It is the intention of the Newton Public Schools that no student is denied participation in school-sponsored activities and bus transportation due to inability to pay. Waivers are based on income and family size as well as special circumstances or temporary hardships.

Newton Public Schools All City Music Ensembles provide students who have a deep commitment to singing or playing their musical instrument with an opportunity to join like-minded students from across the district in an extra-curricular performance ensemble. Students are selected by audition in the late spring or fall and rehearsals are held after-school at least one afternoon per week.

ELIGIBILITY: Participation in an All City Music Ensemble is restricted to students currently enrolled in Newton Public Schools and Newton students who reside in Newton and are Home Schooled.


Starting in the 2011, participation in the All City Music Ensembles has become a fee-based program. Students who are selected for their group will be provided a registration form and payment slip. The annual participation fee is $150* and financial assistance waivers are available to qualifying families who apply. Registrations and fee payment may also be completed online in the fall. The links below will be activated after the audition period for each individual ensemble.

* Students in the fourth and fifth grade who have registered and paid a fee to participate in their school band or orchestra are exempt from paying the participation fee for All City Band, Orchestra, and Treble Singers.

Open to all students proficient on their instrument in grades 5 – 8. Students must be enrolled in their own school instrumental group. Rehearsals take place at Charles E. Brown Middle School Middle School, 125 Meadowbrook Rd., on Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-4:45 PM.

Co-Directors: Megan Lotz, Horace Mann Elementary School and Devon Nelson, Brown Middle School

Audition Information: Auditions take place on Wednesday, September 25, Wednesday, October 2, and Wednesday, October 3, 2019.

All students must: 

1. Download, Print and fill out an Audition Form: Print Form 

2. SIGN UP FOR AN AUDITION ONLINE: Here


How to prepare for auditions: Students will be asked to play

1. a solo piece of their choosing
2. 2 scales listed on the audition form by instrument.
3. Sight read a short piece of music to be given to them at their audition.

Open to all students proficient on their instrument in grades 4 – 8. Students must be enrolled in their own school instrumental group. Rehearsals take place at Bigelow Middle School on Wednesday afternoon from 3:45-5:00 PM. 

How to prepare for auditions: Please prepare a short solo of your choice. Violinists should be prepared to play two octave scales in G, C, and B flat major. Violists, cellists, and bassists should play one octave scales in G, C, and B flat with good tone. All students should play their scales in eighth note patterns with the metronome set at 100 (two notes per click)

All City Treble Singers: Open to students in grades 5 and 6, with a recommendation from the chorus teacher at their school. Students must be enrolled in their own school chorus in order to be eligible. Rehearsals take place at Bowen Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-5:00 PM from October through May.

Co-Directors: Deanna Mustachio, Franklin Elementary and Michael Smith, F.A. Day Middle School

2019-20 Audition Information:

How to prepare for auditions: Students will be asked to sing “America the Beautiful,” duplicate some pitch matching patterns and sing in a round with another singer using either “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” or “Frere Jacques.”

Check out the Treble Singers promo video to see what Treble Singers is all about.  Video link here.

Open to students in grades 7-9 with a recommendation for the chorus teacher at their school. Students must be enrolled in their own school chorus. Rehearsals take place at Bigelow Middle School on Wednesday afternoon from 3:30-5:00 PM, late September through May.

Co-Directors: Jamie Alberts, Bigelow Middle School and Katie McIntosh, Mason-Rice Elementary

2019-20 Audition Information: Fall auditions by appointment, email Katie McIntosh at mcintoshka@newton.k12.ma.us before Sept. 18 to sign up!    Auditions for Troubadours primarily take place in the spring.  A few slots are reserved for fall auditions. 

To find out more about Troubadours auditions, click here:

How to prepare for auditions: Students should prepare one of the following songs.