Columbus Youth Jazz Ensembles FAQ

Answers to these frequently asked questions about the Columbus Youth Jazz Ensembles.

Participation
Who is eligible to be a member of the CYJO?
Students in grades 7 - 12 with a strong interest in music are encouraged to participate. Each student in the CYJO must be a member in "good standing" of one of his/her own school music programs. Please understand that these programs are intended as a supplement to the school program, not a replacement.

What music does the group play throughout the school year?
The CYJO plays literature of the highest level. Repertoire comes from the libraries of the great big bands: Count Basie, Woody Herman, Oliver Nelson, Dizzy Gillespie, etc. The music of Duke Ellington comprises the foundation of our programming.

It is important for young people to have a connection to the jazz canon — the pantheon of great jazz composers and arrangers. By selecting literature at this level, the members of the CYJO have a cultural connection to the art form.

What opportunities does the band have to play?
The CYJO presents six concerts at the Southern Theatre each year, prior to the Columbus Jazz Orchestra (CJO) Sunday matinee performances of their Swingin’ at the Southern series. We also accept a small number of community and festival requests for performances, when time permits.

How much does it cost to participate in the program?
There are no audition or membership fees at this time.

Auditions
What are the judges evaluating during the auditions?
Each auditionee is evaluated on the following criteria: tone, style, sight-reading, improvisation, and ensemble ability.

Brass players are checked for range. Since we generally perform our concerts with only four rehearsals, sight- reading is a weighted category.

All of your musical skills are needed for an audition. Good musicianship is what we are looking for, not jazz geniuses. The skills needed to play in a jazz band are very similar to the skills needed in a good concert band or orchestra.

How can I learn when the annual auditions are held?
Audition information is distributed at numerous high school jazz festivals, circulated by local music stores, and is mailed individually to each band director within central Ohio. It is also on the JAG website and emailed to hundreds of school music teachers and private instructors.

Auditions are typically held in September, and a pre-registration form is typically available on-line at the Jazz Arts Group website throughout the summer in advance of the announced audition date.

What should I expect on audition day?
The audition day is normally broken into time segments by instrumentation. The schedule is posted on all posters and on the website. You should plan to stay for the duration of your section's time.

Expect to sight-read in a section (one on a part), have an opportunity to improvise, and possibly be asked to play scales.

The audition committee reserves the right to listen to as little or as much of an audition as time allows.

How/what should the student prepare for the audition?
There is no prepared etude required. Auditionees need to be as familiar as possible with the jazz style. The audition consists primarily of sight-reading and improvisation.

Who are the judges?
Our audition panel is comprised of local jazz education professionals. Past judges have included members of the CJO, college professors, high school teachers and other music professionals.

What kind of feedback will I receive?
Each auditionee will receive a letter within 30 days of the audition date, which will contain the results of the auditions. The letter will include the roster of the musicians selected for the CYJO, CYJW and alternates.

Judges comments are not provided due to the nature of the audition. This is not solo and ensemble contest. The end result is not based on individual effort but ensemble work.