Registrations for the 2024 WAYJO Auditions

Open Tuesday 26 September and close Friday 17 November 2023

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Become a WAYJO Musician

Want to explore different musical styles, or simply enjoy meeting and performing with people around your own age? Whether you aspire to be a professional jazz musician, composer or just love playing in big bands, the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra (WAYJO) has something to offer you!

WAYJO is widely regarded as Australia’s leading youth jazz orchestra. Since 1983, WAYJO has provided inspiration and opportunity to outstanding young jazz musicians from Western Australia and beyond.

In recent years, WAYJO Members have experienced:

  • Performing alongside internationally-acclaimed guest artists Mariel Bildsten (US trombonist), Dick Oatts (US saxophonist) in packed-out shows at His Majesty’s Theatre;
  • Performing newly commissioned work by WAYJO alumni Alana Macpherson and Kate Pass;
  • Performing WAYJO Composer-in-Residence original music commissions;
  • Performing at the King St Corner Pocket Jazz Festival and Perth International Jazz Festival;
  • Touring regional Western Australia to the South-West and Mid-West;
  • International travel to Japan and the USA as part of our Music Exchange Programs;
  • Delivery of Act Belong Commit Pathway Program workshops, visiting metropolitan, outer-metropolitan and regional schools;
  • Performing for audiences in a variety of venues, and for festivals and events across Perth.

Player positions are vacated at the end of each year, with a total of 54 places available within the three bands:

  • MinterEllison Monday Night Orchestra,
  • St John of God Health Care Tuesday Night Orchestra,
  • WAYJO Wednesday Night Orchestra.

Each band consists of: Alto Saxophone (2), Tenor Saxophone (2), Baritone Saxophone (1), Trumpet (4), Trombone (3), Bass Trombone (1), Guitar (1), Bass (1), Piano (1), Drums (1), Vocalist (1).

Registrations for 2024 Band Auditions open Tuesday 26 September and close Friday 17 November.

Location: WA Youth Jazz Orchestra – Maylands Hall, 192 Guildford Road (cnr Eighth Ave), Maylands WA
Google Maps: goo.gl/maps/ZDmBexXtZHr
Close to Public Transport: transperth.wa.gov.au/Journey-Planner

Times: 6:30-9:30pm on the orchestra’s rehearsal night.

Audition Registration Process:

  1. Visit wayjo.com/audition (this page) for what you need to know about auditioning for the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra;
  2. Auditions are open to musicians aged 14-25;
  3. Read the 2023 WAYJO Audition Booklet (plus 2023 WAYJO Video Audition Guidelines if necessary) – even if you have auditioned previously.
  4. Complete the online Live Audition Form or Video Audition Form and use the Eventbrite link in that form to pay and confirm your audition date/time;
  5. Check your inbox for your Eventbrite Booking Confirmation PDF – email admin@wayjo.com or call WAYJO on (08) 9471 1950 during business hours if you have any problems or questions!

Audition Fee:

$35 (exc. booking fee & GST) per audition.
PLEASE NOTE the audition fee payment is required to confirm your audition time & is non-refundable or transferable.

Band Audition Dates:

Auditions are 15 minutes in duration and can be selected on a first come first served basis.

Dates: Saturday 2 December, Sunday 3 December, Saturday 9 December, and Sunday 10 December – further details to be confirmed.

If you are unable to audition on your section’s allocated day, you will need to submit a video audition instead.

Audition Requirements

All Auditionees – Set Piece

Everyone will be required to prepare a set piece from sheet music which will be emailed on Monday 20 November, 2023*
Please ensure you enter your correct email address into the registration form, and email admin@wayjo.com by Tuesday 21 November if you do not receive this.

Saxophone

  • The set piece* (as emailed).
  • 1 prepared jazz piece (of own choice); with or without backing.
  • Chromatic scale from low Bb to high F – up and down; played 2 times, once straight 8th notes and once with swing 8th notes.
  • 3 more scales – own choice.
  • OPTIONAL: Improvisation over a 12-bar blues (3 chorus in key of own choice with backing track or accompaniment).
  • Sight Reading sheet music.

Brass

  • The set piece* (as emailed).
  • 1 prepared jazz piece (of own choice); with or without backing.
  • Trombone Players – F major scale 2 octaves; played 2 times, once straight 8th notes and once with swing 8th notes.
  • Trumpet Players – G major scale 2 octaves; played 2 times, once straight 8th notes and once with swing 8th notes.
  • 3 more scales – own choice.
  • Range – play up Bb major scale as high as you can to show range.
  • Play a forte/piano with a crescendo. Hard accent back off on dynamic and then crescendo as loud as you can – to show control. (Trumpet on a G on top space of stave; Trombone on a Bb on top of stave).
  • OPTIONAL: Improvisation over a 12-bar blues (3 chorus in key of own choice with backing track or accompaniment).
  • Sight Reading sheet music.

Guitar/Piano

  • The set piece* (as emailed).
  • 1 prepared jazz piece (of own choice); with or without backing.
  • 12-bar blues (2 chorus of just comping and 2 chorus of improvisation in key of own choice without a backing track or accompaniment).
  • Sight Reading sheet music.

Bass

  • The set piece* (as emailed).
  • 1 prepared jazz piece (of own choice); with or without backing.
  • 12-bar blues (2 chorus of just walking bass line and 2 chorus of improvisation in key of own choice without a backing track or accompaniment).
  • Sight Reading sheet music.

Drums

  • The set piece* (as emailed).
  • 1 prepared piece (of own choice); with or without backing.
  • 16 bars of swing time (crotchet = 200);
    16 bars of swing time (crotchet = 120);
    16 bars of swing time (crotchet = 280);
    8 bars of ballad time with brushes (crotchet = 55);
    16 bars of swing time with brushes (crotchet = 200);
    16 bars bossa nova;
    16 bars straight eighth jazz groove (crotchet = 140);
    16 bars funk groove;
    16 bars samba;
    16 bars mambo 2:3 clave.
  • 12-bar blues (2 chorus of medium swing time, 1 chorus of improvisation and 1 chorus of time without a backing track or accompaniment).
  • Sight Reading sheet music.

Vocalists

  • The set piece* (as emailed).
  • 2 jazz standards with live accompaniment or backing track. Please do not perform unaccompanied.
  • OPTIONAL: 12-bar blues scat solo improvising (2 chorus in a key of your own choice with a backing track or accompaniment).