West Essex Band, Choir and Orchestra students had the opportunity to audition for New Jersey Region I High School ensembles in January. Eleven West Essex music students were selected to perform this February. The rigid audition process is a chance for students to express their love for music, develop their skills and learn from professionals in the music industry.
Regional ensembles are a lot of pressure, but those who chose to perform are prepared by their teachers and supported by older classmates in order to have an enjoyable and successful experience.
“I was nervous, but I did Junior [Intermediate] Regions in middle school so I’ve already had some experience,” choir freshman Daniel Viola said.
In regional choir auditions this year, roughly 750 singers were competing for a spot in the Mixed and Treble choirs of Region I. The students were required to sing three scales each (high, low and chromatic), a short solo and tonal memory, a mix of sight singing and note recognition. The West Essex students practiced the audition material for about two months prior to the audition, rehearsing with choir director Marion Drew, twice a week after school and on their own. Senior Delaney Piccoli (Alto II), juniors Noel Marootian (Soprano I), Luciana Musano (Alto I), Lexi Ciardella (Alto II), Madison Neer (Soprano II), sophomore Emma Casper (Soprano I), freshmen Daniel Viola (Bass I) and Miles Schmidt (Bass I) were accepted into the Region Choirs.
After auditioning, students are randomly selected from the top singers to sing in one of the two choirs (mixed or treble). This year, six students were placed in Mixed and two were placed in Treble.
Band and orchestra auditions are just as tough. Students auditioning for the Region Band have to prepare a solo, scales and are asked to do sight reading the day of their audition. Students with the highest scores are accepted into the Region Band. This year, seniors Aiden Leifer (Trumpet) and Charlotte Casazza (French horn) were selected to play in the Region I Band.
“It’s cool because normally the conductor is notable in the music world,” Leifer said. “My conductor was the head of music at the University of Maryland, so it’s cool because you gain experience.”
Orchestra students, much like their band and choir counterparts, invest many hours of practice to even have a shot at auditions. Students are given an excerpt of music beforehand, scales in the practice room the day of, and 30 seconds for a sight reading passage in the actual audition room. Many of these excerpts are taken from the same music that musicians learn to try out for a full-time job in a professional orchestra. This year, sophmore Kai-an Tsai (Violin) was accepted into the Regional Orchestra.
“The audition process for orchestra is very competitive,” Orchestra Director Caitlin Shroyer said.
Shroyer monitors the students’ progress and provides opportunities for additional practice in class, but the students also have to be prepared to practice most of the material on their own.
This is crucial to the learning experience for Regional ensembles.
After five long rehearsals over the course of two weeks, these students are ready to perform for friends and family in a concert for each ensemble. Each group proves to the audience that it was their talent that got them there, performing challenging music, with passion and tenacity.
“I have made lifelong friends in the choir at West Essex, as well as in Region,” junior Lexi Ciardella said. “I can’t wait to continue performing with the people I love for the rest of my high school experience.”
