FINE ARTS OPPORTUNITIES AND AUDITIONS FOR 2023-2024
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Academy Juniors
This extra-curricular vocal ensemble is auditioned from the middle school chorus elective classes. Selected students dive deeper into music by learning more advanced repertoire, ranging from pop to sacred music styles, and have additional solo opportunities. Currently, Academy Juniors rehearse once per week during Chorus or study hall and most Friday mornings before school. 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. 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 dancers meet Monday-Thursday from 2:10 - 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. There is a recital commitment for the Spring semester. 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. Girls in this group must 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. 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 1. Tryout Clinics will be held in May. The clinics are the audition. 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 Jeffrey Wills for details at jeffrey_wills@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 right after school starts with rehearsals beginning in late August. 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 (audition required)
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 1. Tryout Clinics will be held May 25th from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, and May 26th from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.Tryout packets are available from Mrs. Kennedy. Application and intent paperwork is due May 19. The clinics are the audition. Contact Robyne Kennedy at robyne_kennedy@brentwoodacademy.com.
US Academy Singers (audition required)
The Academy Singers is a vocal ensemble that meets as a class for the entire school year with the goal of performing throughout the year, as well as recording a professional quality CD.
Academy Singers audition sign-up sheets are outside the fine arts office behind the theatre.
Interested students need to sign up for a sight-reading session on Monday, May 15th between 7 AM and 3 PM. Singing auditions will be also be on Monday, May 15th from 3-6 PM in the chorus room. You must stay for this entire time. See Mr. Wise or Mr. Nygren for details.
Jazz and Rock band auditions will be Wednesday, May 17th from 3-6 PM in the band room. Sign-up sheets are now posted on the bulletin board by the band room. See Mr. Wills or Mr. Nygren for details.
Audition Criteria:
- Solo Performance - Students will be asked to prepare 30-seconds or 16 bars of a song in any style (Tracks optional). If using a track, it must be submitted, WITH edit point clearly stated, by May 9th. The song they chose must reflect the strongest part of their voice. 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.
- 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 can be found on the website www.theacademysingers.com under AUDITION.
- 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.
Please contact David Wise at david_wise@brentwoodacademy.com
US Speech (Forensics) – no audition required for 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, Improvisational Duet Acting, Dramatic Interpretation, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Prose Interpretation and Poetry Interpretation. Upper School students should contact Austin Groves at austin_groves@brentwoodacademy.com.
US Concert Band - Concert Band is a continuation of the wind band track that begins in middle school. Concert Band meets as a class in the curriculum during the entire school year 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. All of the bands meet as individual sections (woodwind, upper brass, lower brass and percussion) with their own section specific instructor. This allows students to receive daily instruction for thier particular instruments without sacrificing teaching time to other sections of the bands. No audition is required, but prior school band experience is a pre-requisite. Contact Jeffrey Wills for details at jeffrey_wills@brentwoodacademy.com .
US Jazz Band - (audition required)
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 may participate in jazz band (without being in concert band). 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 in May. If you have any questions, please contact Jeffrey Wills for details at jeffrey_wills@brentwoodacademy.com
US Contemporary Music Ensemble/Rock Band - (audition required)
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 in May. If you have any questions, please contact Jeffrey Wills for details at jeffrey_wills@brentwoodacademy.com