Composition Auditions

Hi all, my son, who is going thirteen years old is applying to a pre-college conservatory program to study composition. In the letter we received, he was told to bring two compositions of his, for an interview, and a theory placement test. My question is, any suggestions/ideas and advice on the auditions. What to say, what to not do, manners, etc. Thanks for all your help.

He's 13, for crying out loud.

Go to the audition, you sit in a corner and keep quiet, and let him talk to the teacher.

All he has to do is show he has interest in composition. It's not like he's going to be graded like a graduate student.

Don't forget, he has a couple years left where he may very well change his mind about going into music. Let him enjoy this experience and don't make a fuss over it.

All he has to do is be there, be polite, and be himself. That should be quite sufficient.

And the last thing they want is an overbearing parent in the room. Let him be himself. Period. I think that's about as much advice as you really need.

Yeah, the important thing for him is just to be genuinely excited. If you are required to bring samples of work, bring contrasting pieces. At his age, that should be all that is really required.