Modern Band Showcase Application

Application Deadline: May 15, 2026

Welcome to the NYSSMA Modern Band Showcase Application!

NYSSMA is pleased to announce the Modern Band Student Showcase for the 2026 NYSSMА Winter Conference. The showcase is an opportunity for selected modern band students from across New York State to collaborate with one another along with recognized modern band coaches during three days of preparation prior to a culminating performance at a featured event to be held at the 2026 NYSSMA Winter Conference, Lilac Ballroom, Saturday afternoon, December 5, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY:

Interested students must attend a NYSSMA Participating School and be a part of their school’s music program. Students interested in auditioning must do so in their Sophomore or Junior year for participation in their Junior or Senior year of High School. All students must demonstrate their abilities in a variety of styles, including but not limited to: Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, R&B, Country, Metal or other emerging commercial genres.

Singing is not mandatory for instrumental auditionees, however preparation of a short excerpt demonstrating singing ability is encouraged. If you have an original song you would like to submit for consideration please include it in your audition submission.

HS Student Musician Eligibility (vocal, guitar, ukulele, keyboard, bass, drums, winds and strings)

Interested students must meet the following criteria:

  • Attend a NYSSMA participating school and be a participating member of their school's music program.
  • Only current high school sophomore and junior student musicians are eligible to audition for the NYSSMA Modern Band Showcase. Students must complete an application and submit TWO one-to-three-minute videos demonstrating their musical ability. Submissions will be accepted, along with all Showcase Applications, from February 15th, 2026 through May 15th, 2026 and will be uploaded to a NYSSMA online submission portal which will be accessible from the homepage of the NYSSMA website.
  • All students must demonstrate their abilities in a variety of styles, including but not limited to: rock, pop, hip-hop, R&B, country, metal or other emerging commercial genres.
  • NOTE: Singing is not mandatory for instrumental auditionees, however, preparation of a short excerpt demonstrating singing ability is encouraged. If you have an original song you would like to submit for consideration, please include it in your audition submission.

Selected students must:

Selected students are required to attend three ZOOM sessions prior to the conference weekend to discuss and plan musical ideas and pieces to be performed. ZOOM sessions will take place in the fall of 2026 during the weeks/months prior to the NYSSMA Winter Conference performance. Original compositions that may be selected for performance will also require learning materials (to be distributed). The program will be balanced, including consideration given to diversity of genres, artists, time period, and style of performance.

Video Submission Requirements for all auditioning students:

  • The auditionee should introduce themselves and their pieces as they would in a live performance.
  • The auditionee’s playing or singing position must be visible at all times during the video.
  • Each video recording must be continuous. No edits are allowed. Any edited submissions will be disqualified.
  • A clock that visually accounts for each second must be visible in the recording at all times.
  • Backtracks must be audible for all submissions, except the drumset groove requirement
  • **Optional: Submissions can be recorded live, with other musicians in the room.

Specific audition requirements:

Vocals

  • Prepare two songs of contrasting style, performed with instrumental or an ensemble track (no sing-alongs).
  • The first song should be a lead piece that showcases your vocal range (Your voice part and range should also be indicated on the written application).
  • One song can be an original, however at least one must be a cover.
  • Rapping as a cover or original is acceptable.
  • The following must also be demonstrated:
  • Riffing (melodic and/or lyrical)
  • Singing harmonies and background vocals

Guitar

  • Prepare two songs of contrasting style.
  • Prepared songs must demonstrate diversity of both rhythmic (strumming) and melodic playing (riffing).
  • The following must also be demonstrated:
  • Lead soloing
  • Comping
  • Songs should demonstrate a variety of chordal usage including open chords, barre chords, power chords, triads, etc.

Keyboard

  • Prepare two songs of contrasting style.
  • Prepared song must demonstrate diversity in both rhythm section playing and melodic playing.
  • One song must include a solo.
  • One song must demonstrate comping with a variety of voicings and harmonizations.

Bass

  • Prepare two songs of contrasting style.
  • Prepared pieces must demonstrate versatility of techniques (Slap etc..)
  • One song must include a drum track and/or ensemble accompaniment but a bassline must not be present on the track.
  • One song can be original. The other must be a cover.
  • **Optional and encouraged: One piece can include a solo.

Drums

  • Prepare two recordings.
  • One recording must include a demonstration of 3 contrasting grooves, each with the following form:
  • 8 bars groove, 4 bars solo, 8 bars groove, and a final downbeat.
  • The other recording must demonstrate ability to play along with a song and must include set ups, fills, alternating grooves, and rhythmic variations.

Other Instruments (Ukulele, Brass, Strings, Winds)

  • Prepare two songs of contrasting styles.
  • One song must include a solo, improvised is encouraged.
  • For brass, woodwinds, strings: One piece should demonstrate your ability to create and play background lines/riffs. This can be recorded multi-track, live with a recording of your choice, or with an ensemble rhythm section.
  • **Optional and encouraged: A third song may be included to demonstrate your singing abilities (lead and/or background vocals/harmony singing)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

  • Complete the Application and upload materials no later than May 15th, 2026
  • You will need a letter of endorsement from your school music teacher to be uploaded with the application.
  • Before submitting your videos, they must be converted to .mp4 or .mov and use an online site to compress all videos to less than 50mb. Alternatively, you may upload links to YouTube or Vimeo.
  • Submit payment of $36

For further information, please contact Lindsey Williams, NYSSMA Emerging Ensembles Chair: williamsl@oacsd.org