Offer holders who would like to audition for the Chamber Choir, Symphony Orchestra, and Instrumental Awards Scheme should submit a short video of their audition.

Please follow the instructions below:

• Record a two-minute music piece of your choice. This should be selected carefully to demonstrate your capabilities, and be within your ability range. It can be an extract of a longer piece, if you wish.
• Record your performance without a backing track or piano accompaniment.
• If you plan to audition on more than one instrument, please record and send separate videos for each.
• Auditions for Chamber Choir require a separate video.

When recording your audition, please use the following guidance and instructions:

• Choose somewhere quiet, e.g. no television or radio on in the background.
  
• Record in a landscape format, not portrait. If you’re recording on a mobile phone, ensure the long edge is at the bottom.
• Make sure you are a reasonable distance from the phone or computer microphone to minimise distortion by playing too loudly or closely.
• Ideal settings are high quality, up to 1080p HD. Please do not go up to 4K, as we will have to convert the file.
• Please state your name clearly at the start of your recording and then briefly outline your experience by answering the questions below.
• Do a test recording before submitting your video to check for sound quality.

Audition questions to answer at the start of your recording:

1. What is your current school and which A level courses have you been offered to study at Hills Road?
2. What instrument are you auditioning on, or if you are a singer, what is your voice type, e.g. Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass. Please state "high" or "low" if you are unsure.
3. Who is your current music teacher?
4. Which Hills Road ensembles are you auditioning for?
5. What is the approximate current standard for your instrument/s or voice? How long have you been playing or singing? Which music qualifications have you taken? Are you currently working towards a music grade?
6. What playing or choral experience do you have? Examples could be a school music group; local orchestra; Saturday music school; church choir; school musical productions, etc.
7. Give the name of your chosen music piece or extract and the composer.

Submitting your video

Please name your file/s using the following format and submit it via the button below:

Your name and instrument or voice, e.g. Jo_Smith_Violin or Jo_Smith_Voice.

The deadline for submitting video auditions is 12 Midday on Monday 2 September 2024.

If you have any questions about the audition requirements, including the technical side, please email Mr Mark Davis, Senior Music Technician, via the button below.