JAZZ AUDITIONS
Information
Jazz Ensembles
Updated for Fall 2026
Audition Information
Fall 2026 Requirements:
- Fill out this brief information form.
- If you are auditioning for Jazz Combos, fill out your availability here.
- Review the requirements below and audition as instructed:
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Toggle ItemVocalistsNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
When
September 1st
Where
MB 1067
Sign-Ups
Sign up for an audition time here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B45A9AC2AA5FA7-64394079-202627
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).
Updated for Fall 2026 -
Toggle ItemSaxophoneWhen
Tuesday, September 1 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
Note: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.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.
IMPORTANT—Fall Auditions will typically be for the entire academic year (September 2026-April 2027).
Contact Benjamin.Nichols@byu.edu for saxophone questions.
Updated for Fall 2026 -
Toggle ItemTrumpetNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
When
September 3rd, 5pm-6:30pmWhere
MB 3223Sign-Ups
Sign-ups will be on Dr. Lee's door.Audition Materials
Audition materials will be on Dr. Lee’s door (MB 3143)
Contact Dr. Lee with any questions (randy.lee@byu.edu).
Updated for Fall 2025 -
Toggle ItemTromboneNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
When
Tuesday, September 1, from 10:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.Where
Dr. Woodbury's office (4145 MB)Audition Materials
Prepared music for tenor trombones and for bass trombones, plus sightreading and optional improvisation on a tune of your choice.
Contact Dr. Woodbury with any questions (bwoodbury@byu.edu).
Updated for Fall 2026 -
Toggle ItemGuitarUpdated for Fall 2026
Note: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
Students should be able to play the melody, comp, and improvise over one of these provided standards:
Blue Bossa
Autumn Leaves
Blue Monk
Sandu
Wave
All the things You Are
All Blues
Bye Bye Blackbird
Depending on the length of their chosen tune, students will improvise over the whole form 1-3 times using licks, scales and/or patterns to accentuate the chord changes. Students might be asked to play an arpeggio of a chord within their chosen tune (i.e., Dom7, Maj7, Min7).
Students will be asked to sight read the chords on a lead sheet (that we provide) and comp for a few measures.
This google sheet provides information on key, form, solo length, reference recordings, backing tracks, lead sheets and chords/arpeggios. Please use the backing tracks provided or use iReal Pro ($20-22 apple/andriod).
Contact Christian Madsen Christian.Madsen@byu.edu with any guitar questions. -
Toggle ItemPianoNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
IN ADDITION TO the audition below, there will also be a group rhythm section audition.
This will take place on Friday, September 5th from 12:00pm-2:00pm in MB 1067When
September 5th, between 9:30am – 12:00pmWhere
Studio Y (2nd floor of MB, west side of building, in commercial music wing)Sign-Ups
Sign up for a time here.Audition Materials
Materials can be found here. Prepare the piece and the first three licks in all 12 keys at 80 BPM.
Contact Professor Blasucci with any questions (john_blasucci@byu.edu)
Updated for Fall 2025 -
Toggle ItemDrumsNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
Non-Music Majors
You may audition for any music ensemble. For those only interested in jazz, see below. For those interested in any other ensemble, play any etude or short solo on a percussion instrument of your choice. Also be prepared to do some sight reading on snare drum and 2-mallets.
For those only interested in jazz:- First Round each student must audition in person with percussion faculty on audition day. Drum set applicants are to play the following styles: medium swing, mambo, samba, funk, rock, trade 4’s in a swing feel. Play “Dayley Dash” from The Drummer’s Workbook by Jay Lawrence.
- Final Round by invitation only for big bands
For music majors interested in playing in a jazz group:- First Round each student must audition in person with the percussion faculty on the first day of class.
- Final Round by invitation only for big bands. Contact Brian Woodbury at bwoodbury@byu.edu with questions.
Click here to sign up for an audition time
Contact Dr. Coleman (matt_coleman@byu.edu) with any questions.
Updated for Fall 2026 - First Round each student must audition in person with percussion faculty on audition day. Drum set applicants are to play the following styles: medium swing, mambo, samba, funk, rock, trade 4’s in a swing feel. Play “Dayley Dash” from The Drummer’s Workbook by Jay Lawrence.
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Toggle ItemBassNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
Audition Requirements
1-2 minutes of an excerpt/piece of your choice, that best shows your strengths and playing level.
Prepare two tunes from the standard catalogue, one swing and one latin. You’ll play the head, then play the changes and solo—one chorus each—on the form in the appropriate style.
Sight reading may be asked as an additional element.When
Wednesday, September 2ndSign-Ups
Outside Professor Hansen’s officeWhere
MB 4137
Contact Professor Eric Hansen with any questions (bass@byu.edu).
Updated for Fall 2026 -
Toggle ItemOther InstrumentsNote: All students must fill out the above forms before auditioning.
Email Dr. Woodbury at bwoodbury@byu.edu for questions.
Updated for Fall 2025