high school to be eligible to audition for the SCKMEA Honor Bands/Orchestra at the time of auditions and the performance.

Audition Registration
Auditions must be registered in the KMEA Members site.

Fees
Use the SCKMEA Invoice Generator to create your fee invoices. An invoice print-out must be included with each payment. Make checks payable to South Central KMEA.

Audition Music Requirements
SCKMEA will use the KMEA All-State Winds and Percussion Audition Excerpts. Students will perform:

1. A one-octave major scale. Each scale is non-transposed (except Euphonium TC). Quarter Note MM=60, slurred up and tongued down. Memorization is not required.
   USE THIS SCALE SHEET FOR THE APPROPRIATE OCTAVE
   The octave indicated on this sheet is what is expected to be performed at SCKMEA Live Auditions.
2. A full-range chromatic scale slurred up and tongued down, as shown on the KMEA Scale Sheet. Quarter Note MM= 60. Memorization is not required.
3. Sections of the required etudes/solos.
4. Sight-Reading

Audition Excerpts
Audition Excerpts will be taken from the KMEA All-State material (linked above). SCKMEA will observe all errata changes found in that page for district auditions.

Excerpt Reductions
Excerpt reductions for SCKMEA Wind and Percussion auditions will be posted by September 1.

Audition Process
Auditions will happen in two sessions: a morning session and an afternoon session. Rather than being assigned a specific time, students will be assigned a session. Students will be required to check-in for their assigned session during a specific registration time, then proceed to their audition room. Students that do not check in during the registration time for their session will be considered a cancellation. After registration, audition rooms will be a "first-come, first-serve" for auditions.

Percussion Auditions
Students auditioning for percussion MUST audition in all areas as indicated by the audition material. An audition which does not include all areas will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for selection to SCKMEA Honor Groups.

Audition Time Requests
To the extent the schedule allows, accommodations can be made for students who need special consideration for their scheduled audition time. Directors must note all such requests when entering students online. Personal preferences for directors or students cannot be accommodated and should not be entered.

Director Participation in the Audition Process
Directors are responsible for relaying audition time and location information to their students. Directors must arrive no later than (8:00 AM) the day of the auditions. A judge meeting will be held at 8:15 AM to discuss the audition process, any further reductions being made to the audition materials and to ensure the auditions start on time. Directors with students participating in the Middle Level Honor Band will be able to drop their students off prior to the judge meeting.
Note - Directors with students participating in the Middle School Honor Band as well as HS Honor Ensemble auditions are NOT excused from participating in judging.

Judging Policy Change Update
In the summer prior to the 2021-22 school year, the SCKMEA Board approved a policy change which requires any school that registers students for a HS Wind/Percussion entry to provide 1 judge per 15 student registrations. Any school that registers more than 15 band entries is required to send at least one (1) qualified judge and one (1) additional adult to assist with audition day (to serve as a monitor or runner) for every 15 entries. All judges/helpers must be present for the entire day of the event if they registered students. Directors agree to participate in judging when they register students, regardless if their student cancels after they have been registered into the KMEA system. SCKMEA will excuse directors from judging without penalty only if they are directly involved in the operations of SCKMEA events (Board members, area chairs and assistants) on the day of auditions. Directors that do not secure a replacement judge or adult helper and refuse to participate in judging will be assessed a $100 non-participation penalty fee per judge/helper to be paid with their entry fees.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email or call me. I will respond as soon as possible. Best wishes to you and your students!