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

Colorado Mesa University produced videos
COMING SOON

Colorado State University produced videos
COMING SOON

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 based on "enrollment" count in the 2021-2022 CHSAA Directory).
    
  • 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 by December 1.  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 4-6, 2024) should audition.  Attendance at every event in the weekend is required for all members.
• The $25.00 fee will be charged for each auditioning student. Fees are collected online when the student registers prior to uploading their recording.
• The Deadline for audition submission is November 30, 2023.
• Students that are proficient on multiple instruments within the same family (flute/piccolo; oboe/English horn; high clarinet/low 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.
• 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), and is due no later than registration on Thursday, April 4, 2023

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
The steering committee is currently exploring a video recording requirement.  Check back here on October 1 for the 2023-2024 recording instructions
NOTE: Students/Directors who do not follow the instructions PRECISELY will have the audition disqualified.  Please be sure to read and follow the instructions

How to submit your audition
Click HERE to start the audition submission process - This link Opens November 1, 2023
NOTE: You will be required to pay the $25.00 audition fee BEFORE your director can upload your recordings.  Make sure you have your credit/debit card ready when you complete the registration.

​Audition Materials
​2023-2024...

Instrument Specific Instructions - Best way for students to know what is required for the auditions:
FLUTE 2B
OBOE 2B
BASSOON 2B
Bb/Eb CLARINET 2B
BASS CLARINET 2B
SAXOPHONE 2B
TRUMPET 2B
HORN IN F 2B
TROMBONE/EUPHONIUM 2B
TREBLE CLEF EUPHONIUM 2B
BASS TROMBONE 2B
TUBA 2B
STRING BASS 2B
PERCUSSION 2B
​​
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 2B)

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.
• All E-Flat clarinet students MUST audition on B-flat Clarinet. The B-flat clarinet audition will determine membership int he band, and the E-flat double will be determined by the E-flat clarinet audition.
• 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.