Pennsylvania Music Educators Association
2009 District 4 Jazz Band Information
Any student in grades 9, 10, 11, & 12 who is an active member of their school’s music program and whose director is an active PMEA Member. Interested students are encouraged to audition regardless of whether or not there is an active jazz ensemble at participating school districts.
Selection to the PMEA District 4 Jazz Festival will be done by live audition, to be held at State College Area High School from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM on Sunday, December 7. Students will be required to perform a predetermined jazz etude. In addition, students will be given the option of demonstrating their ability to improvise and/or perform lead parts. (See list of audition material for details)
Improvisational and/or lead ability will not affect total scores for auditions. It may affect part placement into each band.
Participating Directors will serve as the audition committee. Directors must participate in auditions for their students to be eligible.
Students will be assigned parts based upon this audition. There will not be further auditions at the festival. Students will be divided into two ensembles based upon total score in an effort to preserve the quality of both ensembles. (Ex. – The top scoring trumpet player will be placed into Jazz Band A, and the 2nd top scoring trumpet player will be placed into Jazz Band B.) Final part and band assignments are at the discretion of the District 4 Jazz Coordinator and the Host Director.
There is not a minimum or maximum participation quota for the District 4 Jazz Festival.
There will be a $5 fee for all students that audition.
Instrumentation
Two full jazz bands will be used with the following instrumentation:
5 Saxophones (2 Alto, 2 Tenor, 1 Bari) 4 Trumpets
4 Trombones 1 Drum Set Player
1 Guitar 1 Bass
1 Piano 1 Auxiliary Percussionist
A third jazz band may be added if there are a sufficient number of available instrumentalists.
The PMEA District 4 Constitution – Article III, will govern all
PMEA District 4 Jazz Festival policies not covered in this document.
PMEA District 4 Jazz Ensemble
Audition Application
Name _____________________________________ Grade ________________
Home Phone _________________________ Cell Phone ________________________
Home Address __________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
High School ____________________________________________________________
Email Address __________________________________________________________
Director’s Name _________________________________________________________
Instrument ________________________________
Jazz Experiences _________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Please mail this application, along with the $5 audition fee
payable to PMEA District 4 to
Mr. Richard Victor, PMEA District 4 Jazz Coordinator
State College Area High School
653 Westerly Parkway
State College, PA 16801
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS NOVEMBER 26
For more information contact Mr. Victor
Phone: (814) 231-1156
Email: rdv11@scasd.org