Application Checklist

What do you need to apply? There are three steps to complete. The first two steps are due by  January 12, 2024. You must reside within the AISD school district to apply and be an incoming 9th or 10th grader. 

Audition and Portfolio Review Requirements for All Majors

Find the major(s) you wish to audition for below. Carefully read through what is expected for you to show the faculty judges. Start preparing for your audition now! You should take a minimum of 2-3 months of practice / portfolio development to be ready. 

If you have general questions about the Fine Arts Academy and the application, you can reach out to Dr. Parrott at parrott.samuel@austinisd.org 

For specific information about individual major requirements, please reach out to the department to which you are applying. We will have different opportunities for families and students to ask questions throughout the application process. Please check back for more details on event dates as they become available.

CHORAL STUDIES

• Must perform a prepared and memorized solo with live piano accompaniment (bring two copies of audition music). Accompanist will be provided by the choral faculty. Music must be published and available for purchase (either online or from a music store). Music from the UIL Prescribed Music List (Class I, II or III) or similar literature is preferred. Popular music/solos and musical theater songs are not recommended. Recommended books from which to choose audition music are any of the Alfred Publishing “Folk Songs for Solo Singers” books.

• Be prepared to sight-read and to vocalize.

• Interview; be prepared to answer questions on experience or interest in choral/vocal music

CINEMATIC ARTS

• Original digital film 2-5 minutes in length AND an accompanying script of the film.

• In the film tell us about yourself without appearing in the film or narrating it.

• You must shoot and edit the film yourself.

• Be creative. Think outside the box.

• Digital film may be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo OR you may bring it with you on your laptop ro on a usb drive (usb film file should be H.264 or Mpeg2 formatted).

• Script must be typed in proper screenplay format. Screenplay format resource (enter email on homepage): celtx.com

COLLABORATIVE PIANO

• Perform two prepared pieces of contrasting styles (should be on UIL Class I solo repertoire lists or of equal difficulty)

• Perform all major/harmonic minor scales (minimum two octaves in parallel motion); basic I-IV-V7-I chord progressions in all keys; simple transposition of a short melody with choral accompaniment

• Sight-reading

• Interview covering the applicant’s piano history will be included.

DANCE

Students will participate in a group audition and an individual audition.

• Group audition includes Ballet Barre, Modern Center, and Jazz combination.

• For the individual portion, the student will prepare a 1-2 minute solo and complete a short interview.

• Wear dance attire and hair up. Please be prepared to dance without dance shoes or socks. Ballet shoes optional for the ballet barre.

• The prepared dance solo should be in the style of the dancer’s choice. Please do not wear costumes.

• Please provide your own music for the dance solo. Music is not required if the dancer wishes to dance in silence or acapella. Music for solo choreography should be loaded in an electronic device: phone, ipod or ipad, etc that utilizes an AUX cord or bluetooth. The safest method is to use a MP3 file located on the electronic device. Students can use YouTube or Spotify or other internet based music at their own risk as the directors cannot guarantee the internet connection on the campus. We do not have a CD player available in the audition. Please make sure the device is fully charged previous to arrival at McCallum. If the music does not work, the directors will ask the dancer to perform without music and it will not effect their standing in the audition.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: BAND

• Must perform a prepared solo that best demonstrates the student’s musical ability and talent level. Music must be published and available for purchase (either online or from a music store). Music from the UIL Prescribed Music List (Class I, II or III), TMEA Etudes or similar literature is preferred. Popular music/solos are not recommended. Memorization is not required.

• Bring instrument and two copies of audition music (percussionists, bring sticks/mallets only).

• Be prepared to play all 12 Major scales (written C/G/D/A/E/B/F#(Gb)/C#(Db)/Ab/Eb/Bb/F). Scales are to be performed one or two octaves (preferred). Memorization is not required, but recommended.

• Sight reading is not required for the audition.

**Percussion Auditions**

Snare

• Open to close (Slow to Fast) double stroke roll.

• Etude/solo of your choice.

Mallets

• 12 major scales (memory preferred)

• One octave without arpeggios.

