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RYJO Auditions

2026-2027 RYJO Audition Information

The Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra welcomes 6th-12th grade musicians to audition. This year we will have 2 groups: Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra 1 and Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra 2.

Auditions will be held September 21st-25th at the Note Able Therapy Services building from 5pm-8pm each day.
Audition Fee: $10

Register for an Audition

  • RYJO 1 Meets: Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm (Season: November-July 10th)
  • RYJO 1 Combo Meets: Tuesdays 5:15pm-6:15pm (Season: November-July 10th)
  • RYJO 2 Meets: Wednesdays 6:00-7:30pm (Season: November-June 14th)

RYJO 1 performs often. Typically we have 1-2 performances per month, which is about 12 performances per season. Typically, RYJO 1 travels out of the area to perform at one jazz festival each season.

RYJO 2 will perform 3-4 times this season. Both groups follow the WCSD school schedule for winter and spring breaks.

The fee to participate in either ensemble is $200. Combo is $100. Payment plans and scholarships are available.

By participating in RYJO groups, students learn teamwork, preparation, dedication, performance techniques, professionalism, ear training, improvisation and the jazz tradition. Students also build community while working with students from other schools.

RYJO Mission: The Reno Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) was established in 2006. Our mission is to assemble, by audition, the top middle and high school jazz talent in the Reno-Sparks-Carson-Tahoe communities in order to provide opportunities for the performance, preservation, appreciation, and study of jazz.

We look forward to a great season!

Click on the tabs to expand.

Saxophone
  • Complete online Audition Registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Full Range Chromatic Scale—play in triplets, tongue up/slur down with a good tone.
  • F Concert Scale—2 octaves or full range.
  • Ab Concert Scale—2 octaves or full range.
  • C Concert Scale—1 octave or full range.
  • Call & Response: Echo short phrases that you hear.
  • Audition Excerpt #1 and #2 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Play the head and solo twice through the chorus of using the Play Along Track.
Trumpet
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Full Range Chromatic Scale—play in triplets, tongue up/slur down with a good tone.
  • F Concert Scale—2 octaves or full range.
  • Ab Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • C Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • Call & Response: Echo short phrases that you hear.
  • Audition Excerpts #1 and #2 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Play the head and solo twice through the chorus using the Play Along Track.
Trombone
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Full Range Chromatic Scale—play in triplets, tongue up/slur down with a good tone.
  • F Concert Scale—1 octave or full range.
  • Ab Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • C Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • Call & Response: Echo short phrases that you hear.
  • Audition Excerpts: #1 and #2 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Play the head and solo twice through the chorus using the Play Along Track.
Drums
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Audition Excerpts #1 and #2 (download pdf).
  • Call & Response: Echo the rhythmic phrases you hear.
  • Play each style for 32 bars:
    • Shuffle Quarter Note = 108-112
    • Samba Quarter Note = 100-108
    • Bossa Nova Quarter Note =124-132
    • Ballad with brushes Quarter Note = 80
    • Rock/Funk Quarter Note = 100
    • Fast swing Half note = 100-110
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Solo through at least 1 chorus using the Play Along Track.
Bass
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Chromatic Scale—one octave.
  • F Concert Scale—1 octave or full range.
  • Ab Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • C Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • Call & Response: Echo short phrases that you hear.
  • Audition Excerpts #1 and #2 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Play the melody once, walk the second chorus and solo the third chorus using the Play Along Track.
Piano
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Two Octave Chromatic Scale, 2 hands.
  • F Concert Scale and arpeggio, 2 octaves 2 hands.
  • Eb Concert Scale and arpeggio, 2 octaves, 2 hands.
  • D Concert Scale and arpeggio, 2 octaves, 2 hands.
  • Audition Excerpts #1 and #2 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: play the head once, comp the second chorus and solo the third chorus using the Play Along Track.
Vibes
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Full Range Chromatic Scale.
  • F Concert Scale—2 octaves.
  • Ab Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • D Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • Call & Response: Echo short phrases that you hear.
  • Audition Excerpt #1 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Play the head once, comp the second chorus and solo the third of Doxy using the Play Along Track.
Guitar
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Full Range Chromatic Scale.
  • F Concert Scale—2 octaves.
  • Ab Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • D Concert Scale—1 octave.
  • Call & Response: Echo short phrases that you hear.
  • Audition Excerpts #1 and #2 (Download pdf).
  • Sight Reading: Jazz style, articulation & accuracy. Focus on good tone and musicality.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Play the head once, comp the second chorus and solo the third using the Play Along Track.
Vocal
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Sing a one octave chromatic scale—up and down.
  • Sing a major scale on solfege—up and down.
  • Sing a blues scale one octave up and down—you choose your syllables.
  • Sing a prepared piece of your choosing in the jazz style.
    • If you have recorded accompaniment, be sure to send it to ryjo@renojazzorchestra.org prior to your audition or have it on your phone with Bluetooth enabled.
  • Sing the Star Spangled Banner without accompaniment.
  • Improvisation: Doxy: Sing the head once (you choose the syllables) and solo the second chorus using the Play Along Track.
RYJO II Audition Requirements
  • Complete online registration
  • Audition fee $10.00; pay by cash or check on site.
  • Chromatic Scale (minimum 1 octave up and down; tongue up and slur down).
  • F Concert Scale (minimum 1 octave up and down).
  • Eb Concert Scale (minimum 1 octave up and down).
  • Excerpts: Prepare as much of the RYJO 1 excerpts as possible. 1/2 of each excerpt is acceptable.
    • Drums: Play each of these styles:
      • Bossa Nova Quarter Note =124-132
      • Ballad with brushes Quarter Note = 80
      • Rock/Funk Quarter Note = 100
      • Fast Swing Half note=100-110
  • Play something in the jazz style that shows off your skills--up to 1 minute in length.
  • Play Doxy melody (music and recording can be found HERE).
  • Optional: Improvise 1 chorus on Doxy.