2024-2025 JazzU Pre-screening Audition Guidelines

All students looking to audition for JazzU are required to submit a pre-screening video audition. Video auditions must be submitted via this FORM (https://forms.gle/gS3iyrhz3oASFXY28) by April 28th. Students who pass the pre-screen will be contacted in early May to schedule an in-person audition on June 9th, 10th, or 11th. 

Audition requirements

Applicant must be an incoming 8th - 12th grade student for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.

Applicants must perform one blues, one jazz standard (from the list below), and one Latin tune (also listed below), preferably with live accompaniment or a backing track. When using a backing track, please ensure playback through a high-fidelity speaker instead of phone or laptop speakers. You can choose your tunes from the repertoire list provided at the bottom of the page.

Melody instruments (such as trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, violin, etc.) and vocalists are required to perform the melody and improvise for two choruses.

Rhythm section instruments (piano, bass, guitar, etc.) must play the melody, provide one chorus of accompaniment (aka comping), and two chorus of improvisation.

Drummers are expected to perform solo or with a group using any of the listed standards and Latin tunes listed below. For the jazz standard, use brushes during the melody, switch to sticks for one chorus, and conclude with a drum solo for one chorus. For the bossa nova piece, perform two choruses of any Latin tunes from the list below.

Please be sure to keep your audition video under 10 minutes long.

Submission:

YouTube is the preferred platform for submissions. Please ensure that your video is uploaded to YouTube and that the link you submit is either public or unlisted, as we cannot view videos marked as “Private”. Once you've uploaded your audition as an unlisted YouTube video, submit the link using the pre-screen audition form (https://forms.gle/gS3iyrhz3oASFXY28). Your video should be titled “[Your Name] JazzU Audition 2024.” If you are unable to use YouTube for your submission, please contact Travis Lewis directly at tlewis@jazzstl.org. Submissions not adhering to these instructions will not be considered. For any additional questions or concerns regarding the pre-screen process, reach out to Travis Lewis at tlewis@jazzstl.org.

Pick one standard and one blues, in addition to a selection from the Latin tunes (three tunes total). 

Standards:

Autumn Leaves

Take the A Train

Doxy

Blues: 

C-Jam Blues

Now’s The Time

SonnyMoon For Two

Latin:

Blue Bossa

St. Thomas

Corcovado