Directors

General Information

Colorado All State Orchestra will be using the same audition submission process for the 2021 event. The first step in the new process is director registration. All participating schools must be CHSAA Members, and the director(s) must be an active NAfME member. Please be sure to enter the correct NAfME number so we can verify it and get you on the list. Once the director is approved, students will be able to register for ASO. Once the student registers, the director will be able to upload their audition. Please register at https://coloradoaso.org/. Director registration will open in early September 2020

The Hilton, Fort Collins is the official Hotel for ASO 2020! The rate is $164 P/N for all rooms. This includes breakfast and parking.

Audition Process

Colorado All State Orchestra has a new audition process. It must be completed in the following steps:

  1. Colorado All State Orchestra is open to students in grades 10-12 who participate in their school orchestra. If your school does not have an orchestra, students may audition through another music teacher at the school. Please see our policies page for full details on who may participate.

  2. Directors must register first using the link above. Only school music teachers may submit auditions for students.

  3. After the director registers, students should also register using this link https://coloradoaso.org/

  4. Students will not be able to register until after the director has registered.

  5. Audition recordings (mp3 files only) must be submitted by the director in the following format:

    • ​The audition document (mp3 file) must be labeled: LastName_FirstName_School_Instrument.mp3

    • All required audition material must be included in one file in the following order: Scales, Orchestral Excerpts, Solo Selection (Solo selection is for strings and piano only). Solo selection should be between 2 and 2.5 minutes in length. Only one file including all audition requirements should be submitted per applicant. There should not be any speaking on the recording. Do NOT announce the student name.

    • Audition recordings must be recorded without accompaniment and without a metronome. Recordings must also be unedited with no added “overdubs” or reverb.

    • Mp3 files must be compressed at a bitrate of no more than 256 kbps. Files larger than 20MB will not be accepted. Consider that the quality of the audition recording may reasonably affect the perception of the adjudicators.

  6. Once a student registers, the director will receive an email with a link to upload the appropriate audition.

  7. The audition fee is $35, and the participation fee is $60. The audition fee can be paid in the following ways. It must be paid online or postmarked by November 13th. 

    • Online here. This is by far the easiest way to pay. ​

    • Students pay the school and the director sends a check made out to CMEA to

William Kohut
CMEA c/o: Colorado All State Orchestra
PO Box 44489
Denver, CO 80201-4489

Student Strings

Audition Process

Colorado All State Orchestra has a new audition process. Student registration is will open October 1, 2020. It must be completed in the following steps:

  1. Colorado All State Orchestra is open to students in grades 10-12 who participate in their school orchestra. If your school does not have an orchestra, students may audition through another music teacher at the school. Please see our policies page for more information on who is eligible to audition and participate in Colorado All State Orchestra.

  2. Directors must register first.

  3. After the director registers, students should also register using this link 

  4. Be sure to choose your school from the list. If your school is not on the list, your director has not registered yet, and you should speak with him or her.

  5. Audition recordings (mp3 files only) must be submitted by your director in the following format:

    • The audition document (mp3 file) must be labeled: LastName_FirstName_School_Instrument.mp3

    • All required audition material must be included in one file in the following order: Scales, Orchestral Excerpts, Solo Selection (Solo selection is for strings and piano only). Solo selection should be between 2 and 2.5 minutes in length. Only one file including all audition requirements should be submitted per applicant. There should not be any speaking on the recording. Do NOT announce the student name.

    • String players should refer to the standard literature lists for solo ideas. Pianists may choose whichever solo they would like. It should showcase technique and musicality. Piano solos are not rated based on difficulty. String solos are rated based on difficulty. Please see our policies page for more information on string solos. It is NEVER a good idea to play a solo that is too hard to earn the points associated with it. Playing a solo that is at your level well gives you the best chance of making All State Orchestra.

    • Audition recordings must be recorded without accompaniment and without a metronome. Recordings must also be unedited with no added “overdubs” or reverb.

    • Mp3 files must be compressed at a bitrate of no more than 256 kbps. Files larger than 20MB will not be accepted. Consider that the quality of the audition recording may reasonably affect the perception of the adjudicators.

  6. Once a student registers and confirms registration payment, the director will receive an email with a link to upload the appropriate audition.

