2025-2026 RYJO Audition Information

There are still openings for musicians
Contact Nichole Heglund to set up an audition.

Contact Nichole Heglund

The RYJO I season will run November 4, 2025 - July 10, 2026. The group performs 1-2 times per month.

The RYJO II season will run November 5, 2025 - June 14, 2026. RYJO II will perform 3-4 times this season.

There is $10 Audition Fee. Pay by cash or check on site.

The fee for the entire concert season is $400. There are payment plans and scholarships available each year.

Audition Requirements

Click on the tabs to expand.

Saxophone

  • 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—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.