Placement Auditions

DHS-Holmes Orchestras

Attention all 9th, 10, 11th grade students,

This week I have been announcing the DHS Orchestra Program’s Placement Audition process that takes place February 25th- March 1st. All requirements are attached and listed below for auditioning into the DHS Symphony Orchestra and DHS Baroque Ensemble. I am starting this conversation now in order to motivate you to start preparing this month by picking your scales and solo and beginning the process of learning everything to the best of your ability by the end of February. For 99% of you, you will need all of this time to prepare in order to feel confident and in technical control of your audition performance.

Note: If you do not wish to participate in the audition process but want to continue to improve daily on your instrument and be a part of a wonderful orchestra here at DHS, then plan to sign up for the DHS Chamber Orchestra. This is our largest orchestra at DHS and a great place to be with friends and make music on a daily basis together.

I am announcing now for everyone still deciding which orchestra to audition for, that the DHS Baroque Ensemble will be doing a major tour next year in June 2020 to England and France; two of the leading countries for Baroque composers and performance. The DHS Baroque Ensemble will enjoy a 14 day performance tour filled with tourist attractions and the opportunity to play in some of the best churches and performance venues in both countries. There is room in the group for 20 violins, 6 violas, 6 cellos, two basses, and 4 keyboard players. Consider this once in a life time opportunity when it comes time to designate which group you want to audition for. See video below of our amazing tour to Austria and Italy from 2017. It shows the excitement and fun shared by all who attended.

DHS Baroque Tour Documentary Video of the Austria and Italy Tour 2017:
https://youtu.be/K_zjS4ecpmE

Contact Mr. Moreno if you have any questions.

Davis High School Orchestra Program
Audition Requirements
2019-2020
Symphony Orchestra and Baroque Ensemble

All DHS Orchestra Auditions will be held at Davis High  in the Music Building room PA-3 from February 25th – March 1st.  Check your school music room for the DHS Orchestras Open Audition sign-up sheets starting in January.  Auditions are for all in coming 10th grade students, continuing 11th grade students, and 12th grade students not currently in an audition group.

Sign-up Deadline is Friday, February 8th

The final audition schedule will be posted Tuesday, February 21st, which will include your individual audition day and time. Your requested times may change to fit the final schedule, so make sure and check the schedule carefully. If you have a major conflict with your scheduled time email Mr. Moreno ASAP to work it out.

  • Audition Dates and Times by Instrument:
  • Violins: Monday, February 25th, 3:50PM – 8:00PM
                  Tuesday, February 26th, 3:50PM – 8:00PM
  • Violas: Thursday, February 28th, 3:40PM – 6:00PM
  • Cellos/Basses:  Friday, March 1st, 3:50PM – 8:00PM

Key Board Players Auditioning for a Harpsichord position in the Baroque Ensemble: Contact Mr. Moreno directly to set an audition time. If you are a string player who also plays keyboard and would like to audition for harpsichord sign up for two time slots back to back.

Please Note: All Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students who are interested in auditioning for the DHS Symphony Orchestra see audition requirements online at: dhsbandboosters.com
Information will be posted soon. All Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion students interested in participating in the DHS Symphony Orchestra must be members of the DHS Symphonic Band.

If none of these audition times work for your schedule and you need assistance contact Mr. Moreno

Description of The Davis High School Symphony Orchestra:

The Davis High Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Angelo Moreno, is an advanced full symphony orchestra including strings, winds, brass and percussion. The group will study and perform music for symphony orchestra from the classical to modern eras. In recent years, the Symphony Orchestra has performed Beethoven’s Fifth and Sixth Symphonies, Dvorak’s Eighth and Ninth Symphonies and Elgar’s Nimrod, amongst many other pieces of music from Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Schubert, Schumann, Haydn, Brahms and many other composers.

Description of The Davis High School Baroque Ensemble:

The Davis High Baroque Ensemble, under the direction of Angelo Moreno is a unique string orchestra which includes the following instruments: violin, viola, cello, bass, and Key Board players who are interested in learning to play the Harpsichord. Students will perform on Baroque instruments, which include string instruments converted to Baroque style with gut strings and Baroque style bows. The group will study and perform music from the Baroque Era, including composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli, Telemann, and Handel.

Audition Requirements:

Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass:

  • 3 octaves of any major scale in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144
           (Basses 2 octaves)
  • 3 octaves of any melodic minor scale in quarter notes at a tempo of 120
           (Basses 2 octaves)
  • 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.

Key Board Players Auditioning for Harpsichord:

  • 3 octaves of any major scale in two hands- in quarter notes, at a tempo of 144
  • 3 octaves of any melodic minor scale in two hands-  in quarter notes at a tempo of 120
  • 3-4 minute excerpt of an unaccompanied solo (skip over long rests) that demonstrates your ability.

Note: All players will be asked to sight read

Note: All instruments- when deciding on solo literature consult your private instructor or school music teacher.

***REQUIRED***
Please provide a copy of your solo music the day of your audition for the adjudicator

Contact Mr. Moreno if you have any questions at (530) 400-7614 (cell) or by email

dhs-orchestra-program-placement-audition-information

2019 DHS Concerto Competition Information

DHS OrchestrasDHS-Holmes OrchestrasHolmes Orchestras

2019 DHS Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition
Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 7:00 P.M.
DHS Richard Brunelle Performance Hall

 

What is it?

The DHS concerto competition is an annual event held early every Winter Semester to choose one student musician at DHS who will perform with the DHS Symphony Orchestra and receive a $500 award.  The winner will have the opportunity to play his or her piece with the DHS Symphony Orchestra in Concert—TBA.

