Admissions

Applications are closed for 24-25

Application Checklist

What do you need to apply? There are three steps to complete. The first two steps are due by  January 20, 2024 (Enroll Austin is open until February 5th, but we will start auditions prior to the final deadline. Students who submit after January 20th will audition between February 12-15th as available).

You must reside within the AISD school district to apply and be an incoming 9th or 10th grader. 

Step 1

Enroll Austin Application:

Parents access Enroll Austin via their AISD Parent Portal 

 Enroll Austin Application

Step 2

Fill out the Fine Arts Academy Audition Form After Filling Out the Enroll Austin Application! Forms filled out without an Enroll Austin Application will not be contacted.

Academy Audition Form

Step 3

Audition Dates :

Times will be assigned by January 20th. No Walk-In Auditions will be provided.

Saturday January 27 - Collaborative Piano

Saturday February 3 - Band, Collegiate Prep. Dance, Orchestra, and Technical Theatre

Friday February 9 - Performance Theatre, Cinematic Arts, Classical Guitar, Visual Arts Day 1

Saturday February 10 - Visual Arts Day 2

Saturday February 16 - Choral Studies

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 samuel.parrott@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.

BAND Majors

  • 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.

CHORAL STUDIES Majors

  • 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 Majors

 

  • Original digital film 2-5 minutes in length AND an accompanying script of the film OR a substantial piece of creative writing (Short story, script, etc.)
  • 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

Submission:

Video/Script OR Creative Writing example must be submitted on the attached Google Form by Saturday January 27th.

Google Form: https://forms.gle/96MzE2sPhXgg1ydp9

 

 

CLASSICAL GUITAR Majors

  • 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).

COLLABORATIVE PIANO Majors

  • 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.

COLLEGIATE PREP. DANCE Majors

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.

ORCHESTRA Majors

  • 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 Majors

  • Students auditioning for the Performance Theatre major will need to prepare a one-minute-long monologue from a play (not a musical, films, TV show, etc.) AND a 1-minute cut of a musical theatre song (using an instrumental backing track.) 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.
  • The monologue and musical theatre selection must be submitted as one youtube video (labeled as private) to the attached Google Form by January 20th for consideration.
  • In-Person Auditions on 2/9 will consist of group improvisations and possible interview or second monologue performance as determined by directors.

Google Form (Due by January 20th): https://forms.gle/26Ht21RqziTW3rKW6

TECHNICAL THEATRE Majors

  • 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 Majors

Portfolio of MINIMUM 12-15 art pieces. No Maximum (More than the minimum is strongly encouraged as it shows dedication to the arts.) All works should be from the last three years.  

Portfolios should to include:

  • A realistic self-portrait 
    • Drawing or painting with value/shading 
    • Minimum size 10”x14” No maximum.
    • Should be made with traditional drawing/painting materials (ex. Graphite, color pencil, acrylic paint, oil paint, pastel, charcoal…)
    • Rendered by hand. (no traced or projected pieces)
  • 3-D art (i.e. sculpture, ceramics, found-object)
    • At least one 3-D piece should be included
    • Work should focus on the use of three-dimensional (3-D) skills of art and design.
  • Drawings from observation (i.e. still-life, landscape, figure/life drawing, a pet)
    • At least 3 drawings
    • Demonstrate strong values/shading
    • Should be drawn from life not from photos
    • Rendered by hand. (no traced or projected pieces)
  • Examples of work from your middle school art classes
    • Including any 2D and 3D works created in middle school art classes
    • Variety of media/style is encouraged
    • May include sketchbooks/ process sketches
  • Artwork and creative pieces completed outside of the school setting
    • At least 1 artwork
    • Artwork created at home, art camp, workshop or a community center.
    • Images of collaborative artworks such as murals and mosaics.
    • Digital images of work created independently using design software. (photoshop, procreate…)

Audition will include an interview and an on-site drawing assignment. Portfolios will be brought in at the time of the audition.The portfolio or container you bring will not be part of the audition process. There is no need to mat or frame your artwork.