UPDATE:

PLEASE NOTE THAT AUDITIONS FOR THE 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR HAVE BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  CHECK THIS PAGE FOR FUTURE UPDATES.

Announcing the JAZZFORCE!

The JAZZFORCE is a group for students who are serious and passionate about jazz music. The group is led by Grammy-nominated bassist and Duke University Professor John Brown.  All students will work and perform with John Brown and members of his jazz performing groups including his Trio, Quintet, Combo and Jazz Orchestra. Students will rehearse weekly and will receive instruction in performance, advanced music concepts, large and small group performance, listening skills and improvisation. They will also participate in instrument specific master classes throughout the year. Students will have the opportunity to hone their skills by playing and getting feedback in coached rehearsals and workshops each week.

The vision supporting the JAZZFORCE curriculum is to teach serious students who are at a level of accomplishment to study music at advanced levels, and who may consider studying music as undergraduates. All sessions are led with college preparation, in depth study and rehearsal in mind. Many of the members of Professor Brown’s groups teach at the area’s leading universities, and they all bring their experiences and passion for teaching to the students of the JAZZFORCE. This ensures that students are exposed to high-level teaching.

Additionally, students will work directly with guest artists brought in by Duke University. In the last few years Duke has brought artists like Russell Malone, Nicholas Payton, Steve Turre, Jason Moran, Kevin Mahogany, Louie Bellson, John Clayton, Lou Donaldson, Eddie Palmieri, Vincent Gardner and Frank Foster.  Students in the group will give regular performances, and plans are being made for travel and performances outside NC. Those activities will be scheduled once auditions are completed and the group is established. The season will begin in October and will run through early May of each year. All activities of the group are governed by the Performing Arts Coalition: a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving performing arts by creating and sustaining opportunities for performances and education.

The JAZZFORCE is open to students in the Triangle and beyond who sing and students who play the saxophone, trombone, trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, vibraphone or drum set. The group will rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 5-7, and on on selected Saturdays. Locations for activities will be determined once the group is set. The fee for participation is $250 for the year.

AUDITION DATES

Postponed until further notice.

Biddle Music Building (beside Baldwin Auditorium on Markham Ave. between Buchanan and Broad)

*please enter through the door nearest the loading dock

Room 064

Duke University

Durham, NC 27708

To schedule your audition for the JAZZFORCE

please call 919-616-9500.

See you soon!