Auditions

March 22, 2024

Dear Music Teachers,

We are very pleased to announce the return of the Sonora Bach Festival for the 2024 season. As a music teacher in the Central Sierra Mother Lode, you’ll be interested in the plans for our exciting — annual Youth Concert. This event is a wonderful opportunity for you to provide an inspiring challenge for your students who are dedicated to working hard as they grow as young musicians. We are dedicated to making the audition and concert encouraging and rewarding experiences.

The dates for this year’s event are as follows:
Application due date: September 8, 2024
Auditions: September 22, 2024
Concert: October 6, 2024

As in any endeavor of this sort, the rewards are significant. The process of application, audition and performance serves as a significant milestone for young students. The auditions are adjudicated by three experienced adult musicians; their feedback provides valuable advice and insight into students’ performances. Musicians selected to perform on the concert will be awarded incentive awards in the amount of $50. The finalists’ concert provides its own reward for the students in teaching them to set and achieve performance goals, and share the joy of music with their friends and family. In addition, an exciting invited guest artist performs as part of the final concert, providing a wonderful role model for our local students. The youth concert is always a highly attended event in our community — the hills of the foothills are alive with the music of our young, hardworking people!

Please contact us with any questions at 209-591-3445 or sonorayouthbachfestival@gmail.com.

The youth concert features some of the very best young musicians in our area who have dedicated hours to the development of their music education. We hope you will consider giving your students this opportunity to audition.

Sincerely,
Makena Benz & Shiloah Fenn
Youth Bach Festival Co-Chairs

2024 Sonora Bach Festival Youth Auditions Guidelines

1. The youth auditions are open to students through the 12th grade from Tuolumne, Calaveras, and Amador counties. Applications must include a signed recommendation from the teacher or adult advisor.
2. The music selected must be from the Baroque through the Classical periods. A few of the composers to choose from are J. S. Bach, Buxtehude, Frescobaldi, Marcello, Sweelinck, Quantz, Tartini, Telemann, Monteverdi, Lully, Purcell, Corelli, Vivaldi, Rameau, Couperin, Scarlatti, Handel, Loeillet, Pachelbel, Pergolesi, Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.
3. The music must be performed from memory for the audition as well as for the performance. Ensembles may use music.
4. Auditions are concert style with family and friends as audience. Audition times will be assigned by September 15th via email.
5. Ensembles must provide their own music stands.
6. A student may audition on only one solo instrument and in only one ensemble.
7. Students must provide three copies of their music. These will not be returned — no originals, please.
8. A musical selection shall not exceed 5 minutes in length.
9. Daytime concert dress is required for both the audition and the concert. Please discuss this with your teacher — no jeans, no sneakers. Dressy attire only.
10. At the audition and concert, each student will announce his or her name, title of piece, and composer. Please practice this with your teacher.
11. Teachers and students will make arrangements for an accompanist if required. Teachers may accompany students. The Bach Festival will not provide accompaniment.
12. There will be no formal rehearsal for the concert, but students may come early for a run-through, on a first-come, first-served basis.