music-note_web.jpgMIAMI — To help empower the next generation of jazz musicians, auditions are now open for the Young Jazz Leaders Honors Band that will participate in the South Florida Jazz Summit on Jan. 15.

Eligible are students from grades 8-12 and college who demonstrate a high level of proficiency in jazz performance and improvisation, and who are recommended by their school’s music director.

Applications will be accepted through Nov. 30, with notification of selection by Dec. 15. Participation is free, and the students will receive a South Florida Jazz Summit certificate of participation and commemorative T-shirt.

Each student must: 1) demonstrate a high proficiency in jazz improvisation with solid knowledge of blues scales and excellent sight-reading skills; 2) memorize the head melody of various standard tunes such as Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, Song For My Father, Groovin' High, Blue Bossa, Blues for Alice; and 3) improvise two chorus solos in Bb blues.

Students are required to attend rehearsals as scheduled prior to the main performance on Jan. 15 at the  Bienes Center for the Arts, St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

The Young Jazz Leaders Honors Band will be conducted by Christopher Dorsey, award-winning jazz educator and orchestra director from Dillard Center for the Arts.

The South Florida Jazz Summit is a fundraising event produced annually by the Jazz Museum of Florida, Inc., doing business as Jazzonian, a non-profit 501c3 museum initiative, whose key value is upholding the authentic artistic integrity of jazz as America's most original artform.

The networking conference and expo fosters an environment for an effective coalition of businesses and organizations to promote jazz.

A long term goal is to establish a permanent physical venue in South Florida to serve as the Jazzonian Museum and special events facility, to celebrate jazz heritage, inspire, educate and bring people together.

ON THE NET
jazzonian.org/young-jazz-leaders.html

Application form:
sfjazzsummit.com/jazzonian_youth_ensemble_audition_form.pdf 

Photo: Stock Photo