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!