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Primary Chairperson: Ben Bucholtz (Benjamin.Bucholtz@jpschools.org)

Clarifications:

• All State Jazz auditions will take place in Fall 2025.

• District Jazz auditions will take place in January 2026.

Honor Band Concert

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Performance - New Orleans Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116)

Rehearsals - Riverdale High School (240 Riverdale Dr. Jefferson, LA 70121)

Concert begins @ 12:00pm

Doors open to the public @ 11:30am

Tickets: (Cash, Card, and Apple Pay will be accepted at the door before the concert)

• Adult Tickets - $10.00

• Students - $5.00

• Children under 5 years - free

Audition Registration

Eligibility: 

• 9th-12th grade

  • 9th graders must choose between Junior High and Senior High (only one audition will be allowed)

• Director or Music Teacher is an active member of DBDA.

• Students must commit to attending all rehearsals and performances during the Jazz Honor Band Weekend. Missing a portion of the rehearsals can result in disqualification or removal from the performance.

• Completion of the audition registration form and payment.

Registration Form: Senior High Jazz Honor Band Auditions - Google Form

Due by midnight on January 9th, 2026. No exceptions.

Audition Fee: $7.00 per student per instrument - Card, Cash App, or Apple Pay are payment options.

Payment is due by the audition date unless you have arranged with the director for them to pay it beforehand.

Make all checks out to DBDA.

Audition Date & Schedule

Date: Saturday, January 31st, 2026

Location: Riverdale High School (240 Riverdale Dr, Jefferson, LA 70121)

Room: Band Room, by back parking lot on South Dr.

2025-2026 Senior High Jazz Audition Schedule - NEW!

Audition Process: We utilize a "blind" audition process* to ensure fairness, meaning judges will hear the student's performance without seeing or knowing their identity. Students will be assigned an audition number upon arrival. No names will be used with the judge. Students will perform the required scales and etudes with judges focusing solely on tone quality, intonation, rhythm, technique, and musicality. Using a rubric ensures selection is based purely on musical merit and preparation.

*Vocal auditions are not blind.

Audition Materials

Set 3 - One Round of Auditions

https://lmeamusic.org/hs_jazz/all-state-jazz-audition-set-iii/

Etudes will be performed with the accompaniment track (can be found at the same set 3 link), so make sure students are practicing with those.

For all instruments (except drums):

• Scales (Louisiana All-State Jazz, Set 3)

• Set 3 - Up-Tempo Swing 

• Set 3 - Blues in F (corrected) (written etude and solo for a chorus)

• Sight-Reading

For Drum Auditions: Up-Tempo Swing, Alternate Style and one minute funk solo, sight reading 

For Vocalist Auditions: must prepare a performance singing two songs of contrasting style with backing tracks. This will NOT be a blind audition.

Audition Results & Final Registration

Audition Results will be posted here by the end of the day after auditions.

Final Registration will be posted after audition results are out.

Performance Fee: $20.00 (includes an Honor Band T-Shirt) - payable with Cash, Check, Card, or Apple Pay

Payment is due by the first rehearsal of Jazz Honor Band Weekend.

Clinic/Sectional Rehearsal

There is NO SECTIONAL REHEARSAL this year (2025-26).

The Clinic/Sectional Rehearsal is optional, but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. This rehearsal offers a valuable opportunity to refine individual parts and connect with fellow musicians, ensuring everyone feels confident and prepared for the Jazz Honor Band Weekend rehearsals.

Date: TBD

Location: TBD

Time: TBD

Jazz Honor Band Weekend Details

Friday, March 20th - Sunday, March 22nd

Riverdale High School (240 Riverdale Dr, Jefferson, LA 70121) - Rehearsals

New Orleans Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans, LA 70116) - Performance

Weekend Schedule - coming soon!

Friday - Rehearsals (Riverdale HS, by back parking lot on South Dr.)

Saturday - Rehearsals (Riverdale HS, by back parking lot on South Dr.)

Sunday - Performance (New Orleans Jazz Museum)

Concert Pieces & Recordings - coming soon!

All students must have their own:

• Music

• Pencil

• Instrument (including reeds, valve oil, mallets, sticks, etc.)

Rehearsal Notes:

Cell phones are not allowed during rehearsals. Please keep them out of sight until breaks.

Lunch Notes: - coming soon!

Concert Attire:

• "Sunday Best" or Semi-formal attire

  • Appropriate tops

  • Slacks or modest skirts/dresses

• Please NO jeans, shorts, t-shirts, logos, tennis shoes, etc.

• Note: We want to ensure a professional and respectful appearance for all performances. Please be aware that audience members in the front rows may have an upward viewing angle. Therefore, if your concert attire includes a skirt or dress that is above the knee, you must wear opaque tights underneath to maintain appropriate modesty. Your attention to this detail is greatly appreciated.