Audition Packet - Indiana Choral Directors Association

2015 INDIANA ALL STATE JAZZ CHOIR
All-State Vocal Jazz Chair – Brenda Butler
Northview High School
3150 West SR 340
Brazil, Indiana 47834
Ph. (812) 448-2661, ext. 1256
Email: butlerbr@clay.k12.in.us
General Information: The All-State Jazz Choir will be held Monday, June 29th –Tuesday, June 30th,
2015 during the Indiana Choral Directors Association summer conference held on the campus of
the University of Indianapolis in Indianapolis. Students will rehearse, eat, and stay in the dorms at
the university. We are excited to be presenting the final concert in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts
Center at the University of Indianapolis on Tuesday, June 30th (time to be announced).
Guest Conductor: Ly Wilder
Ly Wilder is a contemporary vocal artist and educator specializing in jazz and pop music. She
joins Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music as adjunct professor in Jazz Voice and serves
as the Assistant Director of the Singing Hoosiers and director of IUnison, one of two vocal jazz
ensembles in the Jazz Studies program. Among her diverse vocal experiences, she has been
featured as a soloist with combos, big bands and orchestras, as a studio vocalist, and as a
performer at Walt Disney World where she performed with legendary artists Joe Williams,
Rosemary Clooney, Dianne Reeves and Diane Schuur. Her solo CD, "The Call," was released to
critical acclaim in 2010. A prolific arranger, Wilder's works have been performed by university
and high school groups internationally. She is in demand as an adjudicator/clinician for
festivals throughout the nation and has conducted All-State Vocal Jazz Ensembles and Show
Choirs in Arizona, Colorado, Missouri, Mississippi, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Ly has taught
on the staff of Showchoir Camps of America since 2003 and at the Steve Zegree Vocal Jazz
Camp at IU. She serves as the Vocal Director of Syncopation, an auditioned community show
choir comprised of 5th-9th graders in Bloomington IN, which she co-founded with
choreographer Brennan Harvey in 2012. Wilder previously taught vocal jazz, women’s and
mixed choirs at Purdue University. She holds a BM in Studio Music and Jazz from the University
of Miami and a MM in Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University.
SEND IN THE FOLLOWING:
1. STUDENT/VOICE PART LIST (One form per school)
2. 2015 ALL-STATE JAZZ CHOIR AUDITION APPLICATION
 1 audition form per student. Please duplicate this for EACH student
3. AUDITION CD (mailed), OR MP3 (emailed) - one per student
4. AUDITION FEES - Include $20 per student school check payable to ICDA.
1
Director’s signature must be on each student’s application. The Indiana All-State Jazz choir
is open to all students who have completed at least one year of high school choir (summer
after their Freshman year) through their senior year (seniors who have graduated are still
eligible the summer after their graduation).
AUDITION INFORMATION IS INCLUDED ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES:
Page 1 General Information Page
Page 2 Key Point Checklist (Audition Process)
Page 3 Time line of Events (information about each step of the process)
Page 4 Student List and Voice Part (turn this in…one per school)
Page 5 2015 All-State Jazz Choir Audition Application (turn this in…one per student)
Page 6 -7Audition CD/MP3 Guidelines (turn in one CD or email one MP3 per student)
Page 8 Sample Judge Audition Adjudication Form
Page 9 Technical Exercises (required for audition)
Page 10 But Not For Me (required audition song)
Page 11 Director Checklist Sheet
KEY POINT CHECKLIST
Audition Process: In order to be considered for selection to the All State Jazz Choir, students must
get materials and the CD/MP3 to their high school vocal director early so that it may be sent on
time. All materials, CD/MP3’s, audition fees, and the complete Audition Registration forms must
be postmarked by Saturday, March 21st, 2015.
1. Legible, accurate, and complete Audition Registration forms – filled out completely and
signed by the school vocal director.
2. Audition Fees: An audition fee of $20 per student must be submitted with all audition
forms. If you have more than one student auditioning from your school, please submit one
check for all of the students MADE OUT TO “ICDA”. It must be a school check…no personal
checks or cash will be accepted.
3. Audition CD or MP3: A CD or MP3 recording must be prepared according to the Audition
CD/MP3 Preparation Guidelines. It must include:
a. Three Scales UNACCOMPANIED: 1) Major Scale on indicated starting note per
voice part, 2) Chromatic Scale 3) Blues Scale to be sung on swung eighth notes on
syllables doo-bah. Tempo = 106
b. One Music Excerpt (“But Not For Me”) - May be sung accompanied or a cappella.
But Not For Me by George and Ira Gershwin. Many jazz artists have recorded this
selection. It is suggested that the student/teacher find a couple of recordings of
each piece, listening to the artists’ renditions and sense of jazz style. The song MAY
be transposed to a comfortable key. You may sing it with live accompaniment
which does NOT contain the melody at any time or a cappella. You may use the
