Audition Information

***Both Music and non-Music majors attending USASK are eligible to perform within the USASK Jazz Ensemble***

Auditions for jazz ensemble will be held September 3-6. Students can sign up using the link below!

Auditions will be held in office EDUC 1054

Students are asked to prepare:

Wind Players:

Full chromatic scale
F Concert Major Scale (2 octaves)
2 contrasting excerpts that demonstrate technical ability and musicality (16-32 measures each)
Potential sight reading

Vocalists: prepare one tune (with optional occasional improvisation)

Rhythm Section:

Piano, Bass, Guitar:

comp/outline a bassline for 12 bar blues + one standard of your choosing
Potential sight reading

Drums:

Demonstrate playing in various styles (swing, Latin, brushes, funk)
Potential sight reading
**contact Dr. Solomon directly to set up an audition time

2024-25 Audition Form

2024-25 Season

2024-2025 Season USASK Jazz Ensemble performance list will be updated as the year begins!

About

The USASK Jazz Ensemble has toured western Canada, northern USA, and Quebec, and has commissioned and premiered many new works for the contemporary large jazz ensemble idiom. This ensemble has released 6 CDs in their ‘Bumper Crop’ series and has performed in venues such as Edmonton’s acclaimed Winspear concert hall. The USASK Jazz Ensemble has performed with many acclaimed guest artists, including Jens Lindeman, Campbell Ryga and Slide Hampton.

There are positions available in this 20-piece large jazz ensemble for trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, saxes (i.e. soprano, alto tenor, bari), french horn, guitar, piano, bass, drums, and vocals. Repertoire includes a broad cross-section of traditional and contemporary jazz standards, as well as original compositions. Auditions are open to all USASK students.

Videos

USASK Jazz Ensemble - Middle of Somewhere

Middle of Somewhere was composed by Paul Suchan, commissioned in loving memory of Steve Mealey. Performed by the University of Saskatchewan Jazz Ensemble directed by Dean McNeill, with guest artist Dr. Vanessa Klassen. This premiere performance took place in North Battleford, SK on March 3, 2023. Middle of Somewhere is a gospel-style clarinet feature. Many of the clarinet passages found throughout the piece are direct transcriptions of Mr. Mealey's playing transcribed from recordings.

SF Virtual Jazz Orchestra - The Waking

The Waking was composed & arranged by USASK B.Mus. (performance) & Jazz Certificate graduate Silas Friesen. This piece was commissioned and premiered by the USASK Jazz in 2020. Many of the performers in this video are alumni of the USASK Jazz Ensemble.

Sunny Side Of The Street USASK Jazz Combo

Canada 150 / 110th USask Anniversary Commission Project

Scenes of Plains Peoples

Scenes of a Prairie Peoples is a piece commissioned by the University of Saskatchewan in 2017 to commemorate Canada’s sesquicentennial, and the 110th Anniversary of the University of Saskatchewan. This 3-movement piece is a celebration of the land, and, of the different peoples that have inhabited it.