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JAZZ AUDITIONS

Information
For information about Studio Orchestra, visit the Orchestral Auditions page.

Jazz Ensembles

Synthesis (Big Band)


Meets Monday/Wednesday
3:00 - 4:50pm

Jazz Ensemble (Big Band)

Meets Tuesday/Thursday
5:00 – 6:50pm

Jazz Lab Band (Big Band)

Meets Tuesdays
7:00 – 8:50pm

Jazz Legacy Band (Trad/Early Jazz)

Meets Tuesday/Thursday
12:00 – 12:50pm

Jazz Voices (Vocal Jazz Ensemble)

Women's:
Meets Monday/Wednesday
11:00 - 12:30pm
Mixed:
Meets Monday/Wednesday
12:00 - 1:50pm

Jazz and Commercial Music Combos

TBD - Combos are newly formed each semester and meet at times determined by participants’ availability and experience level

Updated for Winter 2024

All Jazz Big Bands, Jazz Voices, and the Jazz Legacy Band will be continuing during the Winter 2025 semester as formed in the Fall 2024 semester. If there are any holes that need to be filled, auditions will be by invitation from the directors and/or the studio teachers.

Winter 2025 Combo Auditions:

*If you are currently in a jazz combo and would like to continue in the Winter Semester, you do not have to try out again, you just need to fill out this form with your availability.
**All who audition need to fill out the above form as well!

Vocalists: reach out to Professor Kirkland (hayleykirkland@byu.edu) to ask about auditions
Saxophones: reach out to Dr. Nichols (benjamin_nichols@byu.edu) to ask about auditions
Trumpets: reach out to Dr. Woodbury (bwoodbury@byu.edu) to ask about auditions
Trombones: reach out to Dr. Woodbury (bwoodbury@byu.edu) to ask about auditions
Pianists: reach out to Dr. Woodbury (bwoodbury@byu.edu) to ask about auditions
Bassists: reach out to Dr. Woodbury (bwoodbury@byu.edu) to ask about auditions

Guitarists:
Audition Materials: Students should prepare to play the melody and improvise on “Autumn Leaves.” Contact Adam Keith at adam_keith@byu.edu to set an audition time.

Drummers:
Audition materials: Demonstrate a swing, funk, rock, mambo, samba, and trade 4’s in a swing feel. Play Dayley Dash from The Drummer’s Workbook by Jay Lawrence. PDF found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CABHguVhq9tlXtWSYrV2_L0JTPYfcuYC/view Contact Dr. Coleman (matt_coleman@byu.edu) to set up an audition.

The following list is from Fall 2024. Please see above for information about Winter 2025 auditions.

  • JAZZ VOICES, BIG BANDS, AND COMBOS


    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    MB 1067

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for an audition time on the following Signup Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45A9AC2AA5FA7-202324

    Audition Materials
    Sing a jazz swing standard of your choice, a cappella. You will also be asked to sight sing and improvise over a 12-bar blues.

    Contact Professor Hayley Kirkland with any questions (hayleykirkland@byu.edu).

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION(INSTRUMENTALISTS)


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    When
    Wednesday, September 4, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm (Classical auditions are from 10:00 am-12:00 pm).
    Sign up for a time slot on Dr. Nichols Door (MB 4141).

    Where
    Auditions will be in MB 4141.

    Audition Materials
    Bring a jazz standard of your choosing to perform and/or improvise over (we will use Learn Jazz Standards or iReal Pro as a backing track). Be prepared to sight read and improvise (by ear and sightreading changes) on materials we will provide. If you are not comfortable playing a prepared jazz standard then feel free to bring an etude or transcription instead.

    IMPORTANT—Fall Auditions will be for the entire academic year (September 2024-April 2025).

    Contact Dr. Nichols for saxophone questions (benjamin_nichols@byu.edu)

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    The big band individual audition will serve as your small group audition – indicate to Dr. Nichols that you are trying out for combos, and fill out your availability as instructed above.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    When
     Wednesday, September 4, from 5:00 - 6:30 pm
    (Signups will be on Dr. Lee’s door)

    Where
     MB 3223

    Audition Materials
    Audition materials will be on Dr. Lee’s door (MB 3143)

    Contact Dr. Lee with any questions (randy.lee@byu.edu).

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    Dr. Woodbury’s office (MB 4145)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link.

