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2026 - 2027 Audition Requirements

BAND AUDITION

Ms. Jones – jonesc4@gcsnc.com

Audition Date:  December 13, 2025

 

Auditions for 9th Grade

  • Scale Requirements for all instruments: 
    • One octave Concert Bb Major Scale & Arpeggio
    • One octave Concert Eb Major Scale & Arpeggio

***Percussionists will be asked to perform the scales on a mallet instrument and also perform a solo on snare.

  • Students will need to perform a solo or etude of their choosing.  Two copies of the solo or etude must be brought to the audition for the judges to view. (A line from your method book is acceptable if it is at least 20 measures long.)
  • Each student will be asked to perform a short sight-reading selection during his/her audition.  There will also be a brief interview after the audition.

Auditions for 10th Grade and Higher

  • Scale Requirements for all instruments:  
  • Concert Bb Major Scale & Arpeggio
  • Concert Eb Major Scale & Arpeggio
  • Concert Ab Major Scale & Arpeggio
  • Concert F Major Scale & Arpeggio
  • Chromatic Scale (slurred)

***All scales must be performed memorized (either slurred or tongued) and utilize the Central District Bandmaster's  Association ranges for high school students.  (These same scales are performed for GCS High School All-County Band Auditions and Central District Band auditions)

***Percussionists will be asked to perform the scales above on a mallet instrument and also perform a solo on snare.

  • Students will need to perform a solo of your choosing.  Two copies of the solo must be brought to the audition for the judges to view.
  • Each student will be asked to perform a short sight-reading selection during his/her audition.  There will also be a brief interview after the audition.

 

PGSA HIGH SCHOOL DANCE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Ms. Byrd – byrda2@gcsnc.com

The high school dance audition will take place Saturday, December 13, 9 – 11 am.  Please come already dressed in the correct dance attire listed below.  You may begin arriving around 8:45 am to pre-warmup if needed.  There are locker rooms/bathrooms in the dance studio.  There will be someone in the lobby to escort you to the dance studio.

The high school dance audition consists of a 75-minute technique class with the focus on modern/contemporary technique as well as structured improvisation; auditionees are expected and required to dance in bare feet.

Students who audition do not need to have a dance prepared.  Following the audition is a one-on-one interview with the student and adjudicators.  Some auditionees may finish earlier than others.  Once done, please exit the studio and return to the February 11th Lobby (registration area) to wait for your parent/guardian to pick you up.

Materials needed for audition:

Girls:

Black leotard and convertible flesh-tone dance tights 

No underwear

Or

Black Leotard and black leggings

*No shorts, T-shirts, or sweatpants

Auditionees may wear warm-up attire (legwarmers, fitted jackets or long-sleeve shirts, socks, etc.) but please remove once you are warm

Hair must be pulled back and off the face (bun, ponytail, etc.).   No hats or hair accessories that dangle, flop, or can potentially fall out. No jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings, watches, etc.). Do not wear underwear with your leotards and tights/leggings.

Boys:

Fitted white or black T-shirt and black men’s tights

Undergarment support if needed (athletic supporter)

*No shorts

Auditionees may wear warm-up attire (legwarmers, fitted jackets or long-sleeve shirts, socks, etc.) but please remove once you are warm

Hair must be pulled back and off the face (bun, ponytail, etc.).   No hats or hair accessories that dangle, flop, or can potentially fall out. No jewelry (earrings, necklaces, rings, watches, etc.).

GUITAR AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Mr. Cloud – cloudc@gcsnc.com

Audition Date:  December 13, 2025

 

Guitar students should:

  • Be prepared to perform two contrasting pieces of guitar music
  • Demonstrate ability to read music in first four frets
  • Selections should demonstrate technical proficiency and focus on musicality
  • Perform C, G, and F scales in one or two octaves
  • A personal interview will be conducted at the time of audition.

 

MODERN MUSIC PRODUCTION AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Chiwahn Walden, waldenc@gcsnc.com

Devereaux Nash, dnash@notefornotes.com

Caleb Alexander, calexander@notesfornotes.com

Audition Date: December 13, 2025

 

Note: The Modern Music Production program at PGSA is co-curricular and requires musical engagements inside and outside of the classroom. We are dedicated to creative collaboration and community building through the arts.

Audition

For the sake of establishing the importance of being involved in the Modern Music Production Program and to create a sense of buy-in, students will be asked to present a reflection of their personal creations/artistry. This could be, and is not limited to, a recorded track, or a video/live performance of a cover/original song using any instrumentation of choice (voice, piano, guitar, virtual instruments, etc.) If the student is a beginner and/or is not yet able to present or perform a track, the youth will be asked to analyze a piece of modern music, of their choice, and respond to the following questions via a video response:

  • Why did you choose this piece of music and what significance does it have to you?
  • Describe the sound quality of the music through mood, color, and/or feel
  • What do the lyrics mean? What do the lyrics mean to you?
  • If you were to recreate your musical selection yourself, what instrument would you start with? Why?
  • If you were to suggest a music edit to the creator of the music, what would they be?

