It is an incredible honor and privilege to be chosen or accepted into any of these ensembles mentioned below. These ensembles require a lot of self-discipline and individual practice time outside of class. Please know that you should audition and experience as much as you can. Auditioning for ensembles and shows is a life-lesson; if you do not make it the first time there is always next year. Some of these ensembles are reserved for 7th and 8th graders due to superiority. 6th graders will have the same opportunities afforded to them when they reach 7th and 8th grade.
North Carolina Middle School Honors Chorus
This ensemble performs in November at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference for music educators from across the state. Approximately 1,000 students audition for Honors Chorus and is comprised of only 160 students from across the entire state. Requirements include an audition in front of a judge who will listen to the audition cut from the selected Honors Chorus piece as well as a sight reading performance. The cut-off scores for all voice parts are rather high, therefore only the top 15% of those who audition make it into this prestigious choir. Students will be required to attend after-school rehearsals to further prepare them for their audition. Students will have to audition for the director before they go to audition in front of the judge. Students who are accepted into this choir get to rehearse and work with a clinician who is a renowned conductor, composer, or teacher in choral music.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Middle School Honors Chorus
This ensemble performs in February at the Northwest School of the Arts Auditorium. The ensemble is comprised of students from the entire county. The director gets to choose the students from their school that they would like to have participate in this ensemble. Requirements include good behavior, hard work, dedication, academics, etc. Students who are selected for this choir get to work with a clinician and sing challenging music. Students will be required to attend after-school rehearsals and may be asked to sing for the director to determine their preparedness for the choir.
North Carolina Middle School All-State Chorus
This ensemble performs in April at the Greensboro Coliseum. There are three ensembles that the students can be placed in: 6th Grade Choir, Women’s Choir, and SATB Choir. The director is given a specific number of allotments for each ensemble and he gets to select students for each of these ensembles. The students who are selected for this group come together with other students from other schools from across the entire state and rehearse and perform for a whole weekend. The students get to rehearse and perform with a clinician. Students will be required to attend after-school rehearsals to help prepare them for their performance. Students may be asked to audition for the director to determine if they are prepared.
NWSA Choral Arts Department 