Pre-College Auditions

The South Carolina Music Teachers Association holds auditions for students of teachers of piano, voice, guitar, brass, woodwinds, and strings in order to encourage the many young students throughout the state, and to give support to the excellent private teachers of South Carolina. Performance and musicianship requirements of audition participation can supply goals against which both teachers and students can measure their progress. The purpose of the audition is to encourage each student to work to his/her fullest capacity.

Piano auditions are held in each of the seven districts in early spring. Students who receive an “Outstanding” rating are eligible to perform in the State Auditions held in Columbia at the end of April. Depending on participation levels, non-piano events will be single round only. An Honors Recital featuring selected students from each division is held a few weeks following the auditions.

Eligibility

The teacher must be a member in good standing by December 31 of the current membership year to enter students at the member teacher rate. A $75.00 non-member teacher fee will be assessed if the membership is not paid for the current membership year.
A student must have studied a minimum of 6 months with the same member teacher prior to auditions, with the exception of incapacitation, relocation, or Sabbatical leave of the regular teacher, in which case both the previous and current teachers will be listed.

Registration

All registrations for both District and State Auditions must be submitted on-line at the SCMTA website.
Fees:
- District — Solo: $30.00 — Concerto: $30.00
- State – Solo: $30.00 – Concerto: $30.00
It is the responsibility of the teacher to meet the Chairperson’s deadline, to complete application forms, and to write one check or submit one PayPal payment to cover fees for all his/her students. Failure to complete the application as required will result in the automatic withdrawal of those students in District Auditions. These fees are non-refundable. Make checks payable to SCMTA.
Name of repertoire and composer must be stated on the application and must be approved prior to the audition. Repertoire cannot be changed after the application has been submitted. If the student does not perform the program listed on the application, he/she will not receive a rating.
School Grade Classifications:
- Division I: Grades 1, 2, 3
- Division II: Grades 4, 5, 6
- Division III: Grades 7, 8, 9
- Division IV: Grades 10, 11, 12
Maximum Performance Times (all categories except Voice)
- Division I: 10 minutes
- Division II: 15 minutes
- Division III: 20 minutes
- Division IV: 25 minutes

Ratings

All entrants are rated as follows:
- (O) Outstanding
- (E) Excellent
- (G) Good
- (S) Satisfactory
One over-all rating is given for the performance and theory requirements. The student must show proficiency in approximately 75% of the theory at the District Audition or his/her overall rating will be lowered one grade.
All students are presented with a critique and a Certificate of Merit displaying the SCMTA seal and the State President’s signature.

Audition Procedures

Students should sign in at the registration desk at least 20 minutes prior to their designated time.
Each participant will provide the judge with one published edition of each piece to be performed. The music must not contain any identifying marks (such as name, or location of student, teacher, school, library, etc.).
Reproductions of printed music (either by hand or machine), including transpositions and transcriptions, may neither be used by performers or accompanists nor provided for judges.
Accompanists must be provided by the student.
Decisions of judges are final. Teachers and parents are not allowed to contact judges before or after the auditions. Any questions should be addressed to the auditions chairs.
The rating sheets will be mailed to the teachers after the completion of the auditions.