ARTSCAPE’S YOUTH JAZZ FESTIVAL 2009- AUDITION NOTICE

AUDITION NOTICE

ARTSCAPE’S YOUTH JAZZ FESTIVAL
NOW IN ITS 6th YEAR

BANDS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2009 MENTORING PROGRAMME

Since 2003 when Artscape initiated the Youth Jazz Festival the project has grown extensively to accommodate the enormous interest and exceptional talent of young jazz musicians participating in the annual mentorship programme. It culminates in an extraordinary festival of jazz in the Artscape Theatre and will be held this year on Saturday 6 June 2008 from 15h00 to 18h00.

With the focus firmly on development and the education of young jazz aspirants, bands are invited to register for auditions with the Artscape Audience Development and Education Department by contacting the project leader Tarnia van Zitters on Tel 021 410-9803, Fax 021 410 9845 or e-mail tarniav@artscape.co.za. The closing date is 23 February 2009.

Prospective bands need to be young up and coming Jazz musicians – non professional, actively performing at clubs or schools in their areas. They must be playing gigs as an entity and remain an entity for the duration and time period of the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival programme.

Standard bands must be not have more than 6 people, consisting roughly of what represents a jazz combo, ie drums, bass (double or electric), guitar, piano, sax or trumpet or singer. If a band specializes in e.g. brass, then the brass component should not exceed 6 members. This would exclude the rhythm section.

Entrants will be expected to perform any of the Standard Jazz Repertoire eg. Summertime, Autumn Leaves, The Girl from Ipanema, or similar. Showing a strong understanding of the jazz style and the improvisatory nature of the jazz idiom, the bands are to play these standards in either the swing or bossa nova styles.

Although not a prerequisite, demonstration tapes, CDs, video or DVD material will be welcomed.

After the first round of auditions, four of the most promising groups will receive on site master class tutoring by members of the panel whose names will be revealed after all the auditions have taken place.

Bands who have entered the project for 2 consecutive years/or twice before, will not be eligible for audition.

Once again Melanie Scholtz, the highly acclaimed and respected jazz vocalist is advisor to Artscape on the project.

Marlene le Roux director of Artscape Audience Development and Education highlights Artscape’s recognition of the importance of nurturing young talent as this project enables them to become empowered musicians, builds on their already skilled base and provides a platform to demonstrate their art in a professional public environment.

Booking for the Artscape Youth Jazz Music opens on 4 May 2009. Tickets cost R50 and will be available from Computicket www.computicket.com or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421-7695.

Don’t miss this opportunity - register now and find out more about this year’s exciting developments and the eight week mentorship programme.

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