Student and Director/School Registration
(Link has closed as of November 23, 2024)

Links to "Help" videos produced by area colleges/universities:

Click HERE to access the Colorado Mesa University audition preparation videos

Click HERE to access the Colorado State University audition preparation videos

• Requirements and Basic Information
• There are two Colorado All-State Bands. 
  • The Concert Band is open to students in grades 10-12 from "small" schools (schools with enrollments of 1,100 students or fewer). Enrollment numbers can vary based on where you find them - for this reason, since the All-State Band operates under the umbrella of the Colorado High School Activities Association, we ONLY accept the published enrollment numbers from CHSAA. You can find how CHSAA has your school classified on the CHSAA School size page posted on this website.  Schools can petition to change their CHSAA enrollment classifications.  If your school has been approved a change in classification from what is published, the SCHOOL DIRECTOR must obtain a copy of the letter from CHSAA (from your principal) and forward it to All-State Band.  We will not know of the change unless you inform us.
  • The Symphonic Band is open to students in grades 11-12 from any Colorado high school, regardless of enrollment
  • All students must be a member of their school band program (piano, harp and string bass students must be a member of their school band OR orchestra program).
  • All directors must be a member of the Colorado Bandmasters Association before students can audition.  CBA information can be found HERE
• Audition materials and procedures are the same for both the Concert Band and the Symphonic Band.
• Only students that can participate in the All-State Band Weekend (April 3-5, 2025) should audition.  Attendance at every event in the weekend is required for all members.
• A $25.00 audition fee will be charged for each auditioning student. Fees should be submited to the students school, and the school band director will submit the required audition fees.
• The Deadline for audition submission is 5:00pm on November 22, 2024.
• Students that are proficient on multiple instruments within the same family (flute/piccolo; oboe/English horn; Eb/Bb clarinet, bass/contra clarinet; all the saxophones, trombone/euphonium, etc.) are strongly encouraged to submit an audition on each instrument, using separate audition files. Only one audition fee is required.
• All percussionists must audition on the three major instruments: snare drum, timpani, and mallets.
• Beginning in 2024 for the 2025 All-State Band, all auditions are VIDEO auditions.  Complete instructions (including size, resolution, format) are included in the recording instructions posted October 1.
• The decision of the selection committee is final
• Every student (regardless of age) will be required to be accompanied to the All-State Band weekend with a school-approved adult chaperone.
• All students selected for the All-State Bands must be in their school music program at the time of the weekend, and must meet all school directed eligibility requirements.
• A $55 registration fee will be charged to all players in the bands ($50 if paid by the early-bird registration deadline of January 31, 2025), Late registrations (any registration paid after the due date of March 28) must be paid in check form (made to Colorado Bandmasters Association), submitted at the All-State Band Registration on April 3 and is charged at the late fee of $75.

How your audition will be assessed
Each faculty member from UNC creates their own scoring system and is consistent for each auditionee.  Be assured the judges are listening for the following musical criteria:  tone quality, rhythm, intonation, technique and musicality.  Focus appropriate attention on the scales; they are essential.

How to record your audition
Step by Step instructions will be posted on October 1. Students/Directors who do not follow the instructions PRECISELY will have the audition disqualified.  Please be sure to read and follow the instructions.
BEGINNING with the 2024-2025 school year, all auditions will be VIDEO auditions.
NEW: Step by Step Instructions for all Wind Instruments
NEW: Step by Step Instructions for all Percussionists

How to submit your audition
Follow the Link at the top of this page (Available November 1 to November 22)
NOTE: You will be required to pay the $25.00 audition fee to your school, and your director must make the payment by 5:00pm on November 22.  Make sure you have your payment to your school early enough so your director can complete their part on time.

​Audition Materials
​2024-2025...

Instrument Specific Instructions - Best way for students to know what is required for the auditions:
FLUTE 3A
OBOE 3A
BASSOON 3A
Bb/Eb Clarinet 3A
Bass Clarinet 3A
Saxophone 3A
Trumpet 3A
Horn in F 3A
Trombone/Euphonium 3A - NOTE.  Tempo of excerpt #2 is changed to mm=108 as the recommended tempo.  Students are still allowed to perform the excerpt at whatever tempo best demonstrates their ability.
Bass Trombone 3A
Tuba 3A
String Bass 3A
Percussion 3A - NOTE:  The mallet audition CAN be performed with two mallets and the three and four note chord arpeggiated.  Also, the repeat in the mallet piece at the end of measure 8 should be ignored (NO REPEAT)
​​
School Directors Instructions - a single document that lists the requirements for ALL instruments - best way for directors to see the information
Directors Poster (Audition Set 3A)

Specialty Instruments:

• All piccolo students MUST also audition on flute. The flute audition will determine membership in the band and the Piccolo double will be determined by the Piccolo audition.
• All English horn students MUST audition on Oboe. The oboe audition will determine membership in the band and the English horn double will be determined by the English horn audition.  The Website will post by October 1 if an English horn is needed for the repertoire selected.  If it is, auditions will be accepted - if no English Horn parts are in the repertoire, auditions will not be accepted.
• All E-Flat clarinet students MUST audition on B-flat Clarinet. The B-flat clarinet audition will determine membership in the band, and the E-flat double will be determined by the E-flat clarinet audition.The Website will post by October 1 if an E-flat Clarinet is needed for the repertoire selected.  If it is, auditions will be accepted - if no E-Flat Clarinet parts are in the repertoire, auditions will not be accepted.
• Alto Flute, Bass Flute, Contrabassoon, Contralto Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Saxophone and other specialty instruments are included in the band ONLY as parts are needed for the specific repertoire.  If parts for these instruments exist, students who were selected to the band will be contacted in early January with instructions to audition for the parts if they want.
• String Bass students will be given string bass parts when they exist, but will receive tuba parts if no string bass part exists.  It is the student/director responsibility to make octave changes to the tuba part as needed so it is playable, and to determine the best choices for bowings and/or pizzicato sections.  The All-State Band guest director may ask for changes once they hear what the student/director came up with.
• Piano and Harp are included in the band ONLY as parts are needed for the specific repertoire.  If parts exist, a piano and/or harp audition will be announced on OCTOBER 1 with specifics on how to audition.  If the student selected to play piano or harp are also selected to the band on another instrument - they will play the piano/harp part on the literature that requires it, and the other instrument on all other pieces.  If the student selected to play piano or harp are not selected on another instrument, they will be added to the band, but will rehearse/perform ONLY the works that require that instrument.