The Dance Program audition at MHSA is run like one of our daily dance classes. When you arrive, you:

1. Check in with MHSA staff and receive a number.
2. Go to the barre to learn a ballet routine. Please note that you are being assessed during the entire barre exercise.
3. Meet in the middle of the floor to learn choreography for a short turn combination and contemporary/jazz dance piece.
4. Practice before breaking into small groups and performing for our staff.

If you are struggling during the audition, remember that we are NOT looking for perfect, polished dancers. We are looking for students who want to learn how to dance and who bounce back quickly after making mistakes. The most successful students at MHSA are resilient and hardworking.

Important Reminders

• DO NOT wear jeans, baggy clothing, or hoodies.
• DO wear fitted dance clothes like leggings or tights and a leotard.
• DO wear shoes you can easily remove. (You’ll be taking them off during the audition!)
• DO bring a resume that details your dance experience, if you have any.

Practice Tips

Below are videos of routines that are like the one you will be taught at the audition. Practicing along with them can help you feel more comfortable and confident on Audition Day. Remember, it’s not about being perfect. We want to see that you can go with the flow and come back to the routine after you make a mistake.

Battement

• Teaching Video
• Demonstration Video
• Music (for practice)

Fondu

• Teaching Video
• Demonstration Video
• Music (for practice)

Combination Jazz

• Teaching Video: Combos 1 and 2
• Teaching Video: Combos 3 and 4
• Demonstration Video: 1–4 (slow)
• Demonstration Video: 1–4 (fast)
• Music (for practice)

In the Literary Arts Program, students write in many different genres—graphic novels, journalistic pieces, myths, poetry, short stories, and more. We are looking for students who love to read and write and want to get better at writing.

The Literary Arts Audition has three parts:

1. Your Portfolio

Select three original writing pieces of any genre from the last year. Pick ones that make you proud, show your skills as a writer, or are simply something you enjoyed creating.

2. Live Writing Prompt

You receive a writing prompt at the audition and are given time to write. When the writing time is up, you turn in your completed written piece. Please note that there are other students present for this portion of the audition.

3. Live Interview

You are interviewed privately by a Literary Arts faculty member to complete your audition. Questions might include:

• How often do you read? How often do you write?
• What is your favorite form of writing? Why?
• What is the best thing you’ve read or who is your favorite author?
• What is your greatest strength as a writer and student? What is an area you could improve on as a writer and a student?
• If I were to ask your former teachers about you, what might they say?
• Why do you think you should be a Literary Arts major at MHSA?

Recent Audition Examples

• Example #1: Portfolio Pieces
• Example #2: Poem

When you audition for the Music Program, you must choose from one of the following areas:

1. Band/Jazz
2. Choir
3. Orchestra
4. Piano

The audition starts with you stating your name, what school you currently go to, and how long you’ve been singing or playing your instrument. If you do not have experience in your chosen instrument, you will instead meet with the music instructor to select an appropriate instrument to study as a beginner.

Beginner Band/Jazz Instruments: Baritone/Euphonium, Clarinet or Bass Clarinet, Flute, Percussion, Saxophone (Alto, Baritone, or Tenor), Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba

Advanced Band/Jazz Instruments: Bass Guitar, Bassoon, Drum Set, Electric Guitar, F Horn, Oboe

Orchestra Instruments: Bass, Cello, Viola, Violin

If you have experience, you then perform a two-minute solo piece, which may be an excerpt of a longer song. This can be any genre of your choice! It should be a song you’ve learned in the last six months and feel very comfortable playing or singing. We recommend practicing your piece for your family and friends many times so you feel prepared and confident.

Choir: For vocal musicians, please choose a song that you believe best showcases the natural beauty of your voice. You must memorize the lyrics; you cannot look at them while you are singing.

Orchestra: In addition to your chosen song, you should also prepare a one or two octave scale of your choice. If you need help with this, please ask your current orchestra teacher or reach out to our orchestra teacher, Pablo Amaya, for additional guidance.

After you play or sing, our staff may ask questions or ask you to redo certain sections of the song. The teachers want to get to know you to determine which level classes you should be placed in. If you make a mistake, you can try again! The most important thing about your audition is to be resilient and not give up!

Sample Interview Questions

• Tell us about your musical background.
• Why do you want to study music at MHSA?

The Theatre Program audition is simple: you perform a memorized monologue. This is a long speech given by one character from a play or movie that is learned by heart.

First, you choose a comedic or dramatic monologue from our four Theatre Audition Monologues. These are from male and female character perspectives, and you can pick whichever one you like most.

Afterwards, you may be asked follow-up questions so we can better understand your performance:

• What does your character want?
• How does your character feel while they are saying these words? If your character feels more than one thing, be prepared to explain each one.
• Who is your character talking to? What is your character’s relationship to that person?
• What did you find most challenging about performing this monologue? What did you enjoy most?

Practice Tips

• Once you’ve picked a monologue, read it. Then read it again. And again. And (you guessed it) AGAIN. Read it many times and then… start saying it out loud. Read it out loud to yourself, read it to your dog, read it to your baby sibling. The more you read it aloud, the easier it becomes to remember it.
• Try performing your monologue with different expressions: mad, happy, extremely sad, joyous, annoyed.
• Be sure to use your voice, facial expressions, and body language to give meaning to the story you are telling.

For your audition, you perform your monologue memorized—with no script in front of you—for our Theatre staff and the other students who are auditioning. If you make a mistake along the way, simply take a deep breath and try again.

There are two aspects to the Visual Arts & Design Program audition:

1. Your Portfolio

When you come to MHSA for your audition, you bring a portfolio with three original* art pieces from the last year. These three pieces should be:

• A still life: A still life is a pencil drawing of one to three objects on a table in front of you. You should add as much detail as you possibly can.
• A self-portrait: Sit in front of a mirror and study yourself. Draw what you see.
• A piece of your choice: This can be any piece you are really proud of.

*Note: When you create art for your portfolio, you cannot trace, copy, or follow a YouTube tutorial. We want to see YOUR original style in the way you like to create art! Be creative, be yourself, and bring your best art with you to your audition.

2. Live, In-Person Art Class

This program’s audition is like one of the art classes you’ll experience at MHSA. You sit at a table with other students and follow the prompts the Art teachers give you. You have about an hour to work on your pieces—take your time and add as much detail as possible.

An audition is an opportunity for you to show your skills to our staff members. It’s a chance for you to meet your future teachers and for them to meet you! They will ask you questions about your experience and interest in your chosen art program to get to know you.

During your audition, you will perform, submit a portfolio, be interviewed, and/or complete an in-person skills test. This will allow you to be placed at the correct level for your current skills.

Students audition at MHSA because our school is different from other schools in Milwaukee. MHSA supports young student artists in becoming the best versions of themselves. As a student here, you receive high-quality, immersive art education in your program of choice. The audition is your introduction to the level of instruction you will experience and an opportunity to see what classes in your program(s) of choice are like. It is important for you to understand what it means to be a student at MHSA so you can decide if it is the best high school for you. Once you know what to expect, you’ll be better set up for success.

Auditions are scheduled throughout the school year. Please check our calendar to find upcoming audition dates.

During Audition Day, you will have the opportunity to audition for your second choice (if you have one). Please prepare to audition for both programs that interest you. Please note that you will only pursue one as a student at MHSA.

If you have specific questions about auditioning or attending MHSA, please contact Arts Coordinator Clara Tracey at traceycr@milwaukee.k12.wi.us or Parent Coordinator Rayesha Harris at harrisre@milwaukee.k12.wi.us.