AUDITION REQUIREMENTS & ASSESSMENTS Visual and Performing Arts Program The IRCHS VAPA program provides students with a learning environment to excel in the fine arts. Six artistic disciplines are offered: dance, theatre arts, music-vocal, music-instrumental, visual arts, and creative writing. Each course of study goes beyond the basic Florida High School graduation requirements. Students must take the required foundational, historical, and theoretical classes germane to their specific discipline. This is paramount to their development as a complete and multi-dimensional student of the arts. The school offers two tracks of learning: one for the experienced student who has significant training in an artistic area and desires to work more diligently in that area; and one for the beginning student who wishes to explore his/her interest in the creative arts. In addition to participating in the IRCHS Core Curriculum Program, the artistic disciplines further the connections made with the thematic time periods by studying the art, music, dance, drama, and literature of the times. Each semester culminates with a final performance blending all the disciplines. This presentation demonstrates the knowledge and improvement gained by the students throughout the semester. VAPA DAY 2015 Schedule: 10:00 Arrival 10:15 - Introduction of the VAPA Progam w/ Dr. Ray Adams 10:30 - Individual Program Introductions and Performances 11:30 - Audition Sign-up Period 11:45 - LUNCH! 12:30 - Program Auditions 2:00 - Bye for now!!
DANCE The IRCHS Dance Program prepares students to succeed in postsecondary college programs and prestigious dance companies. Many students have gone on to study and dance with the Royal Swedish Ballet, Joffery Ballet School, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, Amercian Ballet Theatre, The Tallahassee Ballet and the Florida School of the Arts. In addition to the academic and professional level, many of IRCHS high school students have achieved high gold platinum, high platinum and scholarship awards at competitions such as L.A. Dance Magic and the World Famous National High School Dance Festival. Ballet 1, 2, 3, 4 Dance Kinesiology Dance Techniques 1, 2, 3, 4 Dance Competition Team Hedi Khursandi (hedi.khursandi@irchs.org) Cherith Bounds (cherith.bounds@irchs.org) Students will participate in a 60 minute class. During this class, students will warm up, stretch, and perform simple movements and choreography. During the class the instructors will assess technique, flexibility, and ability to learn choreography. All students will be placed in a dance class that best meets their abilities.
INSTRUMENTAL The IRCHS Jazz Studies, Orchestra and Percussion programs perform all in stand-alone settings and in collaboration with the other departments. They've recently completed a very successful run of Tarzan with the musical theater company at Charter. They've performed works ranging from Shostakovich's Waltz No. 2 to Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar-Overture. The IRCHS Instrumental Program encompasses all styles of music and prepares students for the finest music schools in the country. Orchestra 1, 2, 3, 4 Percussion Ensemble 1, 2, 3, 4 Jazz Ensemble 1, 2, 3, 4 Beginning Guitar 1 Music Theory 1, 2, AP World Music Music Technology and Sound Engineering Guitar Techniques Bass Techniques Percussion Techniques Wind Techniques Dr. Ray Adams (ray.adams@irchs.org) David Mundy (david.mundy@irchs.org) David Heroux (david.heroux@irchs.org) Applicants will meet the Directors and have an opportunity to showcase themselves on their instrument. The auditions will be in 5 minute increments. We are looking for dedicated students who have the desire and willingness to be a part of an award-winning music program. Opportunities will be given to all students to express themselves, learn, and improvise with music. Prepare something to play perhaps a song or piece of music 30 seconds long. Playing scales and sight reading are not required, but could be asked depending on the applicant. Guitar: basic chords, riffs or songs Bass: rock funk or jazz basslines Drummers: rudiments, grooves (funk, rock, jazz, pop) Orchestral instruments: bring something you have been working on or performing with your current orchestra or concert band. This is a placement audition. You cannot fail. It will help us decide which course is best for you. We are looking for dedicated students who have the desire and willingness to be a part of an award winning music program. You will be assessed in the following categories: Skill Level Technique Quality of Sound Dynamics/Expressiveness
CHORAL The IRCHS Choral Program has the most consistent Superior ratings at District and State MPA in the Indian River County. The department has been awarded the three-time Grand Champions at Music USA Universal Studios Competition, are four-time attendees of Carnegie Hall, New York City, NY, and have travelled to Syros, Greece to perform at the Aegean Sea Festival. The program has received invitations to all major university honor choir programs. Chorus 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Vocal Ensemble 1, 2 Music Theory 1, 2, AP World Music Gary Miller (gary.miller@irchs.org) Sing a short sampling of a prescribed simple classical Art Song Sing a short sampling of a prescribed commercial song (POP, Broadway, Country, etc.- no rap, scream, or harsh metal) Do a short written test to assess your musical knowledge This is a placement audition. You cannot fail. As you consider being a part of the IRCHS Choral program, please remember you are joining a group of young people that have achieved a great deal of success in this musical discipline. Both the students and I are excited about welcoming new students to continue the development and the tradition of success that others have established in the early years of Charter.
