Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Ensembles enable our students to experience a variety of styles through concentrated study and performance.

• Jazz Ensemble I
• Jazz Ensemble II
• Repertory Ensemble
  • Brazilian
  • Contemporary
  • Hard Bop
• Vocal Jazz Ensemble
• Jazz Combos
• Jazz Guitar Ensemble
• Jazz Saxophone Ensemble

Jazz Ensemble Audition Criteria Fall 2024

Information for fall 2025 to be released summer 2025.

Auditions for all ensembles, (Jazz Ensembles, Repertory Ensembles and/or Jazz combos) will be on Sunday, August 18th. All auditions will be conducted in person. Brass & saxophones auditions will be from 12pm-3:30pm pm in room 335 and rhythm auditions will most likely be from 12-5pm in room 310. Rhythm faculty will confirm this closer to audition day. Audition sign-up sheets will be posted on the door of rm 310 around the 12th of August.

Jazz Ensembles rehearse at the following times:

• Jazz Ensemble: MW 11-11:50 F 11- 12:30pm
• Jazz Lab I: TR 6-7:40pm
• Jazz Lab II: TR 3- 4:40pm Contemporary Ensemble: TR 3- 4:40pm
• Guitar Ensemble: Rehearsal Day/ Time TBD

The jazz ensembles are open to all students of the University. Non- jazz students interested in auditioning should contact any of the faculty listed below.

Jazz Ensemble Auditions will consist of the following:

Wind:

• Prepared Piece
• Improvising over a tune of your choice*
• Improvising over a tune of our choice*
• Sight Reading *

*Improvisation is not required for placement, but will definitely enhance higher placement

Piano/Guitar/Bass:

In addition to the above requirements, keyboard players, guitarists, and bass players will be asked to demonstrate as appropriate, comping skills, time keeping, knowledge of chord changes, and bass line creation skills.

Drums:

In addition to sight reading and soloing skill, drummers will be asked to demonstrate the ability to play a number of different styles (including swing, bossa nova, samba, funk, jazz/rock, and odd meter) at a variety of tempi. Time keeping, style definition, and filling capability will be evaluated during this process.

Jazz Faculty