Admissions: Online Audition Application

IMPORTANT!

PLEASE READ ALL OF THE INFORMATION BELOW
BEFORE CLICKING ON THE “ONLINE AUDITION APPLICATION” LINK
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE.

 

Dear Prospective Student:

We appreciate your interest in applying and auditioning for admission to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts.

After reading all requirements in full:

Plan to attend one of the following auditions for the 2012-2013 school year:

Monday, January 9, 6 p.m.
or
Thursday, January 19, 6 p.m.

Please arrive on time. It is critical that at least one parent/guardian accompanies you to the gym located on San Diego Road. While you are auditioning your parent/guardian will remain in the gym for the required information session with the principal. Parking is located at the back of the school off White Avenue.

We recommend you schedule a tour of the school before the audition. If you have questions after reading the enclosed information or would like to schedule a tour, please call 346-5620 ext. 101.

We wish you the best as you develop your educational goals.

Sincerely,
Jackie H. Cornelius, Principal

 

Entrance Requirements

 

  •  Acceptance to Douglas Anderson is through audition only.
  •  Students must be at an intermediate or higher skill level.
  •  Must have completed and submitted Online Application by January 2, 2012.
  •  Two recommendations are required. Print two RECOMMENDATION FORMS from DA’s website and give to instructor(s) familiar with your art’s progress. Recommendations should be mailed to DA Admissions before the audition.
  •  A copy of the student’s most recent report card must be submitted. A 2.0 Grade Point Average is required. Florida law requires a minimum 2.0 grade point average for participation in state performances, which includes All-State, State Thespians, gallery showings, and other school-related activities.
  • Your audition will include an interview in addition to other arts area requirements.

Curriculum

Douglas Anderson offers a four-year, full academic curriculum required for graduation, which includes advanced (honors and advanced placement) courses. The advanced arts curriculum includes visual arts, dance, vocal music, instrumental music (including guitar and piano), cinematic arts, creative writing, and performance and technical theatre. Twelve to fourteen arts courses are required (specific to Douglas Anderson); therefore, electives are not offered.

Additional Contractual Agreements

All arts areas require fair share contributions. The amount varies among arts areas and performance groups. (Fund-raising opportunities are provided for all students to earn the fair share.) Additional area-specific requirements that affect a student’s grade may be contracted.  These might include, but are not limited to, attendance at all rehearsals. All students are required to critique one in-school and one outside-of-school arts event each quarter.

Transportation

The Duval County School System provides buses from all neighborhood high schools to and from Douglas Anderson.

 

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Creative Writing

Creative writing applicants should bring a portfolio of three to five examples of the student’s best writing. The pieces should have undergone careful revision either by the student on his/her own or with an instructor. They should represent the student’s strongest work in at least two genres (e.g., fiction, poetry, essay). The audition will include an on-demand writing as well as a written reaction to a published work. Please come prepared to write by bringing a pen and paper. Ajudicators will be looking for a thoughtful, honest expression of ideas that reveals expertise in language and insight into literature.

Portfolios should be typed. Students should include only copies of work in the portfolio – not originals.  As is common practice with university creative writing departments, student portfolios will not be returned.

The quality of the creative writing is most important. Please do not include drawings or visual images in or on the portfolio. Do not send your portfolio with the application. Bring portfolios with you to the audition.

Dance

Dance applicants should be prepared to participate in a 1½- to 2-hour dance class, which will consist of ballet, modern dance, and compositional phrases. The student should wear appropriate dress as follows:

Ladies – Black leotard, pink tights*, and ballet shoes. Dancers should bring pointe shoes if they have them. Hair should be worn in a traditional, classical, ballet bun with hair slicked back without lumps or geometric patterns. If hair is too short for a bun, it must be pinned, clipped, or gelled back, flat to the head.

Gentlemen – Black leotard or tank top with tights* or sweat pants, and ballet shoes. Hairstyle should be short, neat, with no braids.

* Tights should be convertible for modern dance.

Cinematic Arts

Cinematic Arts applicants should bring a typed essay, no longer than three pages, that discusses the student’s experience in video production as well as his/her aspirations for a career in film or television production. Each student will present a two to three minute original video narrative or documentary on VHS tape or DVD.  Students should also include a script (screenplay or shot list) for the project. In the narrative, the main character in your story should have a clear objective, encounter obstacles, and resolve the situation. The story should be written and shot by the student. In the documentary, the student should have a distinct point-of-view about the subject matter.

Students should submit a copy of the video as it will not be returned.

Classical Guitar

Guitar applicants shall perform two selections on a classical guitar. For example, one selection should be a classical piece by Carcassi, Giuliani, Tarrega, Sor, or Bach. Applicants shall be prepared to perform two octave major scales in all 12 keys, and major, minor, dominant 7th, minor 7th, major 7th chords in all 12 keys. Guitar applicants will be required to sight read a short selection.

Instrumental Music

String applicants: Performing the Florida Orchestra Association All-State Orchestra audition music is recommended and preferred.  Those requirements can be found by clicking on the “All-State” tab at www.myfoa.org.  Students should also audition on current years’ All-State material for their current grade level.  String applicants should be prepared to perform two- and three-octave scales that include shifting with arpeggios as per their instrument’s All-State audition requirements.  Applicants must also perform two contrasting pieces of their choice.  The All-State Orchestra audition music can be ordered from Luck’s Music Library at 1-800-348-8749 or purchased from a music vendor of your choice.

