Governor's Schools of West Virginia

How to Apply to GSA

It's like working a puzzle.

You have to do it one piece at a time.

Below are detailed instructions you should read before beginning the application process to GSA.

Students

The first step to applying to GSA is to be sure you meet the proper qualifications. Please click on the Qualifications link to the left. You may apply for one and only one arts area.
If you meet the qualifications, the next step is to fill out the Student Application and the Consent Form. The link to the application can be found at the bottom of this page. If you do not have access to a computer and the Internet, your guidance counselor should be able to provide you with a hard copy or allow you to use a school computer. Save the application to your computer as a Microsoft Word document and type directly on it. Please note that all applications are to be typed.
Write the essay. This applies to all applicants. See page 1 of the application for topic.
Provide two letters of recommendation. One of the letters must come from a teacher who has worked with you in your arts area (may be a private arts teacher) or who is familiar with your work. Letters should clearly state the capacity in which the writer knows you, and the writer’s professional position. Letters should be submitted on professional letterhead and are to be typed using a 12-point Roman or Arial font. The use of fancy, italicized fonts is strongly discouraged. Writers should speak candidly about your work, talent, desire, strengths and weaknesses.
Please pay careful attention to the parent/student signature page. If you have questions about the residency and no-visitation requirements, you may direct them to skeffer@wvosea.org.
Type the rest of the application, print it and take it to your counselor. The counselor will complete page 3 of the application and give it to your principal for his/her signature. The counselor will also attach the necessary school records and arrange the application in the correct order.It is your responsibility to go to the Audition Schedule and Guidelines section to determine the audition requirements in your area of expertise.
Your counselor may mail your application; however, YOU are ultimately responsible for mailing the entire packet to the Office of the Secretary of Education and the Arts. It must be postmarked by Tuesday, December 4, 2007, and mailed to:

Sherry Keffer
State Director of Governor’s Schools
Office of Education and the Arts
Building 5, Room 205
1900 Kanawha Boulevard East

Charleston, WV 25305

2008 GSA Audition Schedule and Guidelines

Audition Schedule

South Charleston High--January 18*, 19

East Fairmont High--January 25*, 26

*For the most part, auditions are scheduled for Saturday. When there is a spillover or if special arrangements are necessary, a limited numbeer of auditions may be scheduled for Friday evening

Students whose applications are complete and who meet the criteria will be invited by letter to audition.

Audition invitations should be mailed from Charleston by December 19. If you have not received a notice by December 26, contact Sherry Keffer, director of Governor's Schools, preferably by e-mail: skeffer@wvosea.org.

Students are selected by the judges at the auditions. The decision of the judges is final. Students chosen to attend GSA will be invited by a letter from Governor Joe Manchin. Letters should be mailed by February 15 unless auditions have to be postponed. All other applicants will receive a letter from Mrs. Keffer regarding their status.

General Guidelines

You should start preparing for your audition/portfolio review as soon as you decide to apply! Do not wait until a week or two before auditions to begin preparations!
Only creative writing, media art and visual art applicants prepare a portfolio.
Generally speaking, students living in RESAs I-IV will be scheduled to audition at the South Charleston site. Those in RESAs V-VIII will be scheduled for the East Fairmont site. If you know that you cannot audition on the date for your part of the state, please note that on the top of page one of your application. You will then be re-scheduled. For example, if you live in the southern half of the state but cannot audition in South Charleston January 18 or 19, you will be scheduled to audition January 25 or 26 in Fairmont.
In the days just before your audition, check the website frequently for critical announcements. For example, inclement weather may require changing an entire weekend of auditions. You will NOT recieve a letter or a phone call with this information. It will be posted ONLY on this site.

Creative Writing Audition Procedures:

Selection for the creative writing program is a two-part process consisting of a portfolio of your writing and a 45-minute writing exercise the day of auditions. When you report to your audition site, you should have your manuscripts in a manila folder. Manuscripts must meet the following requirements:

Must be from one of three categories: fiction, poetry or playwriting. (Yes..This does mean that you are not to submit a combination of categories.)
Must be typewritten and double-spaced
No fewer than six (6) and no more than eight (8) pages
If excerpted from a longer work, submission must be from consecutive pages.
Note: Poetry submissiions must be a TOTAL of 6-8 pages.You are not required to submit one poem that is 6-8 pages long.
When possible, be typed with a 12-point typeface.
Must contain cover page with title of manuscript and name of student.

All students in the creative writing area will perform the writing exercise simultaneously. Individual interviews approximately fifteen (15) minutes will be scheduled. Questions are general in nature, covering such topics as your experience with writing and reading. You will be informed of specific times in your audition letter.