Click here to see profiles of past winners.

What music should be played for the competition?

  • The competition piece should be a movement from a concerto.
  • It is required that the contestants memorize their piece for both the competition and the final performance.
  • The competition is a recital format.
  • Note: The musicians should provide their own accompanists and two copies of the music for the judges.

Who may compete?

  • The competition is open to the entire DHS student population.
  • A musician who won this competition in a previous year may not compete again. 

What instrument may competitors play?

  • Competitors may play any appropriate instrument for which concertos are written.

When and where is the competition being held?

  • This year’s competition will be held This year’s competition will be held Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 7:00 P.M. DHS Richard Brunelle Performance Hall. It is open to the public, free admission.

When does the winner perform with the Orchestra?

  • The winner will perform with the Orchestra at a public concert decided upon by the director.
  • Performances in the past have been featured at the end of the year Finale Concert and the Wennberg Concert held at the Mondavi Center, DHS Symphony Kids Outreach Concerts, and Carnegie Hall, NY.

Who will judge the competition?

  • The judges will be professional musicians who are familiar with orchestral performance and the expected level of the winner.

Who will be in the audience for the competition?

  • The competition will be open to the public so invite your family and friends. There will be two adjudicators seated in the back of the room along with Mr. Moreno.

How do I sign up for the Concerto Competition and what information do I need to provide?

  • Mr. Moreno has a sign up sheet posted in PA-3 on the computer lab window. Deadline to sign up is
    Friday, November 16, 2018.
  • To apply to the competition, you need to provide the following:
    • The name of your piece, the movement, and the composer
    • The approximate length of your piece
    • The instrument you will play
    • Whether two pianos will be needed
  • You must also send Mr. Moreno an email at amoreno@djusd.net with following information:
    • Your Name (first and last)
    • Instrument
    • Name of Solo and Composer
    • Total Time of Solo

Are there any further requirements?

  • The night of the competition all performers will be required to provide two (2) copies of their music for the adjudicators.
  • Appropriate concert dress for the concerto competition performance is required. Suggest “Concert Black.”

You can view and download a PDF of this information here.

Join Our Facebook Page

DHS-Holmes Orchestras

Below are links to the Orchestra Program Facebook pages. You can get updates by liking your orchestra’s Facebook Page. It’s also great way to share your photos and videos of all of our orchestra activities with friends and family.

Check out the Holmes Advanced Orchestra on our facebook page performing the National Anthem for 17,000 fans tonight at the Kings game at the Golden One Center

Poinsettia Flowers Fall Fundraiser

DHS-Holmes Orchestras

Please support the Davis High and Holmes Junior High School Orchestra Programs Fall fundraising efforts by ordering poinsettias for yourself, friends, relatives, co-workers, and neighbors. They make the perfect holiday decoration. The flowers are $12.00 each, and come in a 6-inch pot.

Attached are three documents:

  • Instructions: Please read
  • Flyer: Students can email this out to any of their prospective buyers, who can use it to (1) order online or (2) print out and return with their payment.
  • Order Form: Students should use this to track all non-online-store purchases.

Step 1: Ordering Flowers

Purchasers should be encouraged to order poinsettias on the DHS-Holmes Orchestra Store. Online orders are by credit card only.

For those who do not order online, students should collect their payment (Cash or Check payable to “DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters”) and keep a record of the items purchased on the attached order form.

Step 2: Submitting Your Orders

Turn in the completed order form along with all cash and check payments you receive to Mr. Moreno in your orchestra class by Thursday, November 15.

Step 3: Flower Pickup

Poinsettias will be available for pickup in front of the DHS Richard Brunelle Performance Hall located at the edge of the DHS Parking lot at 315 W. 14th Street, Davis on Saturday, November 24th, 10am-12pm. Individuals are responsible for picking up the flowers they order. Please make sure everyone who orders flowers from you knows they are responsible for picking them up on November 24th.

If you have any questions, please contact our Poinsettia coordinator, Terry Tafoya

See’s Candies Fall Fundraiser

DHS-Holmes Orchestras

Please support the Davis High and Holmes Junior High School Orchestra Programs by helping to promote our Fall See’s Candies Fundraiser. You can help us reach our fundraising goal by taking orders from friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, or order some sweets for yourself for the holidays.

Attached are these three documents:

  • Instructions: Please read
  • Flyer: Students can email this out to any of their prospective buyers, who can use it to (1) order online or (2) print out and return with their payment.
  • Order Form: Students should use this to track all non-online-store purchases.

Step 1: Ordering Candies

For those who do not order online, students should collect their payment (Cash or Check payable to “DHS-Holmes Orchestra Boosters”) and keep a record of the items purchased on the attached order form.

Step 2: Submitting Your Orders

Turn in the completed order form along with all cash and check payments you receive to Mr. Moreno in your orchestra class by Tuesday, November 27th.

Step 3: Picking Up Your Candies
All candy orders will be available for pick up at the DHS and Holmes Orchestra Program Winter Concerts at the DHS Richard Brunelle Performance Hall:

  • Holmes Orchestras Winter Concert – December 10, 2018
  • DHS Orchestras Winter Concert – December 14, 2018

Students should pick up candies to fill all of their orders at their winter concert, then deliver the orders to the purchasers who returned forms to them and/or who listed the student as their contact when they placed their orders online. 

If you have any questions, please contact our See’s Candies Coordinator, Delinda Nicolet.