Participation Requirements

Southwest Region

Participation Requirements

Southwest Region Orchestra Information for FALL 2025

ELIGIBILITY: The applicant must be a student in grades 8-11 and a member of their high school band or orchestra.

Students must be able and committed to attend all of the rehearsals and performance. I will make exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Your signature on the application affirms that you understand this commitment and obligation.

AUDITIONS: *Online via Acceptd. Please review the Audition Information & Acceptd Instructions below.

2025/2026 Regional and All-State Orchestra Audition Procedures

This year there will be 2 options for the Regional and All-State Orchestra auditions. Option A and Option B as listed below in detail:

Option A: Regional AND All-State Orchestra audition

Students who wish to be considered for both Regional and All-state Orchestra should choose this option.
Students choosing this option would perform the scales, etude, and All-state Orchestral Excerpt (more advanced excerpt) on their audition recording.
If a student is auditioning for All-State orchestra, they will record BOTH the regional and All-State orchestral excerpts.
Students selected for All-State Orchestra would still be required to participate in their respective Regional orchestra, same as in previous years.
Choosing this option does not guarantee membership in either ensemble.

Option B: Regional Orchestra audition only

Students who wish to be considered for Regional Orchestra ONLY should choose this option.
Students choosing this option would perform the scales, etude, and Regional Orchestral Excerpt (less advanced excerpt) on their audition recording.
Students choosing this option would NOT be required to perform the All-State orchestra excerpt on their audition recording.
Students choosing this option would not be eligible for All-State Orchestra.
Choosing this option does not guarantee membership in Regional Orchestra.

If you have any questions regarding the additional audition option, please contact the region chair.

2025 Region Orchestra/2026 All State Orchestra APPLICATIONS ARE EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE!

All applicants must be currently enrolled as members of their school’s performing ensemble and must continue their participation during the 2025-2026 academic year (ex. All-State Band applicants must be members of their school band, All-State Choir applicants of their school choir, All-State Jazz applicants of their school jazz ensemble, All-State Orchestra applicants of their school orchestra, or for wind/percussion of their school band ensemble). Home-school students may apply if sponsored by their private teacher (who must be an OMEA member). A parent/guardian of the home-school student will serve as the school administrator. Students must be enrolled in grades 8-11 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Failure to observe these regulations will void the student’s All-State eligibility.

OMEA is using the Acceptd Online Digital Audition Platform for all 2026 All-State Ensemble auditions. Please be aware that the online application should not affect how recordings are made--only how applications/recordings are submitted.

Students will need the following items in order to apply:

Items Needed to Apply:

Student and Parent email addresses.
Digital recordings of required etudes/solos/scales/warm-up (as listed in the following). Recordings must be audio-only. The following formats are acceptable: MP3, OGG, M4A, WMA, WA V , AAC, FLAC. Eachvocalization, etude, and movement may be a separate recording.
The school ensemble director’s contact information
The school ensemble director’s 9-digit NAfME identification number
A credit card for the $20 application fee (paid to Acceptd)
School OMEA Region

All-State Housing:

The Ohio Music Education Association will not be responsible for housing All-State participants. To reduce fees for participants and address member concerns with group housing requirements, the responsibility for lodging will rest with the students’ parents/guardians and/or school district official(s). Students may stay at their own home with the filing of proper releases. Students are not permitted to house on their own.

2025 Regional Orchestras/2026 All State Band and Orchestra Recording Requirements:

Each student will record all required etudes as listed on the following pages and then record a solo from the OMEA Class “A” or “B” list. It is strongly recommended that solo recordings be done with their piano accompaniment (if applicable).

Percussionists are required to record all three etudes (mallet, snare, and timpani), and record a solo (OMEA Class “A” or “B on a keyboard instrument (xylophone, vibraphone, or marimba). Two- or four-mallet solos are acceptable, and the solo may be accompanied or unaccompanied.

All information and music can be found here:
https://www.omea-ohio.org/docs/2026_All_State_Audition_Info_for_webpage.docx.pdf

Application Process (Instructions for using Acceptd)

We recommend using Google Chrome as your Internet browser.

***Please note that the profile should be in the student's name. Directors are welcome to assist students in setting up their profile.***

Under ‘PROGRAM GROUP’ select the region for which you are applying. You must apply to your correct region. If you are unsure of what region your school is in, please have your school director help you with this process.

Under ‘PROGRAM’ select your instrument.

Upload clearly named audio recordings. Recordings must begin with the student announcing their name and instrument.

Each student (after first announcing name and instrument) will record all required Excerpts as listed by the Region, and next record required scales as listed by the Region. These can be submitted as one file or split up into separate files by excerpt. Please state your name at the beginning of every file that you submit.

Recordings of individual selections should NOT be edited or spliced, but rather performed continuously. If a reviewer suspects an audio edit , your application may be removed from consideration.

Attention should be given to the quality of the recording. The site of the recording should be as soundproof as possible.

Directors are urged to review application information and recordings before submission.

As of March 1, 2013, OMEA is using a third-party provider, Acceptd, Inc., for administering the online Region and All-State applications. For this service, the final step of the application includes a $15 application fee, paid by credit or debit card. OMEA will not receive this money.

Once your application has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email and receipt. The email address you use will serve as our primary means of contacting you. Please check your email regularly and respond promptly.

Failure to meet deadlines or follow application instructions will result in rejection of applications.

Evaluation proceedings are confidential and final.

Alternates will be selected and used to fill positions as needed.