Academy of Performing and Visual Arts at Heritage High School information page
Upcoming Events
VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE: Thursday, November 18, 2021, 6 p.m. Link to be posted at hhs.rockdaleschools.org (school website).
APPLICATION WINDOW: November 12, 2021 through 3 p.m. December 10, 2021 at
www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice
AUDITION / ARTISTIC REVIEW DUE DATE: The date for audition/artistic review will be
Saturday, January 22, 2022. Applicants who complete the RCPS School Specialty and Choice application will be notified via email of the submission process.
Program Overview
The Academy for Performing and Visual Arts at Heritage High School was founded in 2014 for students with exceptional talent in the arts. Its goal is to develop and nurture talented young artists for successful vocations, avocations and advocacy in the arts through extensive training programs and classes in dance, drama or technical theatre, instrumental music, visual arts, and vocal music while maintaining high academic achievement. The Academy for Performing and Visual Arts faculty views academics and the arts as equally important and is committed to developing lifelong learners and arts advocates.
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Click here for brochure PDF)
Components for Student Success
Each accepted student is enrolled in a major:
• Vocal Music
• Instrumental Music
• Dance
• Theatre
• Technical Theatre
• Visual Arts
Students study in their major concentration area for two class periods each semester. They are expected to remain in the program every semester of their high school careers. Students are actively involved in extracurricular performances and are given the opportunity to work with top professionals in the arts from the Atlanta area and throughout the United States.
Application
RCPS will use an electronic application process for 2022 - 2023 School Choice programs. No paper applications will be accepted. Students may apply for one School Choice program only for the 2022 - 2023 school year. The application window is November 12 - December 10, 2021. The online application will be available on the district website at www.rockdaleschools.org/specialtyandchoice
Only complete applications will be accepted.
Eligibility Criteria
• 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.
Virtual 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 22, 2022. Applicants who complete the RCPS School Specialty and Choice application will be notified via email of the submission process.
Audition/Artistic Review Requirements
Applicants must complete the audition/artistic review process for final selection.
ALL AREAS
Teacher Recommendations - Students must submit two letters of recommendation using the HHS APVA Recommendation Form, one of which should be from a fine arts teacher.
DANCE
1. What to wear
Girls: leotard
and convertible tights, ballet shoes with the elastic sewn on and tie strings
tucked for ballet and 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 and bare feet for modern dance. Hair should be nice, neat and away from
the face and neck.
2. 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. HHS Dance Faculty will provide demonstration videos of the ballet and modern dance audition combination and exercises. Auditionees are required to learn and record the material and submit virtually by the required audition deadline.
3. 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
No minimum score to be accepted but teacher recommendation required.
To remain in 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:
• All stringed instruments will perform a chromatic scale in first position across all strings in quarter notes at 60 bpm in one octave.
• Violin – A, D, and G major scales performed in quarter notes at 60 bpm in one octave
• Viola/Cello – D, G, and C major scales performed in quarter notes at 60 bpm in one octave
• Bass – E, A, and D major scales performed in quarter notes at 60 bpm in one octave
• Top priority students will perform the current year’s GMEA All-State Audition scales and arpeggios for their grade level. See
www.gmea.org for audition criteria each year.
Band:
• All students will perform a chromatic scale in one octave using quarter notes at 60 bpm in one octave.
• Concert B flat, E flat, A flat, and F in quarter notes in one octave using quarter notes at 60 bpm.
• Percussion candidates to also perform a closed single, double, or multiple bounce stroke drum roll and a paradiddle rudiment. Paradiddle must be demonstrated slow to fast to slow. Consult your teacher or visit www.pas.org for more info on all essential rudiments.
• Top priority students will perform the current year’s GMEA All-State Audition scales and arpeggios for their grade level. See www.gmea.org for audition materials.
PREPARED SELECTIONS
• All Band and Orchestra students must perform two prepared pieces, preferably, recommended by teacher or private instructor.
• Each piece must be at least 45 seconds and no more than 90 seconds in length.
• All styles and genres are welcome (jazz, world, music for tv/film, hip hop, classical, baroque, technical etudes, melodic etudes, pop, spiritual, etc.) but please note the following:
• One piece should highlight tone quality and lyrical ability on the instrument; candidates will be able to play melodies with a singing quality.
• The other piece should highlight virtuosity; candidates will be able to play with technical ability—varied articulations and some degree of velocity.
• Top priority students will perform the current year’s GMEA All-State Etudes for their grade (lyrical and technical). See www.gmea.org for audition materials.
SIGHTREADING*
• Band & Orchestra sightreading selections will be chosen from Essential Elements Book 1 for primary instrument.
• Top priority students will sightread from Rubank Advanced Method vol. 1 for primary instrument.
* If auditions are in person, candidates will be given 90 seconds to review the piece. A metronome will also be provided; candidate must set the tempo and play along at the correct bpm. Sightreading round will be waived if video submissions are to be used.
PIANO
• Navigate to
https://bit.ly/3tL4DBK and play one of the pieces in the folder. Pick the piece that best reflects your skill and experience level.
• Play four major scales of your choice. Two octaves are preferred; one octave is accepted.
• Sight Reading.
• Optional/Encouraged: You may also include a short (about a minute) selection of your choice to show off what you have learned by yourself or with previous teachers. Please bring an extra copy of your sheet music for the judges.
VISUAL ARTS
Portfolio - By 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, January 15, 2022 students must submit a portfolio with a maximum of 10 artworks. The portfolio must be in the form of a PowerPoint and may include the following items: photographs, drawings, paintings, 2-D design, 3-D artwork, or any works the student feels exhibit their abilities in the visual arts. NO VIDEO SUBMISSIONS ARE ALLOWED. All works must be original and completed by the student.
On-Site Art Production - On audition day, students will be required to create an artwork using materials available on-site. Students will be given a prompt to follow in the creation of their artwork. If your area of strength is photography or digital media, you are advised to bring cameras and any editing tools that you will require to create your on-site piece.
VOCAL MUSIC
Sheet music and practice materials can be found at:
http://heritagehighschoolchorus.weebly.com/vocal-major-audition-information.html
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). Accompaniment will be provided at the audition. 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 using the method with which they are accustomed (solfegge, numbers, note names, etc.).
THEATRE
Sheet music and practice materials can be accessed by Clicking Here
Slate your audition by giving your name, age, and title/author/character of your monologue and song selection.
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 the musical theatre from the link above. (Total time 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.
3. Present three letters of recommendation from directors/teachers you have worked with in technical production.
Activities
Theatre and Technical Theatre:
One Act
Improv Impire
Fall Play
Fall Musical
Cabaret
October Tales of Terror
Winter Musical
Spring Play
Spring Musical
Great Playwright Series
Individual Showcase
Friday Night Live
Theatre for Social Change
August Wilson Monologue Contest
Shuler Hensley Performance Thespian Conference
One Act Play Competition
Summer Children’s Theatre
ESU Shakespeare Monologue Competition
Dance:
Winter Concert
Spring Concert
Instrumental Music
Marching Band
Symphonic Band
Jazz Band
Concert Bands
District Honor Band
All State Band
Vocal Music:
All State Sight Reading Chorus
District Honor Chorus
Governors Honors
Ladies’ Trio
Literary Competition
Large Group Performance Evaluation
Men’s Quartet
Spring Sing Pop Concert
Spring Talent Show
University of Georgia Choral Day
Visual Arts:
Ceramics
Drawing
Painting
Graphics
Photography
National Art Honor Society
Youth Art Month
NAHS Conference
Museum/Gallery Tours
Student Art Shows