• Music Audition Policy

    Instrumental Music Courses: In order to ensure students can meet the demands of BCA performing ensembles, all students must qualify through an audition. Auditions for winds, strings, and percussion take place in the spring (piano auditions take place during the regular school year on an as-needed basis). It is the student’s responsibility to read the audition announcement, prepare, sign up, and complete the audition. Students are evaluated on a scale (memorized) and a solo- both provided by the music department and available online: www.bergen.org/music (Audition Information on sidebar). 

    Audition scores are valid for the student’s entire time in high school and may be applied to any instrumental ensemble. Students do not have to re-audition each trimester/year. However, students may re-audition once per year in June by making an appointment with the corresponding teacher (Mr. Isecke for wind instruments, Mr. Lemma for strings and percussion). Students who are auditioning for the first time or who have a score below 43 may audition anytime during the year by making an appointment with the corresponding teacher. 

    Registering after the audition:
    1)  An audition does not register a student
    2)  Students must request a course during the sign-up period: www.bergen.org/music ("Music Registration" on the sidebar)
    3)  Once the sign-up period is over, students are selected based on available seats, audition, and schedule
    4)  Due to seating capacity, balance, and ensemble integrity, not all students can be accepted
    5)  Students may also request a seat during the add/drop period, but only if there are still open seats



    Seating in ensembles is determined by:
    1) Seats- amount of available seats in the ensemble
    2) Audition score- selection of students to fill seats based on audition score
    3) Schedule (periods 1-8)- courses are scheduled where students have identical periods available, in order to comprise a viable ensemble
    4) Tie breaker: older student, based on grade level
    5). In some situations preference will be given to AVPA-Music students.

    Concert Choir: Audition-free, anyone can enroll.  Enrolling for two consecutive trimesters (1 and 2, or 2 and 3; enrolling for all three trimesters is permitted).
    • Enrollment for trimesters 1 and 2 includes mandatory participation in the Holiday Concert (early January) and the two evening rehearsals leading up to it (one in December, one in January)
    • Enrollment for trimesters 2 and 3 includes mandatory participation in the Spring Concert (mid-May) and the two evening rehearsals leading up to it (one in April, one in May).
    • Do not enroll if other activities will prohibit you from attending any of these evening rehearsals/performances.
     
    Chamber Choir: Wednesday, period 9.  Requires an audition and simultaneous participation in Concert Choir.  Selection will be based on audition scores and the student’s willingness to make a commitment to the choir. Membership will be revoked if unexcused absences exceed one per semester (September-January; February-June). Chamber Choir is the touring vocal ensemble of BCA.  It is expected that students showcase the BCA Community by participating in outside-of-school events.

      BCA Off-Campus Music Audition Policy (honors ensembles)

    The nature of growth in music necessitates that students actively pursue performance both on and off campus. Recognizing this important fact, the music faculty of the Bergen County Academies actively maintain memberships and adjudicate for various organizations which offer music-performance opportunities for students. These honors ensembles are highly competitive and are applicable to advanced music students only. They are administered by regional and statewide music organizations. However, participation is administered through the music program at BCA and students must be actively enrolled in the corresponding BCA music course in order to participate. Bergen County Academies' students may have the following off-campus performance opportunities available through the music department:

    Bergen County Chorus              Bergen County Band          
    *Region I Senior Band              All-State Band                    All-Eastern Band                      
    *Region I Senior Orchestra      All-State Orchestra             All-Eastern Orchestra         
    *    Region I Senior Chorus          All-State Chorus                 All-Eastern Chorus             
    All-State Honors Guitar Ensemble
    All-State Modern Band
    Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS)


    Students Must Meet All of the Following Criteria:

    1). Students must be at an advanced level of musicianship and qualify by their BCA audition score.

    2). Students must be enrolled “in good standing” in the corresponding BCA ensemble.

    3). Those who have successfully auditioned and failed to participate (dropped out) will not be sponsored again. 

    4). Students must adhere to the deadline set by the band, orchestra or choir director- as assembling materials/fee takes additional time. Late applications are not accepted or require a higher audition fee set by the organization.

    5). Applications must be signed by the student, parents, music director, and school administrator. All fees are the responsibility of the student. Include the audition fee in cash, or check made out to the “Bergen County Technical Schools”. 

    6). Students must arrange for transportation to and from all auditions, rehearsals and performances. Parents will need to sign children out of school for these auditions and rehearsals; this is done in the main office. If you wish to carpool, prior arrangements can be made through the main office.

    7). Students must carefully check their personal/academic schedules to see if there are any conflicts with the rehearsal/concert dates. Students who miss a rehearsal might be dismissed from the ensemble.

    8). It is the student’s responsibility to obtain the required solo (original only- no photocopies allowed at the audition).  Bergen County Band, Bergen County Chorus, and Regional Chorus solos are available from the corresponding teacher.

    9). Due to the competitive nature of the auditions, it is strongly suggested that students maintain private lessons.

     

    *BCA does not participate in Junior Regionals (grades 7-9).