National High School Honors Orchestra
March 21 - 23, 2012
Atlanta, Georgia
What is the National High School Honors Orchestra?
The National High School Honors Orchestra (NHSHO) is a performing group of 120 competitively selected high school musicians who assemble biennially to perform at the ASTA National Conference.
How are the students selected for membership in the NHSHO?
Junior and senior students apply for the orchestra through the state chapters of ASTA. They submit an audition tape/CD of required literature and three minutes form literature of their own choosing. The state coordinator (selected by the state ASTA president) and an audition committee select up to thirty tapes/CDs to forward to the national level. Separate audition committees for strings, winds, and percussion select the 120 students for the orchestra. The students are required to be members of their school orchestra. Students must follow the application process as stated above to be considered by the national committee.
When was the NHSHO established?
In 1986, the first orchestra convened in Anaheim CA, under the direction of James DePriest. Subsequent performances took place in Indianapolis; Washington DC; New Orleans; Cincinnati; Kansas City; and Phoenix. On two occasions the orchestra reassembled to tour and perform in conjunction with international conferences in Helsinki, Finland and Tampa, Florida.
Who conducts the NHSHO?
Such internationally recognized, eminent conductors as Elje Oue, David Gilbert, James DePriest, Jose Serebrier and Jung Ho Pak are invited to conduct the NHSHO. They work with the orchestra for three days of intense rehearsals in preparation for the final performance. For 2010, the conductor was Scott Speck.
Important Note (Effective starting with NHSHO 2010)
Students who have been invited and who have accepted to be part of the National High School Honors Orchestra may not also be a participant in a National Orchestra Festival group, Eclectic Strings Festival program, or the finals of the National Solo Competition in the same national conference year. This participation restriction is due to overlapping event schedules which will cause disruption to the overall experience for all participants of each program. Students may apply for more than one event, but must accept only one if offered multiple event opportunities within the same conference year.
2012 NHSHO Application
Application Process
* Two copies of the membership application
* A non-refundable application fee of $75 in the form of a check or money order made payable to ASTA.
* An audiocassette or CD using the list of required audition materials.
Please mail the above materials to
Barbara James
NVASTA State Coordinator
7928 Mustang Canyon Street
Las Vegas, NV 89113
Email: 1vlnst@nvasta.com
NHSHO Repertoire
Applications must be turned into the State Chairman by JUNE 15, 2011
It is not required that each audition is accompanied. It is up to each applicant whether the audition tape includes accompaniment.
Violin
Concerto in E Minor by Felix Mendelssohn: Three minutes from first movement
Three minute solo of your choice
Viola
Concerto in C Minor by Johann Christian Bach: Three minutes from first movement
Three minute solo of your choice
Cello
Concerto in C Major by Franz Joseph Haydn: Three minutes from first movement
Three minute solo of your choice
String Bass
Concerto in A Major by Dragonetti: Three minutes from first movement
Three minute solo of your choice
Flute/Piccolo*
Concerto in G by Mozart/Rampal (International): First movement
Oboe/English Horn*
Sonatina by Jacob (Oxford)
Clarinet
Concerto No. 1 by von Weber (Carl Fischer): First movement
Bassoon
Concert Piece by Phillips (Carl Fischer)
Horn
Concerto No. 1 by R. Strauss (International): First movement
Trumpet
Sonata by Kennan (Wamer Brothers): Movements 1 & 2
Trombone
Concerto for Trombone by Gordon Jacob: Movements 1 & 2
Tuba
Serenade No. 12 by Persichetti (Elkan Vogel)
Harp**
Concerto in B-flat by Handel (HaI Leonard): Movements 1 & 2 (50502290)
Piano**
Prelude & Fugue in C Minor, from The Well Tempered Clavier by J. S. Bach
Percussion
All percussionists are required to play the traps excerpts listed below.
You may audition for one or more of the major instrument categories below. Those auditioning for Timpani, Snare Drum and Mallets must also include the excerpts from the Trap category (triangle, tambourine and cymbals).
You may also audition for the Traps category only.
All solos and excerpts from below are to be placed on one tape or CD.
One fee will cover all percussion categories.
Timpani Requirement
* Timpani solo of your choice, which best represents your playing ability.
* Crescendo/decrescendo rolls on the 29” and 26” drums.
* Excerpts: Symphony No. IV by Tchaikovsky, First movement- Letter T (3 before allegro con anima) to letter V
* Traps excerpts (see traps excerpt category below)
Snare Drum Requirements
* Snare drum solo (not rudimental) of your choice, which best represents your playing ability.
* Short rudimental etude of your choice, which best represents your playing ability.
* Excerpts: Scheherazade by Rimsky Korsakov, Third movement letter D to E and G to J; Fourth movement letter P to R
* Traps excerpts (see traps excerpt category below)
Mallets Requirements
* Mallet solo of your choice, which best represents your playing ability
* Excerpts (pick at least one)
* Bells: Magic Flute by Mozart, Finale to Act I
* Xylophone: Porgy and Bess by Gershwin, Introduction/ Allegro con Brio (“Catfish Row”)
* Vibraphone: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story by Bernstein, measures 582 to 629 (“Cool”)
* Traps excerpts (see trap excerpts category below)
Traps Requirements
* Multi-percussion solo of your choice, which best represents your playing ability.
* Excerpts (include all excerpts listed below)
* Tambourine: Carnival Overture by Dvorak, letter Q to S and letter T to the end
* Cymbals: Night on Bald Mountain by Moussorgsky, letter S to T; Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky, letter E to 12 after E and pick- up to letter T to 5 after T
* Triangle: Symphony No. IV by Brahms, Third movement, letter I to the end.
* The music selected frequently requires a double of one of these instruments and occasionally requires their use throughout the compositions (oboe/English horn, clarinet/E-flat clarinet or saxophone, and flute/piccolo). If qualified to do so, please audition with the second instrument on the same tape, mark the tape, and announce your intention on the tape. If you prefer to play the color instrument, indicate that as well on your application form and on the tape.
** Occasionally music selected by the conductor does not include piano or harp. These two categories of applications do not count as part of the maximum number of applications from each state allowed. Please note: if the music selected by the conductor does not call for harp or piano, your application fee will be refunded.