Auditions & Placement
Auditions and Placement Interviews are open all year.
Special open auditions for Fall - for Wind players who want to perform the best classical chamber music literature with peer performers in trios, quartets, quintets. We especially want one or two wind quintets. Ensembles can be all winds (by member choice) or include wind repertoire with piano, strings, voice.
Children (3-10) only need placement
interviews.
Pre-college (11-18) have auditions and placement.
We also list specific dates on our Calendar page for pre-scheduled Auditions and Placements and for Open House.
Applications can be filed
online.
Replies will be emailed. Normally, applicants will be scheduled for the
next placement / audition date available via email.
Once scheduled, the audition fee is due and can be mailed to the office
or paid online via PayPal to the Academy of Music Northwest from a personal
checking account.
Potential students and their parents are welcome to visit the Academy to become acquainted with what what we offer, by contacting the office at info@amnw.org for an appointment, or by coming in for our next Open House - announced on the Calendar page.
We recommend reading our comprehensive website to become familiar with our Programs for Children and Pre-College musicians before filing an application.
PLACEMENT FOR CHILDREN AGES 3-10
Children (and their parent(s)) are scheduled to meet with the Children's
Program Director for a brief placement interview.
This will allow the child to be placed in the appropriate level of
Music and Movement or Music Skills classes.
See the Children's Program page
for program details.
AUDITION AND PLACEMENT FOR AGES 11-18
Young classical musicians are scheduled for auditions and placement in
appropriate levels of music studies and performance.
See the Pre-College Program page
for program details.
The audition is short (15 minutes), does not require specific pieces,
does require scales and arpeggios, and sight reading.
Jurors are professionals who quickly recognize Academy readiness.
The Placement interview is to see that a student is assigned to appropriate
class levels for theory, ear training, composition, etc., and gives us
a chance to get to know the candidate's goals.
PERFORMANCE OPTIONS for Pre-College applicants:
CHAMBER MUSIC
ENSEMBLE
For orchestral string and wind instruments, harp,
piano, classical guitar.
Students perform in small, classical enembles (trios, quartets, quintets)
with a professional coach, and perform in regular public and private
recitals.
Rehearsals are 1 hour/week, and are arranged to avoid conflict with
other youth orchestra and band schedules.
String and wind performers may also audition for our chamber orchestra
and/or for vocal ensembles.
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Chamber Orchestra members re-audition each year.
Rehearsals are 2 hours/week.
See the Chamber Orchestra page for details.
Chamber Orchestra students may also participate in chamber music ensembles
and/or vocal ensembles.
VOCAL ENSEMBLES
We welcome pre-college female
and male singers to audition to participate in classical vocal ensembles,
and to participate in our comprehensive Singer's Program.
All Pre-College students at the Academy may perform as soloists in Academy recitals and concerts, and in the weekly Performance (Repertoire) Class that is a very important pre: recital, competition, and audition opportunity.
Workshops and Master Classes are open to Academy students as participants. Non-Academy pre-college musicians are always welcome as auditors.