FINE ARTS OPPORTUNITIES AND AUDITIONS FOR 2021-2022
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Academy Juniors
This extra-curricular vocal ensemble is auditioned from the middle school chorus elective classes. 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. Currently, Academy Juniors are excused from Chorus and study hall one day each week to rehearse. There may be some rehearsals scheduled from 7:00 AM – 7:30 AM on selected days TBA). Auditions are held in August prior to registration. Contact Ally Hard at ally_hard@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Drama Production
Auditions for the Middle School drama production will be in the fall semester of 2021. This show is open to Grades 6-8 for both acting and technical support roles. In order to audition, students must complete a conflict form outlining any dates for which they will not be available. Contact Holly Shepherd at holly_shepherd@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Dance PE
This dance offering satisfies the PE requirement for any MS student wanting to improve her dance skills. The class meets Monday-Friday from 2:00 - 3:00 PM. Whether the student is a serious or beginner dancer, they are able to study and develop technique in jazz, ballet, tap, lyrical and hip-hop genres. PE Dance is a semester long requirement. Contact Robyne Kennedy at robyne_kennedy@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Academy Dancers (audition required)
This group is an auditioned group of intermediate to advanced dancers in grades 6-8. 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 home (MS) football games, pep rallies, (MS) basketball games, some varsity football and basketball games, 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 dance wear costs to be determined. Dancers of all levels are welcomed at auditions. Please email Robyne Kennedy to obtain a tryout packet after April 19. Tryout Clinics will be held on Monday, May 10 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM and Tuesday, May 11 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. The dancers will get Wednesday May 12 off to work on the material and return for tryouts on Friday, May 14 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM. 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 Cari Cheetwood at cari_cheetwood@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Band
Our Beginning and Intermediate Bands meet as classes in the curriculum during the school day. They are both traditional wind bands that include brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. Students are instructed in instrumental technique, music literacy, and performance skills. Beginning Band is for students who have never played a traditional wind band instrument before. Intermediate Band is for students who have had at least one year of school band experience or comparable instruction. No audition is required for either band. Contact Matt Nygren for details at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com
MS Blues/Jazz Band
Middle school students with at least one year of instrumental experience can join this extracurricular Blues/Jazz class. Students will get an overview of these two musical styles to include performance techniques and an introduction to improvisation. This is an excellent training ground for those who might be interested in auditioning for our upper school jazz and rock bands when the time comes. Unlike the Beginning and Intermediate Band classes, this group does accommodate students who play guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, and drum set. No audition is required, but Mr. Nygren will interview each student to make sure that they are ready for the challenge. This group meets Mondays at 7:00 AM and Fridays at 2:00 PM during Q2, Q3, and Q4. Contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com
UPPER SCHOOL
US Fall Play
Our upper school presents a straight show each fall. Both actors as well as technical support will be sought. Auditions are typically held mid May with rehearsals beginning in late summer, but they may be postponed due to COVID-19 distancing. Contact Holly Shepherd at holly_shepherd@brentwoodacademy.com
US Spring Musical
Our upper school musical is presented in April. Rehearsals will run throughout second semester. Auditions for this show will be held in November. In order to audition, students must complete a conflict form outlining any dates for which they will not be available. Contact Holly Shepherd at holly_shepherd@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. 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, Nationals in March 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 dance wear costs to be determined. Please email Robyne Kennedy to obtain a tryout packet on April 19. Tryout Clinics will be held on Thursday, May 27 from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM and Friday, May 28 from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM. The clinics are the audition. 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:
- Solo Performance - Students will be 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 discernible melody that does not heavily depend on an instrumental track since the solos will be sung a cappella.
Sight-Reading - Students will be asked to sight-read a short melody, using any neutral syllable (na,na,na) solfege (do re mi fa) or numbers (1, 2, 3). Examples of sight-reading exercises may be found on the Academy Singer website under the AUDITION tab at https://www.academysingers.com/audition.html
Part-Singing - Students will be asked to sing a harmony part (soprano, alto, tenor, baritone or bass) of a short musical excerpt. The ability to blend, adapt to the musical style, and perform with good intonation (pitch) are important parts of this criterion.
Stage Presence - Students should sing with good stage presence (visually expressive, able to perform in a convincing manner appropriate to the style of the song.
Attitude and Commitment - The Academy Singers is a team sport that is only as strong as its weakest link. Each member will be required to commit to learning his/her part, maintain a high moral standard, and a positive attitude throughout the year.
Auditions are slated to be held on Wednesday, May 19, from 2:00 - 4:00 PM in the Chorus room, however, there may be modifications to the audition process for this year due to COVID-19 distancing. Please check the AUDITION tab at https://www.academysingers.com/audition.html beginning May 1 to learn updated procedures and sign-up for the audition. Please contact Jenny Oldham at jenny_oldham@brentwoodacademy.com
US Speech (Forensics) – no audition required for junior varsity participation
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. Upper School students should contact Austin Groves at austin_groves@brentwoodacademy.com.
US Concert Band – Concert Band is a continuation of the wind band tract that begins in middle school. Concert Band meets as a class in the curriculum during the entire school and plays classical, modern, and contemporary wind band music from the best composers and arrangers for school bands. The full band performs a Christmas concert and a spring concert each year. Concert Band members also perform one chamber music program each semester as subsets of the whole band, which are The Woodwind Ensemble, The Brass Ensemble, and The Percussion Ensemble. No audition is required, but prior school band experience is a pre-requisite. Contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com
US Jazz Band - Our Upper School Jazz Ensemble meets as a class in the curriculum 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. This group requires and audition. If you are interested in playing in our Jazz Band next year, contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com. He will work with you to schedule an audition/interview and see if this band is a good fit for you.
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. This group requires an audition. If you are interested in playing in our Jazz Band next year, contact Matt Nygren at matt_nygren@brentwoodacademy.com. He will work with you to schedule an audition/interview and see if this band is a good fit for you.
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