Dance Audition Procedures

Students auditioning for dance will participate in a master class that includes ballet and modern dance techniques; however, previous experience in both ballet and modern is not a requirement. The audition class will consist of traditional ballet barre exercises and basic modern warm-up and dance combinations with movement phrases across the floor. Applicants need not prepare an audition piece in advance of the audition. Assessment of the dancers will be based upon technical expertise, movement potential, spirit, performance quality, and the ability to learn quickly. The audition class will last approximately 2 ½ hours. (Please wear appropriate pants or tights, a shirt or leotard, and the appropriate footwear. Hair should be secured away from the face. There will be a brief interview.

Instrumental Music Audition Procedures

Any musician who feels qualified may audition, regardless of instrument, amount of formal training, involvement with school ensembles, or style of music performed. Each participant will have five minutes to present the following: a) a prepared solo (the solo may be interrupted at the discretion of the judges) and b) a sight reading. He/she will participate in a short interview to complete the audition process. Memorized solos are preferred but not mandatory. One score must be furnished to the judges . Because of copyright laws, it may not be a photocopy. If the score is unavailable or out of print, the student must present the judges with written permission from the publisher to copy it. Each student should prepare a piece that reflects the best example of his/her performance without being excessively simple.

No solo instruments will be provided at the audition site except a piano and a basic percussion setup. Instrumentalists must perform a two-octave major scale of up to three sharps or flats. All instrumentalists are judged on accuracy of pitch, accuracy of rhythm, observation of score markings, proper musical interpretation, scales and sight-reading. There will also be a brief interview.

Media/Digital Art Portfolio Review/Interview

Students are required to bring a portfolio consisting of no fewer than five and no more than 12 works in the digital media that best reflect the range of their abilities. Although the work itself is preferred,a cd may be submitted when a work is not available or if it is not practical to bring the work. The student’s work should not be a reproduction of a published photograph or other work of art unless proper credit is given on the submitted work. Students are encouraged to bring examples of their work that display versatility as well as quality.In addition to any class projects you choose to bring, please submit work that you have completed on your own as well. Criteria for judging the portfolio include the creativity and originality of the idea or concept displayed by the works and the use of photo editing software. All portfolios will be reviewed, and interviews will be conducted with the media art applicants. Students will take their portfolios home at the end of the review.

Theatre Audition Procedures

The student is required to prepare a memorized monologue of a serious or comic nature, not to exceed two minutes in length. In the monologue, it is recommended that the student not portray a character of middle or advanced age, Shakespearean character, or a character using dialects. Students should select characters closer to their own age or experience. The audition piece should not rely on props, costumes, make-up or any other technical elements. Applicants should not plan to sing for their audition. A simple straight chair will be provided and may be used. The student will be judged on characterization, physical expression and voice projection/quality. The student may also be asked to read from a script, perform an improvisation or a pantomime and participate in a brief interview. The total audition, including discussion with the instructor, will be 10-15 minutes in length.

All applicants should dress professionally. Females should wear dress slacks or dress shorts with tights. Dresses are not suitable.

Visual Art Portfolio Review Procedures

Students are required to bring a portfolio consisting of no fewer than five and no more than 12 works in any medium or combination of media that best reflect the range of their abilities. Although the work itself is preferred, slides may be submitted when a work is not available or if it is not practical to bring the work. The student’s work should not be a reproduction of a published photograph or other work of art unless proper credit is given on the submitted work. Students are encouraged to bring a few still life or figure drawings and a sketchbook. In addition to any class projects you choose to bring, please submit work that you have completed on your own as well. Criteria for judging the portfolio include the creativity and originality, the idea or concept displayed by the works, and the use of materials (the execution of the idea, the craft and technique displayed by the student). All portfolios will be reviewed and interviews will be conducted with the visual art applicants. Students will take their portfolios home at the end of the review.

Vocal Music Audition Procedures

All vocal applicants shall present two memorized pieces-- a classical song or an aria and a solo from a musical. Applicants must bring the accompanist music to the audition (no photo copies), so purchase or borrow the music you will use. GSA will provide piano accompaniment. Students are not to bring their own accompanists. The master teachers may ask applicants to vocalize under their direction. There will be a brief interview. Applicants are selected on the basis of musicality, pitch, tone, timing, and potential.

Applications

Listed below are the applications for potential GSA Students, Faculty, Resident Director, and Resident Assistants. Students and counselors, please click here first for detailed instructions on how to apply to the Governor's School for the Arts.

The forms below are available as Microsoft Word documents. After opening a page, if you save it as a Word document you will be able to type directly on it. Simply highlight the area where the lines are. They will disappear as you type. If you do not have access to MS Word at home, use a computer at school to complete the application. Your guidance counselor should help you make such arrangements as necessary, Computers in public libraries are also equipped wth Word.

GSA Student Application - MS Word download

(Mail by Tuesday, December 4)

Resident Director/Resident Assistant Application - MS Word download

(Mail between January 8 and February 15)

Faculty Application - MS Word download

(Mail by Wednesday, November 21)