Jazz SA

2022 JazzSA Superband Auditions

EXCERPTS ARE AVAILABLE HERE: https://jazzsa.org.au/auditions

The JazzSA Superbands are a program of three youth big bands open to South Australian musicians aged 21 years and younger. Each term the Superbands rehearse intensively and perform a full set of professional-level repertoire under the supervision of Adelaide’s leading big band directors. Rehearsals are held at the University of Adelaide (Kintore Avenue) for eight Tuesday nights (7pm to 9pm) per term. A full list of rehearsal and concert dates can be found here.

The Superbands provide young musicians who have a keen interest in big band music with the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the style and repertoire beyond that of most high school ensembles, through performing a mixture of classic and contemporary big band arrangements, alongside works by local and national composers. Many participants gain a foothold in the local music scene while in the Superbands, through having the chance to interact with like-minded musicians their age, and by bringing their abilities and progress to the attention of the directors. 

Fees for the 2022 Superbands are $170 per term ($680 per year). Successful applicants are expected to remain in the program for the full year.

There is also a $20 fee for auditions. Students who audition on multiple instruments are only required to pay the fee once.

Auditions for the 2022 Superbands will be held by video only.

The following positions are available in each of the three Superbands:

• Alto Saxophones 1 & 2, Tenor Saxophones 1 & 2, Baritone Saxophone (Please note that while woodwind doubles are encouraged, positions will be decided by the applicants’ demonstrated proficiency on saxophone.)

• Trumpets 1 - 4

• Tenor Trombones 1 - 3, Bass Trombone

• Piano, Guitar, Bass (Electric or Double), Drums

Applicants will be placed into the Superbands based on their time feel/rhythm, tone quality, range, pitch and understanding of style. Applicants may submit entries for multiple positions/instruments.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek out the original recordings of the excerpts for stylistic reference, and to take the excerpts to their teachers.

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Audition Requirements

SAXOPHONE, TRUMPET, TENOR TROMBONE and BASS TROMBONE

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• The supplied instrument specific excerpts with an audible metronome.

• The supplied instrument specific excerpts without a metronome.

Applicants are encouraged to submit the following, however, it is optional:

• 2 - 4 improvised choruses on a 12 bar Bb jazz blues with a play-along backing track (ie, Aebersold, iRealB). Please do not perform unaccompanied.

LEAD TRUMPET: there is another excerpt that must be submitted in addition to the other excerpts. All lead trumpet applicants will still be considered for other section chairs.

GUITAR, PIANO and BASS

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• The supplied instrument specific excerpts with an audible metronome.

• The supplied instrument specific excerpts without a metronome.

• 2 - 4 improvised choruses on a 12 bar Bb jazz blues with a play-along backing track (ie, Aebersold, iRealB). Please do not perform unaccompanied.

DRUMS

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Recordings of the following grooves, without a metronome.

• 16 bars of swing time (crotchet = 120)

• 16 bars of swing time (crotchet = 280)

• 8 bars of ballad time with brushes (crotchet = 55)

• 16 bars of swing time with brushes (crotchet = 200)

• 16 bars bossa nova

Recording Guidelines/Tips

• Please ensure that you are clearly visible for the entire duration of each video.

• Audition videos must be recorded with one microphone, and the audio must not be edited in any way.

• ‘Soundcheck’ your recording device before recording the excerpts in full. To avoid audio distortion do not to place your recording device too close to your instrument. Three to four meters distance for most instruments generally works well.

• Listen back to your recordings in full before submitting your application.

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Submitting Your Application

Please read these instructions carefully!

• Please upload the video files to Dropbox, Google Drive or a similarly shareable online folder.

• Clearly label each file in the following format: firstname_lastname_instrument_excerptname

- ie, after recording ‘The Moon is Blue’, trumpet player John Gillespie would upload the file John_Gillespie_trumpet_TheMoonIsBlue

- And after recording his Bb blues, alto saxophonist Charlie Parker would upload the file Charlie_Parker_basstrombone_BbBlues

• Make sure that the folder containing the files is accessible to anyone with the link.

• Please do not delete the folder before January 1st, 2022.

• Once the upload has completed, email the link to jazzsasuperbands+auditions@gmail.com
• Pay your $20 audition fee on Corsizio
• Audition videos must be submitted no later than November 30th, 2021.