Denton Homeschool Orchestra

TPSMEA All Region/All State Competitions

Page numbers cited below refer to the TPSMEA handbook

Timeline

  • August 1st – audition music made available
  • August 15th – audition information posted to TPSMEA.org
  • 3-4 weeks prior to audition – audition cuts/excerpts posted and/or emailed.
  • Early December – All State recordings due. Entries due by 11:59 of appointed day. No late entries accepted. No exceptions.
  • Late January – All Region recordings due.
  • Late February – All Region clinic and performance weekend

See the full calendar (2024-2025) here — we are the “North” region

Music

Made available on August 1st.

“[Audition music will] consists of two excerpts chosen from the TMEA All-State Orchestra etudes. These two excerpts contain contrasting material and may indicate bowings, fingerings, and metronome markings, which are to be strictly adhered to. Directors are to provide these two excerpts to their students.” (p. 37) emphasis added – I will provide the music to the auditioning students

Auditions

Early December

  • Must be recorded by your director, no home recordings allowed
  • Will be uploaded by your director
  • Director or approved proxy will be present at adjudication (judging of recordings)
  • If admitted to ensemble,
    • All State: audition for chair placement will happen on the weekend of the clinic.
    • All Region: chair placement is determined by the results of the initial recorded audition

How many are chosen?

18 – Violin I
18 – Violin II
12 – Violas
12 – Cellos
6 – Basses

These are considered minimums, and may occasionally be exceeded.

Forms and Fees

In addition to the below, see this page from TPSMEA website for more details

All Region Orchestra

Fees

  • Audition fee: $25 per person
  • If selected for orchestra:
    • “high school:” additional $30 per person ($20 participation fee PLUS $10 music fee)
    • “middle school:” additional $10 music fee only
  • Payments for all students go to their sponsor (me), and the sponsor makes one bulk payment on behalf of all of their participating students

All State Orchestra — “high school” only

Fees

  • Audition fee: $30 per person
  • If selected for orchestra: additional $35 per person ($20 participation fee PLUS $15 music fee)
  • Payments for all students go to their sponsor (me), and the sponsor makes one bulk payment on behalf of all of their participating students

Notes from handbook

  • Students who are selected for an All-State ensemble, along with their parents, must agree to and sign the TPSMEA Student Code of Conduct. (p. 21)
  • All students selected for an All-State ensemble must stay at the hotel designed by TPSMEA as the official All-State hotel. (p.22) – even if you live close by, the participating musician must stay at the hotel.
  • Entries must be recorded in the presence of the director/member or appropriate faculty supervisor. (p.22) – no home recordings
  • Any school having a student in an All-State Ensemble will be required to have a director and/or an authorized adult present for the duration of the weekend’s events. (p.25) – Since I am the director, I will be onsite and at the hotel the entire weekend, though in an emergency an approved chaperone may be designated in my place.
  • (For the director) When entering audition information, Home School students should be listed with the home school parent’s name and then “Home School.” – Example: “Johnson Home School” or the Home School ensemble in which they perform – Example: “Texas Academy of Fine Arts”) –For us, this will be Denton Homeschool Orchestra