The CHARLOTTE YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE (CYWE) is an honor band organization sponsored by the Department of Music at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Now in it's 21st season, the "Honor Band of the Carolinas" invites high school students to audition from all North and South Carolina regional public and private schools, as well as those who are home schooled.

This outstanding honors band includes many All-District, All-Region and All-State musicians annually. The organization conducts yearly auditions each December.

Rehearsals occur on Tuesday evenings in January and February, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:15 at UNC Charlotte. Concerts and then given in the region at the end of February and the beginning of March, at which time the season concludes. The organization is under the direction of Dr. Laurence Marks, director of bands at UNC Charlotte, who is joined on the podium by guest conductors and local educators.

AUDITIONS: Auditions will be held at UNC Charlotte's Robinson Hall for the Performing Arts on Saturday, December 10, 2011 betwee 8:30 am and 2:30 pm.

APPLICATIONS: Available online or through school band directors beginning October 1, 2011. After students have submitted applications by regular mail, each will be assigned a 10-minute time slot and notified by email. Percussionists will have 15-minute time slots, and should be prepared to play a minimum of two instruments. There is a $10.00 audition fee and the application must be signed by the parent and sponsoring band director.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Audition Score Sheet is broken down into three scored categories, totaling 100 points: SOLO (70), SCALES (15) and SIGHT READING (15).

The SOLO, worth 70 points, is broken down into the following seven categories, each receiving up to10 points: TONE, INTONATION, TECHNQUE, RHYTHM, ARTICULATION, DYNAMICS AND INTERPRETATION/PHRASING. Percussion use a different scoring rubric, but the total score is still based on 100 points.

SOLO: Each student should prepare the All-State Solo for his/her instrument. Solos for any grade level may be used (9/10 or 11/12) since students from grades 9-12 are accepted. Therefore, it is permissable students in grades 9/10 to play the 11/12 solo, if desired. Students are no longer permitted to select their own solos for audition purposes. The length of the solo should be as indicated by state requirements.

SCALES (15 points 5/5/5/): Scale requirements are the same for all students regardless of grade levels, as follows: Percussion should be prepared to play basic rudiments and required scales for mallet instruments.

Chromatic -- A full range chromatic, within the practical range of instrument, according to All-State regulations, starting on C. Major Scales -- Students should be prepared to play all 12 major scales, although the judge will ask for only two (one flat key and one sharp key) due to time restrictions. Each scale example is worth 5 points.

SIGHT READING - (15 points) A brief sight reading example will be selected by the judge and the student will have one minute to study the music before being asked to play.

ACCEPTED STUDENTS: Students will be notified of audition results online within 24 hours and by mail within one week of the auditions. Those students who are accepted with receive a participation contracts, member requirements and music for performance. There is a nominal $80.00 membership fee, of which the majority of the funds pay for parking tokens to permit free parking on campus each week. The remaining funds are used for music purchase, guest conductor frees and printing/postage costs.

CONCERTO COMPETITION: Students selected for membership may also choose to audition for the annual Concerto Competition. The winning student will be allowed to perform a work 6-7 minutes in length. The selection must be available with band accompaniment and be easily obtainable for rehearsal. The student's band director will be invited to conduct the ensemble.

CONCERT DATES (2012) Concerts are free and open to the public.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 , UNC-Charlotte, 7:30 pm

Tuesday, March 6, Hickory Ridge HS, Harrisburg (Cabarrus County), 7:30 pm

Wednesday, March 7, Marvin Ridge HS, Waxhaw (Union County), 7:30 pm

For further information, please contact Dr. Laurence Marks, UNC-Charlotte, at llmarks@uncc.edu or by telephone at (704) 687-0256.