High school students join jazz faculty and students at NIU for two memorable events of non-stop jazz. Jazz Day is for high school jazz bands. Jazz Combo Day is for individual jazz students; admission is by audition or invitation.
NIU Jazz Faculty: Ron Carter (Coordinator, Jazz Studies), Steve Duke (saxophone), Robert Chappell and Rodrigo Villanueva (percussion), Art Davis (trumpet), Tom Garling (trombone), Fareed Haque (guitar), Kelly Sill (bass) and Willie Pickens (piano, Jazz Combo Day only)
February 5, 2009, 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.
For all jazz bands.
Hear and be heard by other groups, by NIU School of Music faculty, and by this year’s guest clinician, to be announced soon.
Each band performs a concert, maximum time 20 minutes, in either the Concert Hall, Room 155, or Room 171 in the NIU Music Building. This performance is followed by a 20-minute clinic session, to be conducted by the faculty members. Total time for each band: 40 minutes. All students are invited to individual instrumental clinics conducted by the guest clinician and the NIU faculty. Outstanding soloists will receive scholarships to Jazz Combo Day.
Cost: $215 per school. Limited to 15 bands.
March 20, 2009, 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Jazz Combo Day is an ideal opportunity for students to play with the best high school musicians in the region and to meet the great faculty and guest artists at NIU. Guest clinician for 2009 is alto saxophonist Wess 'Warmdaddy' Anderson.
Admission is by audition or invitation. Students who are accepted form one of the five or six combos at Jazz Combo Day. A concert caps the event. After dinner, the student combos perform, followed by a concert by NIU faculty and the guest artist. Accepted students must register in advance. This event is for individual players only; please do not audition or request admission as a group.
Students who attended Jazz Combo Day in 2008: You are automatically accepted for the 2009 event and do not need to send an audition recording. However, you must complete a registration form that will be mailed with an information letter in January. If you do not receive this mailing, call (815) 753-1450.
New applicants: You must submit an audio recording (tape or CD) of your playing, along with a completed application form. Each tape should include three contrasting styles of playing, head and improvisation. Recorded or live rhythm section may be used by wind players. Rhythm players must submit representative playing with other musicians, with the focus on the auditioner. Group auditions will be accepted, but each auditioner must complete a separate form and be featured separately on the recording. Time limit: 10 minutes. Mail to: Ron Carter, School of Music, NIU, DeKalb, IL 60115.
Accepted players will receive an information letter and a registration form and will be expected to register and pay by the deadline date in the letter.
Postmark deadline for recordings: February 27.
Cost: $35 for all accepted players; there is no fee needed with the audition tape. Accepted players must register individually and pay at the time of registration. Limited to 65 players.