*We strongly recommend applicants to submit some form of musical demonstration of their personal artistry. *

Interview

Here are some questions we may ask. Take time to prepare your thoughts and speak from the heart. You are not required to memorize your responses. Here are some questions we may ask.

  • Introduce yourself and state your name, age, grade, and what school you currently attend
  • Tell me about a time when you felt confident when creating something new. How does a confident person behave? How can you tell when someone is confident? 
  • What do you think makes a person creative? What kind of creator are you? Who are you as a creator? What are your creative goals? Tell me about a time when you felt creative. 
  • Do you believe that music can communicate emotion? Tell me about a time when music you created or listened to made you feel emotional. 
  • When we share art and music, we create with our communities we grow our abilities to understand and share the feelings of one another. Is there a time when you created something that makes you think if your friends, family or even strangers would know you better?
  • Collaboration is all about sharing a vision with others to reach a common goal. Tell me about a time when you were collaborative. Is it easy for you to ask for help?
  • What are you hoping to gain from this Modern Music Production experience?

 

ORCHESTRA AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Mr. Miles – milesd4@gcsnc.com

Audition Date:  December 13, 2025

 

String students should prepare the following:

  • Solo or etude.  Student may choose, but this should be a solo piece or etude and not an orchestral excerpt.  Ask your current orchestra director or private teacher for guidance in selecting a solo or etude.  Provide two copies at the audition for the judges.
  •  One Major 2 octave scale and arpeggio (student’s choice).  Perform it slurring 4 notes to a bow for the scale and 3 notes to the bow for arpeggio.  Basses may play one octave.
  •  One Melodic Minor 2 octave scale and arpeggio (student’s choice).  Perform it slurring 4 notes to a bow for the scale and 3 notes to the bow for arpeggio.  Basses may play one octave.

Each student will be asked to perform a short sight-reading selection during his/her audition.  There will also be a brief interview at the audition.

THEATRE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Mr. Brower – browerk@gcsnc.com

Audition Dates: December 13, 2025

 

The Penn-Griffin Playmakers (High School Theatre Majors) are looking for versatile theatre artists – actors AND technicians – that work hard and are interested in growing, collaborating, and learning about all aspects of theatre!

Before Theatre Audition, students should:

  • Prepare a resume of theatre experience (performance and technical theatre experience including any theatre classes taken) and bring it to the audition.
  • Prepare TWO contrasting monologues between 1 to 2 minutes each in length.  Monologues should be from a published play or monologue collection book! Students should demonstrate their acting ability by playing two extremely different characters, other than themselves. The monologues should be performed MEMORIZED.
  • Optional: Musical Theatre. Prepare 16-32 measures of a song from a musical.
  • Optional: Technical Theatre. Students who are primarily interested in technical theatre may perform only one monologue AND provide a portfolio of any past technical work (including drawings of designs for a theatre production, original scripts, photos of makeup or costumes, models/samples, etc.)
  • Optional: Gather any copies of news articles, programs or photographs of performances or theatre projects they have created to bring to the audition.

During Theatre Auditions, students will:

  • Participate in theatre exercises, including movement, cold reading, and improvisation with a small group of students during the audition. Students should dress in comfortable, neutral clothes and shoes they can move in.
  • Perform their memorized monologue(s) for adjudicators and student timekeeper only.
  • Optional: Perform their song (if a song has been prepared) for adjudicators and student timekeeper only.
  • Complete an individual interview. The student’s theatre resume and any gathered materials (programs, photographs, etc.) may be shared at this time.
  • Please bring a water bottle.
  • Students will be able to leave once their individual audition has been complete.

 

VISUAL ART AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Mr. O’Hara - oharar@gcsnc.com

Audition Date:  December 13, 2025

 

Art students should:

  • Bring a portfolio of a minimum of 6 pieces including the following:  One should show use of color, one should show use of value, one should be a person.
    • 2 drawings of objects or scenes from direct observations (not from magazines)
    • 2 linear perspective drawings (a 1 point and a 2 point)
    • 2 creative drawings, sculptures (photograph of sculptural work is acceptable) or paintings (cartoon work should be limited to 1 piece and does not count as figural work)
  • Be prepared to draw a still life.  Paper and pencils will be available in the art room.
  • A personal interview will be conducted at the time of audition.

VOCAL MUSIC AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Ms. Jada Poteat – poteatj@gcsnc.com    

Audition Date: December 13, 2025

Chorus Students should:

  • Be prepared to sing one solo accompanied piece. (And provide the music for the judges. It can be a YouTube karaoke.)
  • Be prepared to learn a short piece to sing with an ensemble with other chorus auditionees
  • Be prepared to sing through your vocal range
  • Be prepared to sight sing a short melody
  • Be prepared to sight read a rhythm
  • Expect an interview discussing your interest in the program