All City Programs Information
All City High School Music Festival
What it is:
- Choir
- Concert band
- Orchestra
So, we know this sounds confusing. Here’s the deal:
- If you sing, audition for choir.
- If you play a string instrument, audition for orchestra.
- If you play a wind or percussion instrument, just audition. We’ll tell you where you go!
Regardless of which of these you fall into, you will perform at the Festival, which is a one day culmination and presentation of the skills you’ll learn this year. Everyone who participates in these ensembles is expected to attend. It is held at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts at 7:00 PM on Wednesday March 4, 2020.
Students should apply if they have vocal experience, have studied a wind, brass, string, or percussion instrument for several years. Also, instrumental and vocal students who have participated in the All City Middle School Festivals are naturally aligned to audition and perform at the High School All City level.
Band, Orchestra and Choir audition requirements are based on a passage of the selected repertoire as well as major and harmonic minor scales, as well as sight reading. Contact your school music teacher(s) for selected repertoire.
Reading Session – Friday, September 27, 9:00am-12:00pm at Girls High School. This is designed for students who are interested in auditioning and students who would like additional support with the audition process. Report DIRECTLY to Girls High, no transportation will be provided.
Band/Orchestra – Friday, November 15, 9:00am-3:00pm at Girls High School.
Choir – Monday, November 25, 3:30pm-6:00pm at Creative and Performing Arts High School (CAPA).
Mon., December 16, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Wed., January 22, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Mon., January 27, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Tues., February 11, 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Mon. February 24, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Fri., February 28, 8:00 – 2:30 PM – Combined Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Tues., March 3, 1:00pm-6:00pm – Dress Rehearsal, Kimmel Center
Wed., March 4, 7:00 PM – All City Festival Concert, Kimmel Center
Wed., January 15, 12:15pm-4:15pm – Rehearsal, CAPA
Wed., January 29, 12:15pm-4:15pm – Rehearsal, CAPA
Thurs., February 13, 12:15pm- 4:00pm – Rehearsal, CAPA
Thurs., February 13, 4:15pm-6:30pm – Soloist Auditions, CAPA
Wed., February 26, 12:15pm-4:15pm – Rehearsal, CAPA
Fri., February 28, 8:00am- 2:30am – Combined Rehearsal, Girls HS.
Tues., March 3, 1:00pm-6:00pm – Dress Rehearsal, Kimmel Center
Wed., March 4, 7:00pm – All City Festival Concert, Kimmel Center
Sat., November 30, 9:00am-12:00pm – PYO Shared Reading, Curtis Lenfest Hall (for Orchestra only)
Sat., December 7, 9:30am-2:00pm – All City Concerto Competition, Curtis Gould Hall (by separate application only)
Tues., December 17, 4:30pm-6:00pm – Orchestra Sectionals, Kimmel Center (for Orchestra only)
Fri., January 17, 10:00am- 3:00pm – Temple Band Day, Temple University TPAC (for Band only)
Sat., January 18, 12:00pm-4:30pm – Curtis Retreat (for Orchestra only)
Tues., January 28, 4:30pm-6:00pm – Orchestra Sectionals, Kimmel Center (for Orchestra only)
Tues., February 4, 4:30pm-6:00pm – Orchestra Sectionals, Kimmel Center (for Orchestra only)
Tues., February 25, 4:30pm-6:00pm – Orchestra Sectionals, Kimmel Center (for Orchestra only)
All City High School Jazz Festival
The All City High School Jazz Festival will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. Master classes and concerts will be conducted throughout the day followed by a 7:00 PM concert featuring District high school jazz bands and the All Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra. The All Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra is comprised of students from high schools throughout Philadelphia that are selected by committee through a recorded audition.
Any high school student already in their school jazz band or with an interest in jazz should apply for the All Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra.
To apply for the All Philadelphia Jazz Orchestra, students must submit a recorded audition. Audition Requirements can be found here.
Students are selected for the Jazz Orchestra by committee.
Audition recordings are due Thursday, October 4.
Recorded audition videos are due by Thursday, October 4. Audition requirements can be found here.
All City Middle School Festival
The All City Middle School Instrumental Music Festival will be held on Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00 PM at the Merriam Theater. This festival pulls together outstanding middle school instrumental students, selected by audition, from across the city. Following six rehearsals, the students perform in a festival concert featuring Concert Band, String Orchestra, and Jazz Band.
Students with several years of instrumental music study should apply through their instrumental music teacher.
Students must participate in their individual school’s instrumental music program to audition for All-City
Students must be recommended by their school instrumental music teacher. Students must perform at the District’s Level Two Benchmarks for Instrumental Music Education. Copies of solos and scales required for the audition are available from student’s instrumental music teacher.
Mon., November 25, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Baldi (Violin / Low Strings) & George Washington HS (Woodwinds / Brass / Percussion)
Tues., November 26, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Masterman (Violins / Percussion) & CAPA (Woodwinds / Brass / Low Strings)
Tues., January 14, 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM – Rehearsal, Fels High School
Mon., February 3, 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM – Rehearsal, Fels High School
Wed., February 19, 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM – Rehearsal, Fels High School
Fri., March 6, 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM – Rehearsal, Fels High School
Tues., March 10, 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM – Rehearsal, Fels High School
Thurs., March 19, 10:00 AM – 1:15 PM – Rehearsal, Fels High School
Tues., March 24, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM – Dress Rehearsal, Merriam Theater
Tues., March 24, 7:00 PM – All City Middle School Instrumental Festival, Merriam Theater
All City Elementary and Middle School Choral Concert
The 2019/2020 All City Elementary and Middle School Choral Festival will be held on Wednesday, December 11 at 7:00 PM at the Temple Performing Arts Center. This festival is will celebrate choral music across the district. Participating schools bring select students from their school ensembles to join a greater combined choir.
There is no application or audition. Students are selected for participation by their school music teacher.
There is no application or audition. Students are selected for participation by their school music teacher.
There is no application or audition. Students are selected for participation by their school music teacher.
Wed., November 6, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Rehearsal, Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Mon., November 18, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Rehearsal, Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Thurs., December 5, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM- Rehearsal, Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Tues., December 10, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM – Dress Rehearsal, Temple Performing Arts Center
Wed., December 11, 7:00 PM – All City ES/MS Choir Festival, Temple Performing Arts Center
Last modified: March 27, 2023