THEATRE (ACTING) The IRCHS Theatre (acting) program has consistently received Superior ratings at district and state acting competitions. The comprehensive acting troupe has been awarded the highest honor of being selected three consecutively years as the Mainstage performance at the Florida State Thespians Festival, the largest high school theatre organization in the world. Acting 1 (introduction to acting) Acting 2 Technique Training) Acting 3 (Acting for College) Comp Acting (competitive acting troupe) Drama (theatre history, design and analysis) Michael Naffziger (michael.naffziger@irchs.org) Prepare (off book) one of the four monologues listed on the website www.irchstheatre.org under Auditions. You will be given 2 minutes to audition. This is a placement audition. You cannot fail. It will help us decide which course is best for you. In acting you are assessed in the following categories: Voice (projection, diction and color) Movement (connecting movement to emotion) Risk (taking smart risk to enhance your audition) Believability (is you character convincing) Interpretation (the clarity of your perspective)
MUSICAL THEATRE The IRCHS Musical Theatre program produces the annual musical through rigorous training, by multiple instructors, in the disciplines of acting, dance and song. VAPA musicals are held in high regard by the local and professional community and are considered to be at a college and/or professional level. VAPA musicals involve nearly 10% of the student population on campus. Musical Theatre 1, 2, 3, 4 *Students will audition for the next year s musical in the spring of the prior school year. Students who are cast in the musical then will add Musical Theatre on their schedule Michael Naffziger (acting) (michael.naffziger@irchs.org) Gary Miller (vocals) (gary.miller@irchs.org) Hedi Khursandi (dance) (hedi.khursandi@irchs.org) Cher Bounds (dance) (cherith.bounds@irchs.org) Sing 30 60 seconds of any song (A Capella) that highlights your vocal range Connect to what you are singing, let us see your acting while you sing Come dressed to move You will learn a short movement piece (nothing difficult) to assess your ability to move This is a placement audition. You cannot fail. It will help us decide which course is best for you. If you do not make it into the musical, you will be placed in a dance or vocal class to help you prepare for your next musical audition.
TECHNICAL THEATRE The IRCHS Technical Theatre Program designs, constructs and operates all technical components of every VAPA performance on and off campus. With over $100,000 worth of state of the art equipment, technical theatre students graduate with a wealth of knowledge and have gone on to work for theatres throughout the United States. Stagecraft 1 (Theatre Equipment/Demographics) Stagecraft 2 (Set Construction) Stagecraft 3 (Light and Sound Design) Stagecraft 4 (Production management) Scenic Design (Set and prop Construction) Michael Naffziger (michael.naffziger@irchs.org) Liming Tang (liming.tang@irchs.org) No audition required. Students interested in the technical theatre program can take Stagecraft up to eight semesters. Please note that in order to take the class, students must be willing to: Work at heights up to twenty-two feet Use power tools Operate heavy machinery Participate in intense physical labor on a regular basis Students will sign a syllabus that will give permission to complete the tasks required of the stagecraft class.
VISUAL ARTS (2D) The Visual Arts (2D) Department produces paintings, drawings, and other flat works for display and contests on a local, state, and national level. Student work is exhibited on regular basis in the 500 and 400 building student galleries and within the IRCHS Charter Dome. In addition, students help to orchestrate installation and display of thematic visuals for various performing arts shows throughout the year. Students are encouraged to create compelling and challenging work for college portfolios and scholarships. Painting 1, 2, 3 Honors Drawing 1, 2, 3 Honors Art 2D 1, 2 Ramayana Baba (ramayana.baba@irchs.org) Tony Kopp (anthony.kopp@irchs.org) Liming Tang (liming.tang@irchs.org) Bring in up to 3 samples of your work in any of the following disciplines: Ceramics Drawing Painting Photography Sculpture You are not required to bring in a formal portfolio, however presented work should best represent you as an artist from simple sketches to your best photo.
VISUAL ARTS (3D) The Visual Arts (3D) Department produces sculptures and ceramic (clay) pieces for display and contests on a local, state, and national level. Sculpture 1, 2 Ceramics 1, 2, 3 Honors, 4 Ramayana Baba (ramayana.baba@irchs.org) Tony Kopp (anthony.kopp@irchs.org) Bring in photos of your 3 best sculpture or ceramics pieces. You are not required to bring in a formal portfolio, however presented work should best represent you as an artist from simple sketches to your best photo.
PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL ARTS Photography courses utilize the digital camera to learn basic operation, photo composition, and digital enhancement techniques within Adobe Photoshop to produce compelling work for both print and online display. Digital Arts courses use Adobe Photoshop as a standalone artistic tool for fundamental to advanced techniques of visual art. Photography 1, 2, 3, 4 Digital Arts Commercial Art/Yearbook 1, 2, 3, 4 Tony Kopp (anthony.kopp@irchs.org) Jon Pine (jon.pine@irchs.org) Bring in up to 10 photos that show mastery of photographic techniques. *No portfolio is necessary for Digital Arts. You are not required to bring in a formal portfolio, however presented work should best represent you as an artist from simple sketches to your best photo.