Matthew Narita performed as part of the Sonora Bach Festival in 2016. Youth auditions are Sept. 24 this year in Columbia.Photo courtesy of Leslie Davis
The Sonora Bach Festival holds auditions for the event’s annual Youth Concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 24 at the Church of the 49ers in Columbia. The auditions are open to music students through 12th grade.
Students from Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador counties are selected by a panel of judges from the community. Each year, highly qualified vocal and instrumental students prepare pieces from the Baroque Period to perform at the auditions. The students are required to be recommended by their private teachers in order to qualify to audition. Some are chosen to perform at the Youth Concert, this year at 3 p.m. Oct. 8, also at the Church of the 49ers.
“The Sonora Bach Festival is gratified that we are able to provide a ‘real world’ musical experience for these kids, as they audition and perform just like a professional musician would,” said Sandra Betti, the Youth Concert co-chairwoman who is a flutist and director of music at St. Patrick’s Church in Sonora.
Joy Willow performs in a Sonora Bach Festival concert with student singer Sydney Thompson.
All students who audition receive constructive and sensitive comments from the three experienced judges in writing. In addition to the educational experience, selected musicians are awarded Incentive Scholarships in the amount of $50 apiece.
“I’m always amazed by the talent and dedication of these kids, and look forward every year to hearing them,” Betti said. “It’s wonderful to see the growth in those who have auditioned before, and to meet new kids as they audition for the first time.”
At sonorabach.org, a letter to music teachers expands upon the rewards the students receive, including, “The process of application, audition and performance serves, in many cases, as a significant milestone in their young lives; the auditions … will provide an opportunity for written feedback for each student; (and) the Sunday afternoon public presentation provides its own reward for the students in teaching them to set and achieve performance goals.”
The students compete in two categories: Juniors are between ages 6 and 12 and seniors are between ages 13 and 18 (through high school). Pieces performed at the audition should be shorter than 6 minutes in length and performed from memory (just as they will be at the concert). Ensembles may use music, but the players must supply their own music stands. Daytime concert attire is required (festival organizers suggest students speak with their teachers about what to wear). All of the rules and requirements – as well as forms to audition – are posted at sonorabach.org.
The auditions are open to family, friends and the community to watch and listen, too.
For more, contact Betti at 356-8880 or Co-chairwoman Janet Telford at 928-5874.
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