Jazz Ensemble and Voice Auditions

Fall 2023 Audition Instructions and Dates (no auditions for Sp24)

This year's audition process will be conducted in-person and "behind-the-screen." All aspects of the audition process will be STRICTLY confidential, so your identity remains anonymous until after the audition process is complete. Please find below the instructions, dates, and materials for instrumentalists (in-person) and vocalists (audio submission).

INSTRUMENTALISTS   |   INSTRUMENTALIST EXCERPTS   |   VOCALISTS


INSTRUMENTALISTS

For instrumentalists, auditions will be in person, “behind-the-screen,” and scheduled as follows:

Saturday, August 26, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Murray Hall, Billman Music Pavilion
 
Sunday, August 27, 2023
8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., Room 135, Music Building

  1. You may use the Jazz Combo Rooms as a warm-up area or reserve a room in the Music or Music Practice buildings.
  2. Please arrive ahead of your audition time so you are prepared to perform at your scheduled time.
  3. Prior to entering Murray Hall on Saturday or Room 135 on Sunday, please ensure that you have your music and all necessary equipment to perform the audition.
  4. Since this is a behind-the-screen audition process, please communicate only with Cookey Whitaker who will be the Room Monitor. Additional instructions will be given by an audition panel member if and when needed.
  5. At your audition time, please do not respond verbally so that you remain anonymous. In the event you have a question, leave the space, ask the monitor your question, and the monitor will communicate with the panel.
  6. Upon completion of all auditions, the faculty will confer and make ensemble assignments for the Fall/Spring 2023-24 terms.

All students who auditioned will be informed of their ensemble(s) placement on Monday, August 28, 2023, during the Jazz Studies Area Annual Convocation at 9:30 p.m.

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INSTRUMENTALIST EXCERPTS

The following audition instructions and materials are for instrumentalists, including guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, piano trombone, bass trombone, and trumpet.

Part I: Perform excerpt, “Evidence,” Composed by Thelonious Monk/Arranged by John Clayton

  • All Saxophones, Trumpets, Trombones, Bass and Drums: play from measure 161 through the end of measure 230 
  • Piano and Guitar: play from measure 145 through the end of measure 230
  • Perform unaccompanied
  • Reference recording

"Evidence" excerpts:


Part II: Perform “Tricotism,” Composed by Lucky Thompson & Oscar Pettiford (in Db concert) with provided backing track

Four (4) choruses total:

  • All instruments play the melody in
  • All instruments improvise for 1 chorus
    • All rhythm section instruments walk/comp for an additional chorus
    • All horns improvise for an additional chorus
  • All instruments play the melody out

"Tricotism" Backing Tracks / PDFs:


Part III: Perform a selection of your choosing

  • Play any selection you wish that displays your best musicianship
  • You may use a backing track or perform unaccompanied
  • Saxophonists may play an additional saxophone (Alto, Tenor, Bari)\

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VOCALISTS

For vocalists, audition recordings must be submitted via the Google Form linked here.

All voice audition submissions will be reviewed by the Jazz Studies Voice visiting guest artist in residence, Dr. Carmen Bradford, using a ‘behind-the-screen' audition process.

VOICE AUDITIONS ARE DUE SATURDAY, AUGUST 26 BEFORE MIDNIGHT.

Note: Vocalists must provide own accompanist (piano or guitar)

Part I: Sing Honeysuckle Rose (in the students’ appropriate key)

  • Sing melody once
  • Improvise on second chorus over the form
  • Sing melody from bridge out 

Part II: Sing Travelin’ Blues

  • Sing one chorus of the melody
  • Improvise one chorus
  • Sing melody out

Part III: Perform a selection of your choosing

  • Play any selection you wish that displays your best musicianship
  • You may use a backing track or perform unaccompanied

All students who auditioned will be informed of their ensemble(s) placement on Monday, August 28, 2023, during the Jazz Studies Area Annual Convocation at 9:30 p.m.

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