Jazz Ensembles Audition Materials

Jazz Ensembles

Jazz Ensemble audition criteria fall 2025

Auditions for all ensembles, (Jazz Ensembles, Repertory Ensembles and/or Jazz combos) will be on Sunday, August 17, 2025. All auditions will be conducted in person. Brass & saxophones auditions will be from 12 - 3:30 p.m. in room 335 and rhythm auditions will most likely be from 12 - 5 p.m. in room 310. Rhythm faculty will confirm this closer to audition day. Audition sign-up sheets will be posted on the door of rm 310 on August 11, 2025.

Jazz Ensembles rehearse at the following times:

Jazz Ensemble: MW 11 - 11:50 a.m., F 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Jazz Lab I: TR 6 - 7:40 p.m.
Jazz Lab II: TR 3 - 4:40 p.m. Contemporary Ensemble: TR 3 - 4:40 p.m.
Guitar Ensemble: Rehearsal Day/Time TBD

The jazz ensembles are open to all students at the University. Non- jazz students interested in auditioning should contact any of the faculty listed below for audition materials and audition times. Please see audition materials below.

Jazz Ensemble auditions will consist of the following

Wind:

1. Prepared Piece

2. Improvising over a tune of your choice*

3. Improvising over a tune of our choice*

4. Sight Reading *

(Improvisation is not required for placement, but will definitely enhance higher placement)

Piano/Guitar/Bass:

In addition to the above requirements, keyboard players, guitarists, and bass players will be asked to demonstrate as appropriate, comping skills, time keeping, knowledge of chord changes, and bass line creation skills.

Drums:

In addition to sight reading and soloing skill, drummers will be asked to demonstrate the ability to play a number of different styles (including swing, bossa nova, samba, funk, jazz/rock, and odd meter) at a variety of tempi. Time keeping, style definition, and filling capability will be evaluated during this process.

UofL jazz faculty

Dave Clark (Director of Jazz Studies)	Jazz Sax, Jazz Repertoire, Jazz Improvisation I, Jazz Lab	david.clark.2@louisville.edu
Ansyn Banks	Jazz Ensemble I, Combos, Jazz Trumpet, Jazz Styles & Analysis, Jazz Improvisation II	apbank01@louisville.edu
Chris Fitzgerald	Jazz Bass, Combos, Jazz Theory, Improvisation	bassfitzgerald@yahoo.com
Gabe Evens	Jazz Lab, Jazz Piano, Jazz Arranging, Combos	gabriel.evens@louisville.edu
Marlin McKay	Jazz History, Pedagogy, Methods, Combos	marlin.mckay@louisville.edu
Terry O’Mahoney	Drum Set	terry.omahoney@louisville.edu
Craig Wagner	Jazz Guitar, Guitar Ensemble, Combos	craigwagnerguitar@gmail.com