MIDI downloads which are located on the All State Jazz Choir page on the ICDA website: www.in-acda.org. See Sample Judge Audition Adjudication Form for
judging criteria.
2
Postmark Deadline is Saturday, March 21st, 2015. Send all forms with CD’s (or emailed MP3) to:
All-State Vocal Jazz Chair – Brenda Butler
Northview High School
3150 West SR 340
Brazil, Indiana 47834
Ph. (812) 448-2661, ext. 1256
Email: butlerbr@clay.k12.in.us
TIME LINE OF EVENTS/PROCEDURES
1) 3/21/2015: Audition materials and audition fees due to Brenda Butler, All State Jazz Choir
Chair postmarked by March 21st, 2015. One school check for all students auditioning
from each school. All checks need to be made out to “ICDA”.
2) 4/11/2015: Acceptance letters (music, itinerary, payment information, attire information,
expectations for learning music, summer rehearsal dates etc.) put in the mail on Monday,
April 21st to both the students as well as their directors.
3) 4/25/2015: Learning/part CD’s made and uploaded to web-site and sent to students by
April 25th. www.in-acda.org (click on the All State Jazz Choir link)
4) 5/8/2015: All-State Payment ($170 per student)/ Chaperone requests due – Due by May
10th to Brenda Butler (same address as above. ONCE school check per school that includes
the fees for each participant. Checks made out to ICDA).
5) Chaperones selected by May 10th / notified by May 15th
6) All students should be learning the music throughout May and June, preferably working
with their choral director or private voice teacher. There will be THREE rehearsals (two in
either Northview H.S. (Brazil, Indiana…about 1 hour west of Indianapolis) or Indiana State
University in Terre Haute…will be announced) and one somewhere in the northern part of
the state…TBA. Students are required to attend at least ONE of these rehearsals and
welcome to attend any or all of them! Dates for these rehearsals will be included in a
student’s acceptance packet.
7) 6/29- 6/30, 2015: All State Jazz Choir Rehearsals and Final Performance held on the
campus of University of Indianapolis. Specific time line of events will be included in the
student’s acceptance packet. Students will stay in assigned rooms in an on-campus
dormitory. Student must arrive on time and attend all rehearsals on Monday, June 29th and
Tuesday, June 30th with the guest clinician (Ly Wilder) held in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts
Center at U of Indy. Students are expected to behave in a manner worthy of an All State Jazz
Choir student. The dress rehearsal will be in the afternoon of Tuesday, June 30th with the
final performance sometime later afternoon or evening in the Christel DeHaan Auditorium.
The concert will be open to the public and FREE. (Time TBD)
3
STUDENT LIST AND VOICE PART
List each student and their voice part.
One form per school – Send with applications.
(Students Director will determine voice part and divisi)
SCHOOL ___________________________________________________________ Director _________________________________
Student Name
Voice Divisi_____________________________________________
Ella Fitzgerald____________________________________Alto 1____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE BE CERTAIN THAT ALL NAMES OF STUDENTS AUDITIONING FROM YOUR SCHOOL
ARE ON THIS LIST!
4
2015 All-State Jazz Choir Audition Application
Please Print or Type one form per student.
All contact information will be kept confidential and will only be used to send information
regarding the Indiana All-State Jazz Choir.
Student’s Name___________________________________________________ Grade _________
Student’s Address__________________________________________________
Student’s City ________________________________________Zip____________________
Student’s Telephone Number: home_________________ cell __________________
Student’s E-mail: ___________________________________________________________________
School Name: _____________________________________________________________________
School Complete Address: ___________________________________________________________
Choral Director’s Name: ____________________________________________________________
Student’s Voice Part (To Be Determined by Director)
_____ Soprano 1
_____Alto 1
_____Tenor 1
_____Bass 1
_____Soprano 2
_____Alto 2
_____Tenor 2
_____Bass 2
This student has my recommendation to audition for the Indiana All-State Jazz choir.
Teacher’s Signature:____________________________________________________
Teacher’s ICDA Membership #:_________________ Teacher’s E-mail: __________________________________
The sponsoring ICDA member must be a member throughout the All-State period – from time of audition through
the performance.
*************************************************************************************
The audition fee of $20 per student, payable to ICDA, must accompany this form. Only school checks or money
orders will be accepted. Fees are non-refundable.
Please mail all forms with recordings (postmarked by March 15, 2014) to:
All-State Vocal Jazz Chair – Brenda Butler
Northview High School
3150 West SR 340
Brazil, Indiana 47834
Email: butlerbr@clay.k12.in.us
5
Audition CD/MP3 Presentation Guidelines
All Directors…please read carefully and adhere to these guidelines.




