All students who desire to participate in the performing and fine arts program at Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School are required to schedule an audition with the Center for Performing and Fine Arts. The audition is an important step in the training of young artists. An audition is scheduled following submission of a Student Profile and a tour as well as interview with the Center Director and/or faculty members.Auditions are typically held on Fridays. Students are asked to arrive and register no later than 8:15 am. Students are asked to bring a current academic transcript (a recent report card is acceptable).
Part One of the audition is a group audition – as a group, all students cycle together through 45 minutes of visual art, music, theatre, and dance. This process wraps up around 11:45, and students are free to break for lunch with their families.
Note: Students are invited to share any work they have done in the various art forms, to give the faculty a clear picture of their artistic potential. This may include a portfolio of artwork, a song (to be sung a cappella or with accompaniment), an instrumental music piece, an acting resume, monologue, a piece of dance choreography, etc. Students are strongly encouraged to share their work with the faculty, so we can make the best and most sensible decisions about course placement. Students should come prepared to perform something (monologue, song selection, dance) from as many disciplines as possible that they are interested in, so the faculty may evaluate their current progress/development. Each piece should be between 1-2 minutes long. Students who are interested in taking a Musical Theatre class are required to prepare a solo song selection from an established Broadway musical.
Part Two of the audition is an individual, 15-minute interview with the student and faculty members. Like the earlier portion, parents do not attend this session. During the interview, students will chat with teachers about their interests, reasons for wanting to attend the program, goals and aspirations, and any experience they may have in the different art forms. Students will be asked to list desired courses, in order of preference. Please note that students should be able to name six or seven courses, in case their top four choices are unavailable; a student who has trouble coming up with more than two or three choices is probably not a good candidate.
Guidelines for Students Who Are Auditioning
Remember, this is an important opportunity for you (the student) to introduce yourself and to present/communicate who you are. This is an important part of your pre-professional training as an artist.
Some Useful Tips…
- Part of presenting yourself includes your appearance; taking care with your appearance is a sign of respect and seriousness of purpose
- For an audition, you should consider that you will be actively participating in movement, drawing, vocalizing, etc. – wear comfortable clothing that is not excessively baggy (layers are discouraged, as is jewelry that is loose/dangling); wear comfortable shoes and socks that can easily be removed and put back on
- Hair must be secured so it is neatly out of the face and off the neck
- Applicants are required to change into clothes appropriate for dance for the dance part of the audition (it is suggested that applicants choose clothing that will be easy to change into and out of or wear on top of movement clothes)
- For applicants who study dance: tights, leotard, with or without jazz pants
- For applicants who are new to dance: exercise clothing such as leggings, yoga pants, gym shorts, t-shirts, warm up pants (footwear is bare feet; dancers with experience should bring dance shoes for each form in which they study)
- Gum is forbidden throughout CPFA; if you chew gum, get rid of it before you arrive
- Make sure that any portfolio materials (artwork, instruments, music scores, dance shoes, monologues) are well organized and easily accessible
- Be prepared to talk about yourself – your background, your interests, your goals
- Be prepared to PARTICIPATE! The Center for Performing and Fine Arts is all about participation — you can’t take a dance class and not dance; you can’t take a voice class and not sing… We are looking for students who
are enthusiastically willing to participate – including trying new things and exploring opportunities outside of your comfort zone
Making a Good Impression…
- Look people in the eye when you talk to them; use a firm handshake
- Speak up – don’t mumble, and make sure to speak clearly
- Smile! Act like you want to be here
- Treat faculty and fellow students with courtesy and respect
- Jump on in – the water is fine! It’s not about being the best; it’s about being willing to try
Please note that there are a limited number of spaces available, and there is a huge demand for this kind of arts education. We are therefore unable to accommodate as many students as we would like, and enrollment in CPFA is highly competitive.
After the Audition
The audition process at CPFA begins in January of the previous school year and continues through June. (Note: A final audition may be scheduled for August, prior to the beginning of the new school year, pending enrollment openings.) Following the audition, candidates will be notified, usually via email, of the status of their application within a few months of the audition date. Applicants are asked to be patient during this process as it takes time to review each candidate individually. The faculty and staff of CPFA will make every effort to notify all candidates by the end of June, in order for families to have time to make arrangements (school registration, etc.)
There are many reasons why a student may not be accepted, a few of which are listed below:
- Classes in which students are most interested have reached enrollment capacity
- Students may not have reached the level of maturity required for success in an intensive arts program
- Students may exhibit interest, but do not display the work ethic or aptitude required for success in the program
- Students may not display the independence, self-discipline, or commitment that are required for the program
- Students may not display a likelihood of achieving sufficient academic success to remain in the program
- Students may have a singular focus in one art form and resist exploring how additional art forms can benefit and enrich their artistic experience
The Center for Performing and Fine Arts offers a multi-disciplinary, pre-professional arts program that is designed for students with a serious dedication to the performing and fine arts. Success in the program depends on a sincere interest/aptitude in multiple disciplines and areas of artistic study.
If a student is not accepted it does NOT mean that he or she is untalented or has no future in the arts. We value the personal and artistic contributions of all young people.
Examples of Artistic Work to be Presented at an Interview
Dance
- 1-2 minute dance solo in the dance form of choice, to be performed with or without music for the faculty (Note: a video is acceptable if for some reason the student is unable to perform the day of the interview)
Fine Arts
- A sketch book of past and present work, ideas, sketches, etc.
- Examples of still-life drawings or paintings (including artwork from other art classes)
- Examples of small sculptures from any medium (Note: students should be prepared to discuss their work and
offer explanations for inspiration, construction, and materials used)
Theatre
- 1-2 minute monologue to be performed for the faculty
- Theatrical resume of acting roles, production responsibilities, training, etc.
- Video of past performances (Note: faculty will need to borrow this video for a period of time)
Music
- 1-2 minute solo in voice and/or the instrument of choice
- Examples of music books that student has used in his/her previous studies
Good luck, and remember that we want you to succeed!