• Etude/solo of your choice (2 or 4 mallets)

*Optional-Drumset

If you feel like drumset is one of your strongest percussion instruments, you can prepare a drumset audition in addition to snare and mallets.

• Play the drumset part to one song.

• Demonstrate drum styles. -16 measures of: Medium swing, fast swing, funk, and latin.

*Optional-Timpani

If you feel like timpani is one of your strongest percussion instruments, you can prepare a timpani etude/solo in addition to snare and mallets.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: CLASSICAL GUITAR

• Perform a published classical guitar piece that best represents the student’s current ability.

• Identify flashcards of all notes in first position, perform an 8-12 measure sight reading excerpt (common time signature, quarter notes and eighth notes, C major/ a minor).

• Briefly demonstrate free stroke alternations on treble strings (example: four quarter notes alternating I and M on G,B, and E strings).

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC: ORCHESTRA

• Must perform a prepared solo that best demonstrates the student’s musical ability and talent level. Music must be published and available for purchase (either online or from a music store). Music from the UIL Prescribed Music List (Class I, II or III), TMEA Etudes or similar literature is preferred. Popular music/solos are not recommended. Memorization is not required.

• Bring instrument and two copies of audition music

PERFORMANCE THEATRE 

• Students auditioning for the Performance Theatre major will need to prepare two contrasting one-minute long monologues from plays (not musicals, films, etc.). Do what you do best! Show us your strengths and true range. Pick roles that you like and can identify with. Read the plays and know the actual circumstances of the characters

• Following your monologues, you will be asked to perform a short improvisation and to answer a few interview questions.

• Monologue advice We recommend you choose monologues from plays. Avoid monologues written specifically for collections, monologues from musicals (the high points are in the songs!), or monologues from your favorite films and TV shows. No self-written material will be accepted. Characters should be roughly age appropriate (within five years of your own age, either direction). We look for strong choices, personalization and knowledge of the play. Pick contrasting selections. This can mean classical/contemporary, comic/dramatic, two contrasting styles. We would like one of the monologues to be post-1980, contemporary realistic drama. Please do not do monologues from You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, Promedy, or The Fantastics.

• What we are looking for: We accept all kinds of students, from different backgrounds and levels of experience. The common factors are, first, a professional artistic attitude that will fuel you through your four years at McCallum Fine Arts Academy and well beyond. Second, we want to see a foundation in technique that demonstrates a commitment to your own development and helps us understand your potential. Third, we want to get a sense of your individual taste and interests within the world of Theatre, Film and TV. We are not looking for any one type of student or a uniform outcome – we’re dedicated to helping you enter post-secondary institutions and the professional entertainment industry ready to begin with a sense of well-deserved confidence.

TECHNICAL THEATRE 

• Interview; be prepared to answer questions on experience or interest in technical theatre and bring any applicable supporting materials (photographs, etc.), as well as discuss the short answers submitted with the application materials.

• Please choose one item below to create and submit, based on your primary interest:

  • Design and create a model of a set that would be representative of your favorite celebrity’s birthday party.

  • Create a costume plot for your favorite play or short story with a descriptive paragraph explaining your interpretation of the characters and with either hand drawn sketches or a gallery of acquired images to support your design

  • Prepare a prompt script a stage manager would use for a short play or musical including notations for set changes, sound cues, and lighting cues.

  • Submit a 3 – 5 minute audio recording that is representative of your life. Include audio clips from published music, sound effects and audio recording.

Musical Theatre Performance Certificate (add-on to a major): Student will choose and audition for a primary strand (Choral Studies, Performance Theatre, or Dance). Those accepted will be given a list of additional musical theatre coursework. 

VISUAL ARTS 

Portfolio of MINIMUM 12-15 art pieces to include:

• A realistic self-portrait with shading

• 3-D art (i.e. sculpture, ceramics)

• Drawings from observation (i.e. still-life, landscape, figure drawing, a pet)

• Examples of work from your middle school art classes, including 2D and 3D work

• Artwork and creative pieces completed outside of the school setting

Audition will include an interview and an on-site drawing assignment. Portfolio will be brought in at the time of the audition.