Woodwind and Brass applicants: Performing the Florida Bandmasters Association All-State Band audition music would be appropriate.  Those requirements can be found by clicking on the “All-State” tab at www.flmusiced.org.  Students should audition on the current year’s All-State material for their current grade level. Applicants should be prepared to perform all 12 major scales, two-octaves, with arpeggios, and their chromatic scale, throughout the natural range of his/her instrument as per All-State audition requirements.  Performing the All-State music for your audition is preferred.  However, applicants may still choose to perform two contrasting FBA-approved solos or method book excerpts of their choice.  Music from your band class is not deemed apprpriate for this audition. The All-State Band audition music can be ordered from a music vendor of your choice.

Percussion applicants: The student shall prepare three selections of contrasting style to demonstrate the student’s ability on snare drum, keyboard, and timpani. Additionally, percussion applicants should be prepared to perform all 12 major scales, two-octaves, with arpeggios, and their chromatic scale, throughout the natural range of his/her instrument as per All-State audition requirements. The pieces should be selected using All-State requirements for the grade level for which the student is auditioning. Performing the All-State music for your audition is preferred. However, applicants may choose to perform three contrasting selections or movements of their choice.  Timpani, xylophone, and snare drum will be provided. Percussionists shall provide their own mallets, drumsticks, etc.

Piano

Care should be given to choose a repertoire that successfully demonstrates the student’s technical and musical stage of development. Applicants must perform in person two contrasting, original (no simplified arrangements) classical (not popular) solo compositions. Freshmen must be at the ability level to learn J.S. Bach’s Inventions upon admission. Music for the two selections should be brought to the audition; however, compositions must be played from memory.

Applicants should be able to play simultaneously with both hands all major scales (two or four octaves), a chromatic scale, and as many minor scales as the student knows. Applicants will be asked to sight read. Applicants should bring a repertoire list of major works covered the last three years of piano study.

Theatre — Performance

Performance Theatre applicants will perform a memorized monologue from a published play lasting no more than four minutes.  An example for a male applicant is a monologue from You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown; for a female applicant, The Diary of Anne Frank.  Many other monologues would be acceptable.  Jurists will be looking for clarity of speech, volume and vocal expression that illuminates the meaning of the words. The actor should attempt to create a character and to identify emotionally with the character and the words. The actor must show confidence on stage. The actor must show that he/she knows and understands why the character is saying the words. The actor must show some physical flexibility. Monologues can be found at any public library or copies can be picked up from the Douglas Anderson Main Office.

Applicants should be prepared to perform an improvisation as directed by the auditioner. The applicant should wear clothing that is suitable for a job interview that also allows for character movement during the monologue.

Musical Theatre Emphasis

Students must audition in and be accepted by one of the following arts areas: Dance, Vocal Music, or Theatre. Please refer to the audition specifications for these arts areas. At the audition in one of these three areas, the student must indicate that he/she wishes to be considered for the Musical Theatre Track, and the student’s application must reflect this. Students who have been accepted in one of these three arts areas and who appropriately indicated an interest in the Musical Theatre track on the application will be notified of the date and time of the separate Musical Theatre audition. It will be held within three months of the initial audition and before the end of school.

For the Musical Theatre audition the applicant must prepare on his/her own 16 bars of a song and a two-minute monologue. A short dance combination will be taught to the applicant at the audition. The applicant must show a strong aptitude in a minimum of two of the three disciplines.

Theatre — Technical

The student is required to bring two individual projects that he/she has produced. Instructors will be looking for design ideas and implementation in at least two of the following areas: sewing, carpentry, painting, sound, lighting, and properties.

During the personal interview, discussion will revolve around the student’s work, creativity, previous theatre experience, and ability to express and communicate ideas.

The student will take a short quiz on basic technical theatre terms.

Visual Arts

Portfolio:
All students should bring a portfolio containing a minimum of three (3) works of art. Additional artworks including sketchbooks are encouraged. All artwork should have been completed under the direction of an art teacher. Recent works (done within a year) are preferred. Artwork may include drawing, sculpture, painting, printmaking, or photography. Suggested subjects are figure drawings, self-portraits, cityscapes, or perspective drawings, and still life work. Students should not include any cartoons, superheroes, or “fantasy” images. Portfolios should include work done from observation and real life. Drawings copied from photographs are not encouraged.

Interview:
The interview with the auditioners will include a discussion of the portfolio works.

Drawing:
Students will complete a pencil drawing of a section of a still life on 18” x 24” paper.

Critique:
Students will write approximately three (3) paragraphs, or one page, describing, analyzing, and interpreting a reproduction of an artwork.

Vocal Music

Vocal music applicants with prior formal voice training shall perform either an English or Italian art song (such as Homeward Bound, Caro Mio Ben, etc.). Applicants without prior formal vocal training shall perform one of the following selections:

The Star Spangled Banner
America (My Country ‘Tis of Thee)
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Amazing Grace

All auditions should be performed from memory. The applicant may bring his/her own accompanist or one will be provided by the school. Should a copy of the musical selection be needed, please call the school at 346-5620 ext. 101 to request that one be mailed to you.

In addition to the audition piece, applicants should be prepared to perform a vocal warm-up. Tonal recall and rhythmic and melodic sight reading will also be evaluated.

 

AFTER YOU HAVE READ ALL THE MATERIAL ABOVE
PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR THE ONLINE AUDITION APPLICATION

 

 

Please click below for copies of the following 2012-2013 Audition Application forms:

RECOMMENDATION FORM

RELEASE AGREEMENT

STUDENT/PARENT CONTRACT

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