    Audition Materials
    Come prepared to play the melody and improvise over a Jazz standard of your choice. You will also be asked to sight read a tune provided by Dr. Woodbury. Comping instruments will be asked to comp, and bassists will be asked to walk a bass line.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    When
    Wednesday, September 4, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm

    Where
    Dr. Kimball’s office (3147 MB)

    Audition Materials
    Prepared music posted on Dr. Kimball’s door (MB 3147), plus sightreading and optional improvisation.

    Contact Dr. Kimball with any questions (will_kimball@byu.edu; MB 3147).

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    Dr. Woodbury’s office (MB 4145)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link.

    Audition Materials
    Come prepared to play the melody and improvise over a Jazz standard of your choice. You will also be asked to sight read a tune provided by Dr. Woodbury. Comping instruments will be asked to comp, and bassists will be asked to walk a bass line.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    IN ADDITION TO the audition below, there will also be a group rhythm section audition.
    This will take place on Friday, Septmber 6th from 12:00pm-2:00pm in MB 1067

    When
    Thursday, September 5th

    Where
    MB 3027

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link: https://form.jotform.com/242187325312047

    Audition Materials
    Students should prepare to play the melody and improvise on “Autumn Leaves.”

    Contact Adam Keith at adam_keith@byu.edu for any guitar questions.

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    The big band individual audition will serve as your small group audition – indicate to Adam Keith that you are trying out for combos, and fill out your availability as instructed above.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    IN ADDITION TO the audition below, there will also be a group rhythm section audition.
    This will take place on Friday, Septmber 6th from 12:00pm-2:00pm in MB 1067

    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    Dr. Woodbury’s office (MB 4145)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link

    Audition Materials
    Come prepared to play the melody and improvise over a jazz standard of your choice. You will also be given music to sight read, and asked to comp.

    Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu)

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    Dr. Woodbury’s office (MB 4145)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link.

    Audition Materials
    Come prepared to play the melody and improvise over a Jazz standard of your choice. You will also be asked to sight read a tune provided by Dr. Woodbury. Comping instruments will be asked to comp, and bassists will be asked to walk a bass line.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    IN ADDITION TO the audition below, there will also be a group rhythm section audition.
    This will take place on Friday, Septmber 6th from 12:00pm-2:00pm in MB 1067

    When
    Wednesday, September 3rd

    Where
    Dr. Coleman’s office (1221A)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link.

    Audition Materials
    Demonstrate the following grooves: medium and up-tempo swing, mambo, samba, funk, and pop. Also trade 4’s in swing time, alternating between playing time and improvising a solo. Play part or all of The Dayley Dash by Jay Lawrence (sheet music at the end of this packet).

    Contact Dr. Coleman (matt_coleman@byu.edu) with any questions.

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    The big band individual audition will serve as your small group audition – indicate to Adam Keith, Dr. Nichols, or Dr. Coleman that you are trying out for combos, and fill out your availability as instructed above.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    There are no individual auditions for bassists interested in doing a jazz big band. Instead, please attend the group sectional audition.

    When
    September 6th from 12:00pm-2:00pm

    Where
    MB 1067

    Contact Professor Eric Hansen with any questions (bass@byu.edu).

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    Dr. Woodbury’s office (MB 4145)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link.

    Audition Materials
    Come prepared to play the melody and improvise over a Jazz standard of your choice. You will also be asked to sight read a tune provided by Dr. Woodbury. Comping instruments will be asked to comp, and bassists will be asked to walk a bass line.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.

  • BIG BANDS


    Email Dr. Woodbury at bwoodbury@byu.edu for questions.

    COMBOS & JAZZ LEGACY


    To be placed in a combo, you MUST fill out your availability here. Remember to put your name and instrument in the name prompt. This is to gauge general availability for each day of the week during the semester – please be as flexible as possible. Those with little to no availability will have a worse chance of being placed in a combo. Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).

    When
    September 4th & 5th

    Where
    Dr. Woodbury’s office (MB 4145)

    Sign-Ups
    Sign up for a time at this link.

    Audition Materials
    Come prepared to play the melody and improvise over a Jazz standard of your choice. You will also be asked to sight read a tune provided by Dr. Woodbury. Comping instruments will be asked to comp, and bassists will be asked to walk a bass line.

    JAZZ VOICES RHYTHM SECTION


    Sign up for and complete a combo audition with Dr. Woodbury (or a big band audition). Indicate on the combo audition form that you are interested in playing with Jazz Voices.