Video recording or live audition accepted
A rhythm section (consisting of piano, bass, and drums) will be provided to assist with the audition as needed.
Performance Concentration:
- Three jazz pieces of contrasting style or feel: These can include standard repertoire (ballads, blues, medium, up-tempo), bebop, South American jazz, hard-bop, post-modal, and modern, etc.
- Applicants must perform from memory and include improvisation.
- One of the following:
- A published jazz solo transcription that demonstrates advanced skills in interpretation.
- A short movement from a classical work such as an etude, sonata, etc. which demonstrates technique.
- A piece from another contemporary music style (jazz-rock, bluegrass, electronic music, hip hop etc.) uniquely arranged to feature improvisation and/or other jazz influences.
- An original composition which demonstrates use of jazz language and/or cross-genre synthesis.
Please email admission office your repertoire list in advance along with lead sheets for any pieces with specific instructions or modifications (reharmonizations, unique arrangements, additional sections, original compositions, non-jazz repertoire etc)
Composition Concentration:
- Two works of contrasting mood which showcase an array of jazz composition and arranging techniques. The ideal application portfolio would feature one piece that highlights historic or traditional jazz composition techniques while the other features contemporary or post-modern jazz concepts. Both pieces should utilize improvisation in some way.
- One work from another genre (modern classical, electronic, folk, bluegrass, hip hop) that features improvisation as compositional element and/or demonstrates cross-genre synthesis.
One of these works should be for large ensemble (sextet or larger). Scores and recordings are mandatory and should be uploaded to the online application.
Composition applicants do not need to audition on their primary instruments