    • The audition fee is $35, and the participation fee is $60. The audition fee can be paid in the following ways. It must be paid online or postmarked by November 13th. 

    • Online here. This is by far the easiest way to pay.

    • Students pay the school and the director sends a check.

NOTE: Students can submit auditions on multiple instruments for no additional fee. We require separate auditions for flute and piccolo. 

Student Winds

Accepted Instrumentation

  1. Colorado All State Orchestra accepts the standard orchestral instrumentation for both orchestras every year. We double the standard wind section to help students save chops and perform at their best on the concert. That instrumentation is as follows:

    • Piccolo and Flute

    • Oboe

    • Bb Clarinet

    • Bassoon

    • French Horn

    • Bb Trumpet

    • Tenor and Bass Trombone

    • Tuba

    • Timpani

    • Percussion

  2. When a conductor picks pieces that call for specialty instruments, we accept additional auditions on those instruments. Examples of those specialty instruments are as follows:

    1. Alto Flute

    2. Eb and A Clarinets

    3. Bass Clarinet

    4. English Horn

    5. Contra Bassoon

    6. Saxophone

    7. Trumpet in C or D

    8. Euphonium

    9. Specialty Percussion Instruments

  3. When specialty instruments are called, the audition material for those instruments is typically the same material as their non-specialty counterpart. For example, when we call for A clarinets, we usually ask students to perform the same material as the Bb Clarinets. If the audition material is different because of range or instrument appropriateness, then we will specify that. We encourage students to audition on multiple instruments, and we only charge one audition fee per student. So, if a student wants to audition on Bb, A, and Eb clarinet or flute and piccolo, they can do so for one audition fee. If a student is selected for more than one instrument, that student will have to choose which one they want to participate on.

  4. The specialty instrument audition list for 2021 will be published as soon as literature is finalized, which should be by the end of May, 2020. It will be published here. Based on the literature we have confirmed at this time, we are accepting auditions for:

    • English Horn - Should play the same audition as the oboe

    • Bass Clarinet - Posted on the All State Band website under “Low Clarinet”

Audition Process

Colorado All State Orchestra has a new audition process. Student registration is will open October 1, 2020. It must be completed in the following steps:

  1. Winds and percussion auditions use the same material as All State Band auditions. Those materials can be found here.

  2. Colorado All State Orchestra is open to students in grades 10-12 who participate in their school orchestra. If your school does not have an orchestra, students may audition through another music teacher at the school. Please see our policies page for more information on who is eligible to audition and participate in Colorado All State Orchestra.

  3. Directors must register first.

  4. After the director registers, students should also register using this link 

  5. Be sure to choose your school from the list. If your school is not on the list, your director has not registered yet, and you should speak with him or her.

  6. Audition recordings (mp3 files only) must be submitted by your director in the following format:

    • The audition document (mp3 file) must be labeled: LastName_FirstName_School_Instrument.mp3

    • All required audition material must be included in one file in the following order: Scales, then Etudes, Only one file including all audition requirements should be submitted per applicant. There should not be any speaking on the recording. Do NOT announce the student name. Please note the scale tempo requirements on the all state band page. They apply to your all state orchestra audition.

    • Audition recordings must be recorded without accompaniment and without a metronome. Recordings must also be unedited with no added “overdubs” or reverb.

    • Mp3 files must be compressed at a bitrate of no more than 256 kbps. Files larger than 20MB will not be accepted. Consider that the quality of the audition recording may reasonably affect the perception of the adjudicators.

  7. Once a student registers and confirms registration payment, the director will receive an email with a link to upload the appropriate audition.

    • The audition fee is $35, and the participation fee is $60. The audition fee can be paid in the following ways. It must be paid online or postmarked by November 13th. 

    • Online here. This is by far the easiest way to pay.

    • Students pay the school and the director sends a check.

NOTE: Students can submit auditions on multiple instruments for no additional fee. We require separate auditions for flute and piccolo. 

NOTE: Winds, brass, and percussion are placed in the symphony and philharmonic differently than the strings because they are much more soloistic in nature. In order to ensure the parts can be adequately covered, winds, brass, and percussion are placed in orchestras so that there is strength on every part.