NJ Elementary and Junior High All-State Choirs

Audition procedures and FAQ

About the ensembles

• Co-sponsored by NJMEA and NJACDA
• 32^nd year of the festival
• Elementary- grades 4-6, Jr. High-grades 7-9
• Renowned educators and clinicians! Susan Brumfield, Tom Shelton, Rollo Dilworth
• Excellent opportunity for students and teachers alike

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This year’s conductors

Elementary Choir

SATB Choir

SSA Choir

Important Dates and Locations

• Auditions due January 16^th
• Judging- January 24^th (snow date January 31^st)
• Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS
• Rehearsal Day-April 25^th, 8:30am-1PM
• New Providence HS
• Festival Day- May 2^nd 9:00 am- approx. 5:30 PM
• JP Case Middle School, Flemington

*sponsoring directors must attend 2 of the 3 dates (auditions, rehearsal, festival)

Mail audition checks to:

Kittatinny Regional High School

Attn: Chris Henke, Junior High Choir Director

77 Halsey Road

Newton, NJ 07860

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*CHECKS ARE MADE OUT TO NJMEA*

Director responsibilities

• Send audition recordings
• Named correctly, uploaded in correct format - See FAQ
• Send payment in form of check
• Teach students the music if accepted
• Attend 2 of the 3 required dates (audition day, rehearsal day, festival day)

It is of the utmost importance that your students are properly prepared!

Audition Procedures

• Teach students the solo and review audition process
• Check all starting pitches
• New in 2025!! Please use the provided starting pitch tracks!
• Record auditions
• Have student read the script on the website
• Record each piece of the audition
• Low scale/vocalise
• High scale/vocalise
• solo

Sample Auditions

Treble I top score 2022

Treble II top score 2022

Soprano I top score 2022

Alto top score 2022

Scoring

There are 3 judges per room. Students are scored 1-10 on Voice quality, intonation, and musicality

• 1-2 is “highly superior” and 9-10 is “poor”
• The scales/vocalises are one combined score
• If one of the judges hears their own student, they do not score that student
• The average of the other 2 judges will serve as the 3rd score

Score sheet sample

*Musicality has been added to the vocalise/scale as well

FAQ

• Recording “how-to’s” and troubleshooting
• Audio Recordings:
• Recommended software/apps:
• Garageband (Apple only)
• Soundtrap
• Audacity
• File names: Ensemble Voice Part-Last First
• Ex: E Treble I-Jones Susie or JH Soprano I-Smith John
• Files saved as .mp3
• Teachers choose 2 (or all 3) to assist:
• Judging Day- Jan. 24
• Rehearsal Day - April 25
• Festival Day - May 2
• Practice tracks provided to share with students