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BAND OFFICER / CONDUCTOR AUDITIONS
Why Join | Eligibility | Procedures | Invitation | Audition | Assignment | Audition Date
The Audition
The audition requires one working day. Finalists selected by the Invitation Board to attend the audition must be prepared to arrange their trips and pay all expenses relating to their audition. All candidates will experience a two-phase evaluation: Conducting and Music Theory. Selected candidates who pass these first two evaluations will experience the last phase, an Interview by the conducting evaluation panel.
 CONDUCTING
Candidates are evaluated on the following elements during a conducting session:
- Ability to conduct and rehearse previously prepared concert band compositions, selected from the lists below. The applicant must demonstrate advanced baton technique, expressive gestures and rehearsal skills in the following areas:
(1) Signaling changes in meter, tempo, and dynamics.
(2) Clearness of beat reflecting style of composition.
(3) Use of the left hand for indicating cues and
ensemble balance.
(4) Score interpretation and communication.
(5) Clarity and pertinence of verbal instructions.
- Ability to ensure accurate performance regarding such fundamentals as:
(1) Melodic accuracy and rhythmic precision.
(2) Articulation, dynamics, and intonation.
(3) Style and phrasing.
(4) Balance and appropriate ensemble tone color.
 Prepared Repertoire - Candidates will prepare three selections. Choose one from each list below.
LIST A
La Belle Helene Offenbach/Odom
Roman Carnival Overture Berlioz/Safranek
Variants on a Medieval Tune Dello Joio
Die Fledermaus J. Strauss/Cailliet
Variations on "America" Ives/Schuman/Rhoads
LIST B
Lincolnshire Posy (mvts III & V only) Grainger/Fennell
Three Dance Episodes Bernstein/Stith
Four Dances from "West Side Story" (mvts I, II & III only)
(previously published under the title
"Symphonic Dance Music from 'West Side Story'") Bernstein/Polster
Aegean Festival Overture Makris/Bader
Sebastian Ballet Menotti/Lang
LIST C
Sousa! arr. Barker
That's Entertainment arr. Barker
South Pacific arr. R.R. Bennett, adapted Mark Rogers
Oklahoma! arr R.R. Bennett, adapted Mark Rogers
Gershwin! arr. Barker
Notes:
1. Only the specified versions are acceptable.
2. Due to time constraints, finalists will be asked to conduct only portions of their prepared work.
THEORY TEST
A written examination tests the applicant's knowledge of music theory, to include chord and scale construction, key signatures, intervals, terminology, notation, scoring, and instrumentation. The exam may also include a few items relating to music history and literature, and the development of wind and percussion instruments. Additionally, there is an aural identification portion including rhythmic, melodic, harmonic, chordal, and intervallic dictation as well as error identification.
INTERVIEW
A board of officers and senior NCOs will interview those who pass the conducting and theory test portions of the audition at the end of the day. All others will be released at this point.
We make every effort to advise all candidates of their test scores and selection or non-selection to become band officers at the end of the audition day; however, candidates may choose to leave and be notified later. Qualified candidates are asked to indicate their willingness and availability to accept a band officer position. Band officer vacancies are filled only with fully qualified, most available candidates. Order of merit is established, but it's entirely possible the deciding factor will be the date of a candidates availability to go to a specific class of Officer Training School (OTS).
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