If you cannot audition in person, you may submit a video audition. Scroll down to your section for details:

Brass

(Updated 10/3/2025)

MUSIC
Make sure that you are in a space where you have enough room to move and that your full body is visible in the camera. You should record all components of the Brass Audition Materials: three note slur (on the move — see MUSIC x VISUAL below), audition excerpts, and “musical wow factor”.

VISUAL
Demonstrate the skills in each of the four videos below. Regarding the Dance Combo, we do not expect brass players to be trained dancers. Just do your best and have fun with it!

WATCH: 50-50 with Lindsey →

WATCH: Releases & Isolations with Chris →

WATCH: Box Drill with Andrew →
Demonstrate this at mm=90 and 180 without playing

WATCH: Dance Combo with Julia →
We do not expect brass players to be trained dancers. Please just do your best to learn this combo, and more importantly, HAVE FUN WITH IT!

MUSIC x VISUAL
You will play the 3-Note Slur exercise while performing the Box Drill as described in the video above at mm=120 and 172. Set tape markings on the ground at the four corners of two mirrored boxes (as explained in the video). Each box should measure five yards front-to-back and side-to-side. Ensure that the tape markings are visible on the camera, and that the volume of your metronome is audible to the camera, as well. Remain relaxed and allow your best performance to be apparent!

Battery (Snare, Tenors, Bass Drum)

General Guidelines

Start your video by telling us your full name, where you live, and your current age.
Please use a drum if at all possible
Metronome must be audible for all exercises
You should include your full body in the frame of the video. We will need to see from your feet for marking time through the top of your head
Take your time and re-record as necessary to best present your abilities.

Exercises

Snares/Tenors:
Paradiddle exercise of your choice and tempo (Doesn’t have to be Pacific Crest version)
Triplet Rolls exercise of your choice
Flam exercise of your choice

Bass Drums:
Triplet 1-Accent Grid, 150BPM
16th-Note 2-Accent Grid, 136BPM
Paradiddle Exercise of your choice at your chosen tempo

Front Ensemble

Front Ensemble Audition Video:

Let us know a little about yourself! Say your name, how old you are, where you’re from, and briefly describe your musical background.
All exercises listed below.

Video Guidelines:

Place the camera directly in front of your keyboard so that we can see both the keyboard and your body.
Metronome must be audible to the listener and be set behind you.
All clips must be compiled into one video and kept in order.
Please label all clips.
Create the highest quality video/audio you can (Phones these days are pretty awesome!)
We want to see what skills and talents you bring to the table, so please make sure your video showcases these.

Front Ensemble Audition:

Mallets:

With Two Mallets:

Jetson Scales at ♩=90bpm (C, E, Ab, and Final C). Reference the sheet music for dynamic markings.
Scales & Arpeggios at ♩=140 (Db, F, and A)

With Four Mallets:

Scales & Arpeggios at ♩=100 (D, F#, and Bb). This exercise should be performed with inner mallets.
7/8 Block Chords ♩=100. Perform the marimba part as written utilizing double verticals.

Piano, Timpani and Drum Set:

Perform the exercises listed in the mallets section on your instrument at the written tempos with the listed number of reps and dynamics.

Color Guard

Start your video by telling us your full name, where you live, and your current age. Take your time and re-record as necessary to best present your skills.

Movement: 30-40 second combination that include skills such as leaps, turns, battement, in and out of the ground, and a demonstration of the range of flexibility and performance qualities.

Flag, Rifle, Saber: 30-40 second combination that should include, tosses at various heights, angles and catch variations, Please include lower body when demonstrating flag skills. Please include technique basics as well, such as

Exercises:

Weapons

50 Spins left and right
Any “singles” exercise you may know
Any exercise that demonstrates wrist flexibility and agility
Any exercise that includes back hands and speed changes

Flag

50 drop spins left and right
Carves left and right
Singles left and right
Double left and right
Various 45 tosses

Drum Majors

All Drum Major candidates are required to submit a pre-audition video. Guidelines and deadlines for the video submission can be found here: https://pacific-crest.org/audition-drummajor/.

Drum Major audition videos must be submitted by the posted deadline, to be considered.