Hello Again WCSMA Jazz Educators,

I hope you are all doing well and gearing up for wonderful holiday concerts.  I am writing to you again because we are getting closer to the application deadline which is just over a month away on Friday December 16th.  As I mentioned in my previous email, I am going the paperless route this year for the application process in an effort to make things easier on you and your students. Here is the link to the google form application: Audition Application Google Form

It’s important that you either fill this out for your students or share this link with them to fill out.  Either way all google form applications must be received by (12/16) and late applications will not be accepted.

Having been cancelled the last three years as a result of the pandemic, there are literally NO high school students in Westchester County that have done this festival before.  That is why I am asking for your help in talking this up to your students to see if they might be interested in trying out.  The goal is to be able to have two full big bands each with their own program and guest conductor.  The instruments we are looking for include alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, trumpets, trombones, and all rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar & vibes).

PLEASE NOTE: I HAVE DECIDED TO CHANGE THE AUDITION REQUIREMENTS THIS YEAR TO INCLUDE LEVEL 4 SOLOS IN AN EFFORT TO EXPAND PARTICIPATION AND GIVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR STUDENTS

All parts of the All-County Jazz Festival will take place at:

Hommocks Middle School (130 Hommocks Rd Larchmont NY 10538)

AUDITION INFORMATION: 

Date/Time: Saturday, January 7, 2023 – 9am-12pm 

(Students will sign-up for a time slot on their audition rm door after they arrive and then proceed to warm up area)

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

  1. A prepared Jazz NYSSMA Solo (Level 4,5 or 6) selected from the CURRENT NYSSMA Manual. 
  2. Improvisation (with cd or mp3 accompaniment) Level 4,5 or 6 selected from the CURRENT NYSSMA Manual (students will play melody, a minimum of two improvised choruses and bring the melody back) 
  3. Sight Reading (8-12 bars given at the audition)

There will be two judges in each of the audition rooms.

The dates of the entire festival are as follows. All students who are selected must be available to attend ALL rehearsals and concert dates in order to participate:

Auditions:     Saturday, January 7th       (9am to 12pm)

Rehearsal #1:  Wednesday, February 15th  (6:30-9:30pm)

Rehearsal #2:  Tuesday, March 14th      (6:30-9:30pm)

Rehearsal #3:  Wednesday, March 15th      (6:30-9:30pm)

Concert:           Friday, March 17th (St. Patrick’s Day) @ 7:30pm

Just a special reminder that next year’s Down County NYSSMA Festival takes place March 10th and 11th in Scarsdale, a week before the bulk of the jazz festival concludes. (While this festival only pertains to Westchester high school students grades 9-12, I have included middle school and even elementary teachers on this email in case you want to get involved and maybe help out at the auditions or rehearsals.)

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at jmullen@mamkschools.org if you have any questions.

Thanks, and take care,

James Mullen

WCSMA Jazz Coordinator