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Audition Requirements for Fall 2026

Auditions for intermediate, advanced, big band, and world music ensembles will be in-person in the Fall on Friday, August 28; Monday, August 31; Tuesday, September 1; and Wednesday, September 2; from 10:30am-3:30pm. Sign up sheets will be posted on the UC Jazz bulletin board in the basement of the Student Center building. Auditions for most instruments will consist of 3 parts: scales, sight-reading, and playing along to a pre-recorded track. There will be a list of tunes at the audition that you can choose from to demonstrate your improv skills. Drum auditions consist of rudiments, as well as demonstrating commonly used grooves: Swing in 4 and 3, Bossa, Generic Latin, 12/8 Afro Cuban, Funk, Brushes, and trading 4ths. Being available for multiple combo times will ease the process of placing members in groups, even if you are only interested in participating in one group in a semester.

Auditions for beginning ensembles are held separately in early September. More information, as well as online sign ups, will be available soon. Information from 2025 Beginning Combo auditions can be found here. Beginning combo timeslots have not been finalized, but there will be 5-6 combos, typically taking place in the late afternoon and evening on weekdays.

For more information about the types of ensembles available and finding the best fit for you, read our Ensembles page.

Fall 2026 Schedule

    • Ted Moore Advanced: Mon 11am-1pm
    • Frank Martin Advanced: Mon 7pm-9pm
    • Jesse Levit Advanced: Tues 11- 1
    • World Music Ensemble (Kai Eckhardt): Wed 12pm-2pm
    • Glenn Richman Intermediate: Mon 1pm-3pm
    • Ted Moore Intermediate: Tues 1pm-3pm
    • UC Jazz Big Band (Marty Wehner): Wed 7pm-9pm
    • Beginning Combos: TBD
    • Alumni Big Band: Tues 8pm-10pm

Attendance Policy

When you participate in UC Jazz, it is important that you are aware of our attendance policy. Attendance is mandatory! This means that barring extreme events we will expect you to be at all rehearsals.

UC Jazz follows a three strikes model for missing rehearsals. You are permitted to miss two rehearsals a semester for legitimate reasons. After the third miss, you will be subject to review and may lose your place in UC Jazz.

Acceptable reasons for not being able to make a rehearsal include illness, midterms, and serious emergencies. Unacceptable reasons for missing rehearsal include projects, homework, and the like. All students have these commitments, and you are expected to manage your time such that you can make rehearsal. Check the rehearsal times, and audition for a combo only when you are certain that you can make ALL the rehearsals.

If you know that you cannot make it to a rehearsal, please notify Ted as far in advance as possible so that a replacement may be found. This is especially important for rhythm section players! Rehearsals suffer greatly without the support of a full rhythm section.

Time Requirement

Participation in a UC Jazz Ensemble consists of 2 hours of weekly rehearsal, as well as 1-2 concerts per semester. It is also expected that everyone will spend time each week working on the tunes from the previous class, focusing especially on becoming more comfortable with the changes in order to be a better soloist.

In a few cases, students may be looking at UC Jazz as a “distraction” from other classes. Rest assured that UC Jazz is NOT designed as a distraction but rather as the study of a very rewarding discipline that will pay off if you put in the time. If you need a distraction, it is probably better to look elsewhere. You can count on substantial rewards and significantly more enjoyment of this art form if you put in the time and commitment.

Dues

UC Jazz charges dues (currently $95 per semester) to cover use of instruments, amps, drums, etc. and also use of practice rooms. This applies to all undergrad students, grad students, and community members participating in any UC Jazz Ensemble.

Leadership Positions

In addition to playing in our combos, you can become even more involved by joining the committee of student officers within UC Jazz. UC Jazz student officers have had a big impact on the program over the years, and becoming an officer gives you the opportunity to directly impact department activities.

Music Department Credit

It is possible for Music Majors to receive credit for participation in UC Jazz, when chosen as an ensemble elective. Please check with the Music Department for further information and with any qualification questions.