Audition Information - CA Band Directors Association

Audition Information

CBDA offers the opportunity to audition and participate in 6 All-State Honor Bands between Junior High and High School levels for those students who are enrolled in their school large ensemble band program. These ensembles will participate in the California All-State Music Education Conference from January 15-18, 2026.

In addition to the 6 full honor band ensembles, on the application, students may select “band only”, “orchestra only” or “band and orchestra”. This allows students to be selected for one of the high school or junior high symphony orchestras.

The honor audition material is the same for the winds and percussion for the symphony orchestras.

Band Audition Music

Junior High and High School Errata

If you have any suggestions or additions to the linked list, please email Susan Willmering

Errata is a correction of a published text or music.

For Junior High School
All-State Bands

For High School
All-State Bands

Band Scales are for all high school ensembles

Golden State only

Instructions

For Directors
Recording Instructions
Disqualification Information

Concert Ensembles (High School and Junior High School)

– – – – –

Jazz Bands (High School and Junior High School)

Complete the Student Information Collection Form

– – – –

Recording Instructions for Concert Ensembles All-State Audition

– – – –

DocuSign Walk Through

The following are reasons CBDA will disqualify an audition while judging for the All-State Honor Groups:

– Talking or coaching is heard during the recording
– Digitally altering a recording (ex: the use of auto-tuning, etc.)
– Wrong solo or excerpt is played
– Wrong scales are played
– Solo is missing sections requested
– A metronome is heard during the scales or solo
– Track/Recording Blank

CBDA is not looking to disqualify any applicant, but last year we saw an overwhelming number of applicants be disqualified over these 7 reasons.

Please double-check that you are following CBDA’s required excerpts and scales for the current year. Some solos have changed from the past rotation.

Jazz Band Audition Music

For Junior High
Jazz Bands

For High School
Jazz Bands

The Ensembles

Learn more about all of the performing groups!

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions