Application, Eligibility and audition/artistic review

APPLICATION

  • RCPS will use an electronic application process for 2025-2026 School Choice programs. No paper applications will be accepted. Students may apply for one School Choice program only for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • The application window is November 8 through December 13, 2024, to apply for the 2025-2026 school year.
  • The online application will be available on the district website at: rockdaleschools.org
  • Only completed applications will be accepted for consideration.
  • Informational Open House will be held on November 7, 2024, at 6 pm.

ELIGIBILITY

  • Students must meet the student registration requirements for Rockdale County Public Schools.
  • Students who change schools after day one of their 9th grade year may not be eligible for varsity sports, literary competitions or One Act Play. All GHSA eligibility rules apply for all programs.
  • Students and parents must agree to the Choice contract.

AUDITION/ARTISTIC REVIEW

Eligible applicants must complete the audition/artistic review process for final selection. The date for audition/artistic review will be Saturday, January 11, 2025. Applicants who complete the RCPS School Specialty and Choice application will be notified via email of the submission process.

Requirements

All Areas

Teacher Recommendations: Students must have 2 letters of recommendation submitted on their behalf using the HHS APVA Teacher Recommendation Form. At least one recommendation should be from a fine arts teacher.

DANCE

What to Wear

  • Girls: leotard and convertible tights, ballet shoes with the elastic sewn on and tie strings tucked for ballet, bare feet for modern dance. Hair should be nice, neat and away from the face and neck with no jewelry, bows or accessories other than bobby pins and/or a hair net.
  • Boys: solid T-shirt with tights or gym shorts, ballet shoes with the elastic sewn on and tie strings tucked for ballet, bare feet for modern dance. Hair should be nice, neat and away from the face and neck.

Expectations: Audition begins in ballet with an amended barre followed by exercises and combinations in center and across the floor. There will be a quick break to transition into the modern dance portion of the audition. During this time students will remove their ballet shoes and prepare to work with bare feet. The modern portion of the audition will consist of a warm-up in center, followed by exercises and combinations in center and across the floor. Students will be required to sight read and reproduce movement in groups for the dance faculty. Auditionees do not need to prepare a solo.

Evaluation: Auditionees will be evaluated on: Physique and Body Alignment, Coordination and Flexibility, Evidence of Natural Ability and Potential, Rhythmical Accuracy, and Ability to sight read and reproduce movement combinations given by dance faculty.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

To remain in the program each year, student must:

  • Pass the course with a B or higher.
  • Audition for Georgia Music Educators Association all-state band or orchestra on primary instrument or participate for a full season with the marching patriots (all skill levels accepted. Must attend weekly practices and participate in region game halftime shows. You may also be a band member without being in a band class if schedule conflicts arise).

Students displaying high level of skill will be considered top priority and placed in advanced band/orchestra if schedule permits.

  • According to national and state standards, middle school advanced band does equate to high school advanced band/orchestra. Most 9th graders will be assigned to the beginning level courses.

SCALES AND RUDIMENTS

Orchestra

Violin/Viola/Cello: G, C, and D major scale, 2 octaves.

String Bass: C and D major scales, 1 octave; G major scale, 2 octaves.

Click here to access sheet music for the orchestra required piece. For help accessing these documents, please contact tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us.

  • Melodic Sight Reading
  • Rhythmic Sight Reading

Band

  • Perform a one-octave chromatic scale using quarter notes at 80 bpm.
  • Perform the GMEA Middle School All-State scales for your instrument at 80 bpm (Concert B-flat, E-flat, A-flat and F – ranges differ for each instrument) in quarter notes in one octave.
  • Percussion should also perform a double stroke roll, a multiple bounce roll, paradiddles, and flams, and one additional rudiment of their choice. Each student should pick a tempo that shows off their technique and rhythmic accuracy.

Click here to access sheet music for the band required piece. For help accessing these documents, please contact tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us.

PREPARED SELECTIONS

Band and Orchestra

  • Perform two prepared pieces preferably recommended by teacher or private instructor. Students performing one or both of the GMEA All-State etudes or the provided etude for their instrument will be given top priority.
  • Each piece should be at least 45-90 seconds long.
  • One piece should highlight tone quality and lyrical ability on the instrument. The other piece should highlight technical skill, speed and articulation.

SIGHTREADING

Each student will have 40 seconds to look at a short selection before performing. Pianists may sight read hands together or separately.

THEATRE

Click here for practice/performance materials. For help accessing these documents, please contact tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us.

  1. Slate your audition by giving your name, age, and title/author/character of your monologue and song selection.
  2. Memorize and perform two contrasting monologues from published materials. Monologues should be one minute each for a total of two minutes.
  3. Memorize and perform one to two minutes of a song from musical theatre posted on the link above.
  4. Total audition time of monologues and song not to exceed four minutes.

TECHNICAL THEATRE

  1. Prepare a portfolio of your work with at least TEN images of your work from sound, lights, set, costumes, makeup, video, graphic design, marketing, etc.
  2. Interview with a panel of judges about your experience in theatre production and interest in the field.

VISUAL ARTS

The visual arts audition includes a portfolio, on-site art production, and individual interview.

1. Portfolio Submission: By 11:59 p.m. on Monday, December 16, 2024, students must submit a PowerPoint of original artwork. PLEASE NOTE THAT DECEMBER 16 IS A HARD DEADLINE AND LATE PORTFOLIO SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The portfolio must include the following:

  • One drawing that demonstrates use of value
  • One painting that demonstrates use of color
  • One 2-D or 3-D work
  • One photograph or film clip (up to one minute long - shared as a YouTube link)
  • Three to five artworks in the student's area of strength with a statement detailing why this is the student's area of strength
  • One slide with a statement that answers the questions: (1) Why do you want to study visual arts at the Academy for Performing and Visual Arts? (2) How will you contribute to the visual arts community at Heritage High School? (3) What plans do you have to study or work in the field of visual arts after high school?

Please do not include your name or photographs of yourself on any of the slides in the portfolio. Save the PowerPoint as follows Lastname.Firstname.pptx and click on this link to upload your digital portfolio.

2. On-Site Art Production: On audition day, students will be required to create artwork based on one of five prompts. Basic materials will be provided, but students are welcome to bring their own supplies. If your area of strength is photography or digital media, you are advised to bring cameras and any editing tools that you will need to create your on-site piece.

3. Individual Interview: On audition day, students will be interviewed by a panel of three artists. Students should be prepared to talk about the content of their online portfolio submission.

VOCAL MUSIC

Click on this link for sheet music/practice materials. For help accessing these documents, please contact tgreen@rockdale.k12.ga.us.

1. Vocal Solo - Students will perform one of the following solos that aligns with their current grade level in the specific key related to their voice part (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). The solo must be memorized and you may not sing a cappella.

2. Scales - Students will sing a major, minor, and chromatic scale from memory using one of the recommended starting pitches:

  • Soprano 1- F
  • Soprano 2- E flat
  • Alto 1- D, Alto 2- Middle C
  • Tenor 1- F below middle C
  • Tenor 2- E flat below middle C
  • Bass 1-D below middle C
  • Bass 2- B flat a 9th below middle C

3. Sight Reading - Students will sing one four-measure sight reading excerpt using the method with which they are accustomed (solfegge, numbers, note names, etc.).