OMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble: 2011
Chair for 2011: Euell Hanna. Contact information is posted at Directory
The 2010 OMEA Jazz clinician is one of the truly outstanding jazz educators in the world, saxophonist/educator Chris Vadala. Vadala is the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Maryland. He is most noted as an expert in woodwind doubling, and was the featured saxophone soloist with Chuck Mangione. Chuck is quoted saying that, ”Chris plays everything, including the kitchen sink!”
Auditions for the 2010-11 OMEA All–State Jazz Ensemble will be held November 20, 2010, at Midwest City High School. Fees are $15 for each instrument, including doubling. The deadline is September 24, 2010. After that date, until October 1, 2010, the entry fee is $45.00 per entry. After October 1, the entry fee is $100.00. The audition process is as follows:
1) Prepared piece:
Horns, Guitar, Piano, Bass, Vibes: Etude 1, from Etudes for the Developing Jazz Musician, by Will Campbell (Stone Mill Publishing, 2608 W. Kenosha, Suite 232, Broken Arrow, OK 74012, www.stonemillmusic.com). It is recommended that rhythm section performers use their own gear for the audition.
Drummers: “Perdido”, from For Drummers Only (Music Minus One). Drummers must also play sixteen (16) bars of each of the following styles: rock or funk at 110 bpm, swing at 110 bpm, double-time swing at 220 bpm, double-time trading fours (4 bars of time/4 bars of solo), samba at 220 bpm, and jazz waltz at 220 bpm. Play each of these six styles in the prescribed order as one continuous etude. After a short pause, play eight bars of ballad (swing 8th notes) with brushes at 80 bpm.
Students wishing to use their own personal drum set must have it set up in the designated audition room by 7:30 AM on the day of the audition without exception. There will be a neutral drum set provided.
2) Sight Reading: All students auditioning will sight–read in the appropriate audition room.
3) Improvisation: Improvisation is not required, but highly recommended, as it could add five additional points to the overall score. Students who wish to improvise will play two (2) twelve-bar blues choruses in the key of F, at a medium-up tempo. The accompaniment source for the audition is from Nothing but Blues, CD Track #10 (Jamey Aebersold, Inc.).
As last year, there will no longer be a separate audition for bass trombone. Per the recommendation of OK-IAJE, all trombones will audition together for the top five slots. A bass trombonist will be selected from the top five candidates. Additionally, the selected rhythm section for the band will also perform with the All-OCDA High School Jazz Chorus at the OCDA conference in January.
Please consult the OMEA website for audition forms and additional materials. Updates and notices will be posted at the website as needed, so check the site often. As has been stated in previous articles, encourage your kids to discover jazz and to audition for the band. Please contact me at ehanna@vps.k12.ok.us with any questions.
Download all information and forms fromt the links printed below, beneath the photos of last year's Ensemble.
