Competition FAQs
What is the Mock Audition Competition?
The Mock Audition Competition is an evening performance event designed to give participants the experience of an actual orchestral audition. Each brass section (trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas) has a separate audition where participants play a list of orchestral excerpts to a panel of judges. The auditions are blind to ensure the fairness of the competition. Winners and/or honorable mentions are selected by section.
How does it work?
The competition is comprised of one or two rounds “behind the screen.” The participant will not see the judging panel, and the judging panel will not see the participant. Auditions will be monitored by an audition proctor. Proctors will assign numbers to those competing in order to determine the audition order and to keep the performers anonymous to the judging panel. Judges may award a first place winner and an honorable mention for each section. Some sections may not have a clear first place winner, in which event only honorable mentions are named.
Is it mandatory?
No, it is not required for participants to compete in the mock audition competition. However, we do highly encourage everyone to participate! It is a valuable learning experience where you can get real audition experience with constructive feedback without the stakes of an actual audition. If you have performance anxiety, this audition is safe place to try to overcome those issues. There is nothing you can lose by participating!
When are the excerpts posted?
Excerpts will be posted by May 2024.
You can find the selected excerpts by section on our website at: https://www.mendezbrassinstitute.com/competition/.
When do I sign up to compete?
Participants interested in competing can sign up after check-in on Sunday, July 7th. (The order you sign up on the sheet is NOT the order you will audition.) Auditions will be monitored by an audition proctor. Participants will draw numbers right before the competition and proctors will keep the participants anonymous to the judging panel.
Do winners receive anything?
Judges may award a first place winner and an honorable mention for each section. Some sections may not have a clear first place winner, in which event only honorable mentions are named. Winners and honorable mentions both receive cash prizes. Each section has a $300 prize pot that will be divided among the winners and honorable mentions as determined by the faculty.
Can I watch the auditions?
In the past, those not auditioning have been invited to sit and watch the auditions.
I don’t want to audition, but how else can I be involved?
You can participate in the competition without auditioning by being an audition proctor! Proctors help run the audition room. They are the voice between the person auditioning and the judges. Proctors keep track of the performers and help keep them anonymous to the judging panel.
If you are interested in being a proctor, you can sign up on Sunday, July 7th. There will be a proctor orientation meeting immediately before the competition to run you through your role and responsibilities. It’s fun and you get to view how the audition process works.