Audition for the 2025 JAZZ All Stars Youth Ensemble

 

Saturday, February 1, 2025 @ Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville

Sunday, February 2, 2025 @ Thaden School, Bentonville
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Sign Up Deadline: January 29th

 

Sign Up to AuditionACCESS THE AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS

Elevating the Next Generation of Jazz

2025 MARKS THE ninth SEASON OF THE JAZZ ALL STARS YOUTH ENSEMBLE (A PROGRAM OF THE NWA JAZZ SOCIETY). 

 

This exciting jazz education experience offers high school students a unique opportunity to join a musical community of passionate young musicians at a pivotal point in their personal development.

 

Students are selected by audition and have an opportunity to apply techniques they learn in rehearsals to concert performances and professional recordings. As part of the program they: 

  • Receive one-on-one training from professional jazz musicians 
  • Have their performance professionally recorded for posterity.
  • Perform with the All-Stars in concert at Walton Arts Center and other venues in our region. 

Special Guest artists rehearse and perform in concert with the All-Stars. Past artists have included Victor Goines, Conrad Herwig, and Bobby Watson. Steve Wilson – NYC-based saxophonist, recording artist, and jazz educator – will be our Guest Artist this season.

 

Watch musical performances from previous Jazz All Stars.

View Videos Here

Support our program with a donation!

Donate here


You can also donate through Venmo: @NWAJazzSociety

Audition Info

 

IF YOU OR A STUDENT YOU KNOW IS INTERESTED IN JOINING THE 2025 ALL STARS, PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW AND THEN FILL OUT THE AUDITION INTEREST FORM BY JANUARY 29.



To access the audition instructions and materials, use the button below.

Audition Materials
Eligibility: 

Students must be in grades 9-12 and reside within the Northwest Arkansas region. Need at least two years of experience on the instrument or comparable proficiency (exceptions may be made based on skills and experience).

 

Instruments: 

Saxophones (alto, tenor, baritone), trumpet, trombone, guitar, piano, bass, drums

 

Auditions: 

Auditions for the 2025 season will be: 

February 1, 2025 @ Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville 
February 2, 2025 @ Thaden School, Bentonville  

Rehearsals: 

Sundays from February through April.

 

Concert and Studio Recording: 

A professional recording will be made of the ensemble's concert performance at Walton Arts Center. Additional performance opportunities may be possible.

For more information: 

Please fill out the audition Interest form below. You may also contact Graham Stewart, Executive Director of the NWA Jazz Society, graham@digjazz.com

 

 

NWA Youth Jazz Ensemble Instructors

Matt Beach

Trombone / Tuba / Drums, University of Arkansas graduate in music performance

 

Darren Novotny

Drummer, recording engineer, graduate of the University of Arkansas, has been recording and teaching professionally since the mid-'70s

 

Special guest conductors TBA

 

Austin Farnam

Saxophonist and music instructor at New School, professional musician

 

Rick Salonen

Saxophonist and music professor at the University of Arkansas