Music Department
Torrey Pines High School
Auditions
Auditions for 2025-2026
Auditions for the 2025-26 school year will take place in the spring of 2025. Please check back for information about how to audition to be posted in late winter/early spring. You can review this page now to familiarize yourself with audition information for each music class and the specific audition requirements from last year's auditions.
Audition Info for Each Music Class
The TPHS music program welcomes all interested students. Auditions are only required for the upper level classes. Please review the "Our Program" pages of our website for more information on each class.
Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band
Students who wish to be placed in one of the upper level classes -- Advanced Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Band -- must audition for class placement.
No audition is required for placement in Symphonic Band or Intermediate Orchestra. However, all band and orchestra students are encouraged to audition. Please note that these are not beginning level classes, and students must already know how to play their instrument.
MIDI/Recording Arts and Instrumental Music
These classes are open to all students and no audition is required.
Need Help?
If you have any questions please email our music director Amy Gelb at amy.gelb@sduhsd.net
Audition Requirements for 2024-2025
Please read these directions carefully and email Ms. Gelb with any questions you may have. amy.gelb@sduhsd.net
Each video requirement listed here will be uploaded in the Audition Form to the corresponding file there (File A, File, B, etc.).
Symphonic Band & Intermediate Orchestra
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No Audition necessary, but these classes are not beginning level and experience is required.
Wind Ensemble
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File A: (Winds)- Video of the following scales (as many octaves as you can with a nice tone) with an articulation of your choice and quarter notes = at least 80: 1) Concert D Major, 2) Concert Ab Major, 3) Concert G Harmonic Minor, 4) Chromatic Scale
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File A: (Percussion)- Video of the following scales (if you have a pitched mallet instrument or piano): 1) D Major, 2) Ab Major, 3) G Harmonic Minor, 4) Chromatic Scale
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File B: (Winds & Percussion)- Video of these excerpts or a piece of your choosing which demonstrates your technical and musical ability.
Jazz Band
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File A: Video of the following scales (as many octaves as you can with a nice tone) with an articulation of your choice and quarter notes = at least 80: 1) Concert D Major, 2) Concert Ab Major, 3) Concert G Harmonic Minor, 4) Chromatic Scale
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File A: (Vocal)- Video singing one of the three vocal options (Betwitched, Something's Gotta Give, or No More Blues). Sing entire song while using provided backing track. PDF's and backing tracks.
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File B: Video of the these excerpts or a melody from the Real Book excerpt of your choosing.
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File C: Video soloing over a blues key of your choice (use backing track of your choice) for 12 bars.
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File C: (Drums)- Video demonstrating the ability to play Swing (8 bars), Funk (8 bars), Latin of your choice (8)
Advanced Orchestra
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File A: Video of the following scales (at least 2 octaves) demonstrating consistent bowing and quarter notes = at least 80: 1) C Major, 2) D Major, 3) G Major, 4) G Harmonic Minor
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File B: Video of the these excerpts or a piece of your choosing which demonstrates your technical and musical ability.
