DATES AND AUDITION OPTIONS
2026 Rochester Audition Dates: Fridays January 30th, February 13th, and 27th.
2026 Remote Audition Option: Applicants who would like to audition virtually should upload their audition requirements within their application by February 1st. Those auditioning virtually should record each selection in a separate file with a total combined length of not more than 20 minutes. A virtual meeting with the jazz faculty members will take place over Zoom in February 2026.
PRE-SCREENING AND AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Undergraduate
BM Pre-Screening Requirement: All applicants must submit a preliminary audition recording through the application portal by December 1st. Each selection must include improvisation and be recorded in separate files, with a combined total length of no more than 20 minutes. Recordings featuring the applicant as a soloist in a small group are preferred. Video submissions with play-along recordings are also acceptable
Please prepare one tune from each of the following four categories. Substitutions within the same category are permitted:
- Ballad
- In a Sentimental Mood
- My One and Only Love
- Prelude to a Kiss
- Chelsea Bridge
- Peace (Horace Silver)
- Skylark
- Medium Tempo
- Joy Spring
- All the Things You Are
- On Green Dolphin Street
- Bye Bye Blackbird
- Without a Song
- Stella by Starlight
- I Remember You
- Blues
- Blues for Alice
- Billie’s Bounce
- Cheryl
- The Turnaround
- Bag’s Groove
- Up-Tempo/Bebop
- Confirmation
- Donna Lee
- Ornithology
- Old Milestones
- Anthropology
- Tricotism
Etude Requirement: Prepare one etude from Bordogni/Rochut Book I or II, submitted in the following three formats:
- As written — original bass clef from the Rochut edition
- Transposed to tenor clef
- One octave lower — notated at sounding pitch (8vb)
BM Final Audition Requirements: Finalists will be scheduled for two appointments on their audition day: a group audition and an individual audition with the professor of jazz trombone. Those auditioning remotely should include all of the audition repertoire for both appointments in their video recording submission by February 1st.
Group Audition:
- Applicants must be prepared to perform 3 jazz selections in contrasting styles and improvise on each of them. Applicants auditioning in Rochester must bring lead sheets with them to this audition. At least one selection should be different from the pre-screening submission.
Individual Audition:
- Etude performance (same requirements as the pre-screening etude requirement above)
- Sight-reading
Graduate
MM and DMA Pre-screening Requirement: All applicants must submit a preliminary audition recording through the application portal by December 1st. Each selection must include improvisation and be recorded in separate files, with a combined total length of no more than 20 minutes. Recordings featuring the applicant as a soloist in a small group are preferred. Video submissions with play-along recordings are also acceptable.
- Ballad
- In a Sentimental Mood
- My One and Only Love
- Prelude to a Kiss
- Chelsea Bridge
- Peace (Horace Silver)
- Skylark
- Medium Tempo
- Joy Spring
- All the Things You Are
- On Green Dolphin Street
- Bye Bye Blackbird
- Without a Song
- Stella by Starlight
- I Remember You
- Blues
- Blues for Alice
- Billie’s Bounce
- Cheryl
- The Turnaround
- Bag’s Groove
- Up-Tempo/Bebop
- Confirmation
- Donna Lee
- Ornithology
- Old Milestones
- Anthropology
- Tricotism
Additional DMA Portfolio/Pre-Screening Requirements: DMA applicants must also upload the following in the application’s “Portfolio” section by December 1st:
- 2–3 representative scores (PDF format)
- Recordings of original compositions and/or arrangements for varied jazz ensemble formats
- A 10-minute video demonstrating one-on-one or classroom/group teaching ability
MM and DMA Final Audition Requirements: Finalists will be scheduled for two appointments on their audition day: a group audition and an individual audition with the professor of jazz trombone. Those auditioning remotely should include all of the audition repertoire for both appointments in their video recording submission by February 1st.
Group Audition:
- Applicants must be prepared to perform 3 jazz selections in contrasting styles and improvise on each of them. Applicants auditioning in Rochester must bring lead sheets with them to this audition. At least one selection should be different from the pre-screening submission.
Individual Audition:
- Etude requirement (Bordogni/Rochut Book II only), prepared in three formats:
- As written — original bass clef
- Trasnposed to tenor clef
- One octave lower — notated at sounding pitch (8vb)
- Sight-reading