 Please use ONE CD per student. (the CD should have 5 tracks as described
below) . If using an MP3 format, send individual tracks with student’s name and
school and title of the track to bbutler@elkhart.k12.in.us.
Label the CD case only with the student’s name, voice part, and school name. Do
not label or write on the CD itself in any way!
With teacher assistance, each student should record the CD in the manner listed
below, adhering to all instructions.
It is the responsibility of both the student and teacher to check the CD to make
sure that all parts of the audition are recorded accurately and clearly.
The student should speak/sing all parts of the audition. The instructor’s voice
should not be audible at any time.
1. Introduction (CD or MP3 - Track 1)
a. Start the track, speak clearly and say “2014 Indiana All State Jazz Choir
Audition”, Voice Part (Soprano1 or 2, Alto 1 or 2, Tenor 1 or 2, Bass 1 or 2)
Stop the track.
2. Major Scale unaccompanied (CD or MP3 – Track 2)
a. Sing the scale in a moderate tempo ascending and then descending without
stopping. You may use Solfege or syllables such as “doo-bah”. Choose the
beginning pitch according to voice part as indicated on page 8 (technical skills)
Start the track and say: “Major scale in the key of _____”
Sing the scale. Stop the track.
3. Chromatic Scale, unaccompanied (CD or MP3 – Track 3)
a. Choose your own comfortable starting pitch and sing the scale at a moderate
tempo. Ascending and descending without stopping. You may use Solfege or
syllables such as “doo-bah”.
Start the track and say: “Chromatic scale in the key of _____”
Sing the scale. Stop the track.
6
4. Blues Scale sung in swing style, unaccompanied (CD or MP3 – Track 4)
a. Choose your own comfortable starting pitch and sing the scale at a moderate
tempo IN SWING STYLE on eighth notes. Ascending and descending without
stopping. You may use Solfege or syllables such as “doo-bah”.
Start the track and say: “Blues scale in the key of _____”
Sing the scale. Stop the track.
5. Solo “But Not For Me” sung in a jazz style with or without accompaniment (CD
or MP3 Track 5)
You may use the MIDI download at www.in-acda.org , Jamey Aebersold CD (vol. 22:
All-Time Standards) , or a live accompaniment playing only the chords shown (not
playing the melody at any time) as the accompaniment for the vocal. The song may
also be sung a cappella and in any comfortable key. Sing the repeat as indicated. If a
student desires, they may also incorporate their own interpretation of this tune.
a. Start the track and say: “Solo beginning pitch_____”
b. Sing the solo through with indicated repeat
c. Stop the track
PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT ONLY THE CD CASE IS LABELED WITH THE STUDENT’S
NAME, STUDENT’S VOICE PART, AND SCHOOL NAME ONLY. THE CD ITSELF SHOULD
NOT BE LABELED IN ANY WAY! THE ONLY VOICE ON THE RECORDING SHOULD BE
THAT OF THE STUDENT.
MAKE SURE THAT THE CD CONTAINS ALL OF THE REQUIRED AUDITION MATERIALS
IN THE CORRECT ORDER!
7
2015 All-State Vocal Jazz Adjudication Form
Voice Part: _____________________
mp3/CD No. _________________
Major Scale Exercise:
Major Scale Pitch Accuracy (15) one point for each correct note:
(15)
________ _
Scale Total: (15)
__________
Chromatic Scale Pitch Accuracy (15) one point for each correct note: (25)
__________
Scale Total: (25)
__________
(13)
__________
Scale Total: (13)
__________
Intonation
(10)
__________
Jazz Style/Interpretation
(10)
__________
Tone
(5)
__________
Vocal Technique
(5)
__________
(30)
__________
Chromatic Scale Exercise:
Blues Scale Exercise:
Blues Pitch Accuracy (13) one point for each correct note:
Song/Solo: “But Not For Me”
Song Total
Grand Total: __________
Verified: __________
8
9
10
2015 Indiana All State Jazz Choir
Director’s Checklist

IMPORTANT NOTE: CD recordings must be recorded as audio files and not data files. If the CD will
not play in a standard CD player, it will not be scored!

Listen to each student’s CD/MP3 to make sure that only the student’s voice is on the recording.
The teacher’s voice should NEVER be heard on the audition recording.

Listen to each student’s CD/MP3 to make sure that all required audition materials were recorded
correctly and completely (tempi, repeats, etc.).

Listen to each student’s CD/MP3 to make sure that all scales are completely unaccompanied.

Listen to each student’s CD/MP3 to make sure that the accompaniment on the CD/MP3 does not
include the melody.

Check to make sure that only the CD case is labeled with each student’s name, voice part, and
school name. The CD itself should not be labeled in any way. All MP3’s may be sent directly to
Bbutler@elkhart.k12in.us (please indicate student’s name and school and what is on each track
you send).

Confirm that the voice part marked on the audition form and CD case corresponds with the key for
the major scale performed.




Return the following items, postmarked no later than Saturday, March 15th :
One Student List/Voice Part Form per school
Audition Application – one per student
Audition Fee payable by school or booster check to ICDA (checks only, $20 per student)
GOOD LUCK!!!!
11