Audition For All-State Jazz Choir

Who should audition for an All-State Jazz Choir?

The answer is, anyone who likes singing exciting music.

The answer is not just:

  • pop/jazz solo-centric singers
  • virtuosic improvisers
  • students who sing in curricular jazz ensembles

Vocal Jazz is American art music and all-state ensembles are a great way for students to experience it. Just as traditional all-state honor choirs expose students to high-level music-making in the European art music style, an all-state jazz choir gives the same opportunity, just with a different type of art music.

Of course, I personally hope that this seeds students with requests for more jazz music in their home choirs, because I think it’s magical and highly pedagogically valuable. But even without this, it creates amazing and unique opportunities for students to learn new skills, regardless of past experience.

Not unrelated: the Michigan All-State Jazz Choir auditions are now open, and will be until Nov. 3 at 11:59pm. If you’re a Michigan choir director, encourage a student or two to audition!