There are two jazz groups: the Stage Band and the Jazz Band. We have won a multitude of awards at jazz competitions and festivals. Balancing academics and performance, jazz students are committed to keeping these bands sounding great! The jazz bands have numerous gigs each year, including the Temple Jazz Festival and the AISD Jazz and Pops Concert. We frequently bring in talented guest musicians to bolster jazz education. For more information on how you can become a part of the Jazz Program, please read below or contact Director of Bands Ponder East.
Gigs
The jazz bands regularly perform more than ten gigs per year:
- Temple Jazz Festival
- National education conferences
- Local educator group invitations
- City of Austin events
- Lunchtime performances
- AISD Jazz and Pops Concert
- Private functions (please contact us if you’d like us to play your event!)
Joining Jazz Band
To become a member of the jazz band class students must audition and have room in their 8-period schedule. Generally, our rule is that all students who are enrolled in Jazz Band must be concurrently enrolled in a regular Band class. Exceptions are sometimes made for rhythm section students.
If after the audition process, a student is not selected into the Jazz Band class, our other performance group is the Stage Band: this band rehearses once a week starting in mid-November and goes until mid-May. The purpose of the Stage Band is to give students an opportunity to play jazz even if they can’t be in the Jazz Band Class (yet!)
This year’s audition will be on Monday, May 12th, 2025 in the Jazz Room. Please plan to be available from 4:15-6:30pm. Exact details on audition times will be posted soon.
Click HERE for audition materials. (materials will be updated soon, please check back periodically)
Click HERE for backing track for guitar and piano players. (materials will be updated soon, please check back periodically)
Click HERE to sign-up for the audition.
Contact
email – [email protected]