Nomination Process

 NOMINATIONS AND AUDITIONS OPEN April 15th
​Admission to the Alberta Wind Symphony can happen in one of two ways - either by audition or teacher recommendation. Auditioned applicants will be reviewed and placed in the ensemble first and the remaining spots will be filled by teacher recommended students.

Admission By Audition
Auditionees will be required to submit audition recordings as well as the Instrumentalist Questionnaire. Audition Requirements are available for download. The deadline to submit an audition is May 17.

Admission By Teacher Recommendation
Teachers and conductors should submit a Recommendation Rubric and Nomination Form online for each student they plan to recommend.  In addition, music teachers and conductors are asked to send home the Instrumentalist Questionnaire to be completed by the recommended instrumentalist and their parents.  The questionnaire is to be returned to the music teacher/conductor and submitted along with the Recommendation Rubric and Nomination Form by attaching a scanned copy to the online form, or emailing the questionnaire to the ABA office ([email protected]).

Teachers/Conductors may select up to 4 nominees for the ensemble from each band they direct.  Each recommendation must be accompanied by the Instrumentalist Questionnaire PDF or Online Instrumentalist Questionnaire before it can be considered by the selection committee. The deadline for submitting recommendations is May 17th

1. Teachers/conductors are invited to develop a list of 4 band members who demonstrate excellence in leadership, musicality, and engagement in their home band program and who they feel would benefit most from the intensive honour band experience. 
2. Teachers/conductors will distribute the Instrumentalist Questionnaire Forms (provided below as a downloaded form) to the 4 ensemble members selected for recommendation. 
3. Instrumentalists and their parents/guardians will complete the Instrumentalist Questionnaire and return it to their teacher/conductor.
4. Using their knowledge of the ensemble members and the information provided on the Instrumentalist Questionnaires, teachers/conductors complete a Recommendation Rubric (the online form) for each recommended band member and rank each ensemble member in priority order for acceptance to the Alberta Wind Symphony.
5. Teachers/conductors will send the completed Instrumentalist Questionnaires to the Alberta Band Association office by attaching them to the online Recommendation Rubric, or by scanning & emailing the questionnaires.  Completed questionnaires can be emailed to [email protected]
6. The Alberta Band Association Wind Symphony Selection Committee and staff will collate the forms and establish the roster for the band. 
7. Teachers/conductors will be advised as to which of their recommended band members have been accepted into the Wind Symphony.  Acceptance letters and registration forms and encouraging letters of non-acceptance will be sent directly to recommended instrumentalists by the Alberta Band Association office.
8. Upon the receipt of registration forms and fees, music will be sent directly to the accepted instrumentalists.

Audition Requirements
Instrumentalist Questionnaire PDF or Online Instrumentalist Questionnaire
Online Recommendation Form