MIDDLE SCHOOL
Academy Juniors This extra-curricular vocal ensemble is auditioned from the middle school choruses. Selected students have an opportunity to learn more advanced repertoire, ranging from pop to sacred music styles. Students perform for a variety of school and community events. Rehearsal times are 7:00 – 7:30 AM on Mondays and Thursdays. Auditions are held in August before school begins. Contact Jenny Oldham at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com.
MS Drama Production The Middle School drama production goes up in February. Auditions will be held in late October; this show is open to 6th, 7th and 8th graders for both acting and technical support roles. Contact Holly Shepherd at holly_shepherd@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Academy Dancers This group is an auditioned group of intermediate to advanced dancers in grades 6th, 7th and 8th. Although participation in our dance classes is encouraged, girls will NOT be required to be in the BA dance classes in order to audition for Academy Dancers. They must, however, commit to the practice and performance schedule. The Middle School Academy dancers will dance at selected home (MS) football games, pep rallies, (MS) basketball games, a regional dance team competition in December, and the Spring Dance Show in May. MS Academy Dancers will be required to attend summer dance practices that are mandatory, and each girl will be responsible for the fees as well as dancewear costs to be determined. Dancers of all levels are welcomed at auditions. Clinics are held in May and the tryout clinics are the tryout. Try-Out packets will be available in the dance studio by the end of April. Contact Robyne Kennedy at robyne_kennedy@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Speech (Forensics) – no audition required
Speech (Forensics) is an extra-curricular activity that allows students to showcase their speaking and acting skills in a competitive arena. Categories include Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Original Oratory, Prose and Poetry. Contact Kasey Carmona at kasey_carmona@brentwoodacademy.com.
MS Band Our beginning and Intermediate bands are graded/credit classes in the curriculum during the school day. Extracurricular opportunities for middle school instrumentalists include participation in the pep band for basketball season, and a Blues class, which meets one morning a week during the 2nd semester. Contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com
UPPER SCHOOL
US Fall Play Our upper school presents a straight show each fall. Auditions will be held during the first two weeks of school. Both actors as well as technical support will be sought. Contact Holly Shepherd at holly_shepherd@brentwoodacademy.com
US Spring Musical Our upper school musical is presented at the end of April. Rehearsals will run throughout second semester. Auditions for this show will be held in December prior to Christmas break.
Contact either Jenny Oldham or Holly Shepherd at holly_shepherd@brentwoodacademy.com
Jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com
US Academy Dancers Auditions are open to all rising 9th–12th grade girls. There is an intense workout and practice commitment required of this group that will be fully outlined in information available through Mrs. Kennedy. Although participation in our dance classes is encouraged, girls will NOT be required to be in the BA dance classes in order to audition for Academy Dancers. However, all dancers must commit to the practice and performance schedule. The Upper School Academy Dancers perform at home varsity football games, home basketball games, pep rallies, TSSAA State Dance Competition in November, a regional competition in December and the Spring dance show in May. Dancers will be expected to make the necessary time commitment after reviewing details outlined in the tryout packet. US Academy Dancers will be required to attend summer dance practices that are mandatory, and each girl will be responsible for the fees as well as dancewear costs to be determined. Clinics are held in May and the clinics are the tryouts. Contact Robyne Kennedy at robyne_kennedy@brentwoodacademy.com.
US Academy Singers The Academy Singers is a vocal ensemble that meets as a class for the entire school year with the goal of performing, as well as recording a professional quality CD. Students are expected to market and sell CDs of their recording as a part of the class. Audition criteria include sight-reading, part-singing, solo performance and stage presence.
Auditions are held mid-May for the following year. Please sign-up on the fine arts table in the backstage lobby or contact Mrs. Oldham at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com. Please be sure to clearly print your email address so you may be contacted should a call-back be required. Students are required to stay for the entire audition.
There are two parts to the audition:
- Sight-Reading—Students will be asked to clap a short rhythm and to sight-read a short melody, using any neutral syllable (na,na,na) solfege (do re mi fa) or numbers (1, 2, 3). obby beginning May 1. Sight-reading auditions will be recorded for reference. Examples of sight-reading exercises may be found on the Academy Singer website under the AUDITION tab: www.AcademySingers.com beginning May 1.—
- Solo Performance and Stage Presence & Part-Singing—Part two of the audition will be held in the chorus during mid-May. Students are asked to prepare 30-seconds of a song in any style without accompaniment or tracks. Song choice should allow for the student to demonstrate strength of range and vocal quality, and students should deliver the song with a confident and poised stage presence. It is always a good idea to select a song that has a discernable melody that does not heavily depend on an instrumental track since the solos will be sung a cappella.
In addition to the solo audition, students will be asked to sing a harmony part (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass) of a short musical excerpt. Good intonation (pitch) is an important part of this criterion. No preparation is necessary, these parts will be taught as a part of the audition. Students are required to stay for the entire audition.
For more information, please contact Jenny Oldham at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com
US Speech (Forensics) – no audition required
Speech (Forensics)is an extra-curricular activity that allows students to showcase their speaking and acting skills in a competitive arena. Categories include Humorous Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Original Oratory, Prose and Poetry. No audition is required for participation. Upper School students should contact Austin Groves: austin_groves@brentwoodacademy.com.
US Jazz Band Our Upper School Jazz ensemble meets as a class during the entire school year. Brass and woodwind students must also be in the concert band in order to participate in the Jazz Ensemble. Exceptions are made only for academic scheduling concerns. Guitarists, pianists and drummers who do not play a concert band instrument can participate in jazz band only. Our jazz ensemble is a traditional jazz band covering all of the major jazz styles (swing, latin, be-bop, fusion, etc.) with an emphasis on the theory and skills required for jazz improvisation. Auditions will be held mid-May for the following year. Contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com
US Contemporary Music Ensemble/Rock Band This versatile group plays current pop music, classic rock, and contemporary Christian music and serves instrumentalists who play drums, keyboards, bass, and guitar. This group also meets as a class for the entire year. Auditions will be held mid-May for the following year. Contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com or Jeffrey Wills at jeffrey_wills@brentwoodacademy.com
Pep Band The football and basketball pep bands are extracurricular opportunities for all instrumentalists who play an instrument that fits the setting. The Pep Band plays at all Friday home games and some away games (usually playoffs) as applicable. Contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com.
Audition Information for 2019-2020
