Jazz Flute Big Band Audition
All 2021 NFA competitions will be held virtually!
The biennial Jazz Flute Big Band Audition will select a minimum of 18 players (sections consisting of C flute/double on piccolo (optional), alto, bass, and contrabass flutes) to perform with a rhythm section consisting of piano, bass, and drums with leader Yuko Hoshi during the 2021 NFA Convention. A select group of soloists will be chosen from the winning entrants to be featured on improvised solos for the performance. Entrants may play either piccolo, C flute, alto flute, or bass flute on their recordings. Audition repertoire should be played with a play-along recording (i.e., Aebersold, Band-in-a-Box, iRealb).
Coordinated by the NFA Jazz Flute Big Band Artistic Coordinator Yuko Hoshi, the winners of the JFBB Audition will have the opportunity to:
- practice the JFBB arrangements with pre-recorded play-along tracks
- attend Zoom rehearsals
- record and submit their individual videos
- be a part of the virtual NFA Jazz Flute Big Band during the 2021 NFA convention in August!
New in 2021: players who have previously performed with the JFBB will automatically be invited to perform. However, everyone must submit an application and recording, for both placement and solo opportunities.
Competition Requirements*
- All flutists must be current NFA members at the time the entry is submitted. If chosen to perform or present during the convention, flutists must also be current members at the time of the convention and register for the convention by July 1, 2021. To join or renew, go to nfaonline.org/signup.
- Completed entry
- $55 entry fee (paid during submission process)
All entrants must submit their entry, upload recordings/supplemental materials, and pay competition and membership fees by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time, Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
2021 Jazz Flute Big Band timeline:
- Submit recordings (audio files) of the audition repertoire by 11:59 p.m. Central Standard Time, Tuesday, February 23, 2021.
- Winners of the competition will be announced in mid-March. Parts and play-along tracks will be made available to the audition winners, to learn their parts and prepare for three to four Zoom rehearsals in April. These rehearsals will be led by Yuko Hoshi, assisted by Ali Ryerson and Sanae Nakayama.
- JFBB winners will then be asked to record their videos (e.g. using an iPhone), while listening to the rhythm section tracks through headphones. Instructions on how to record your video on your phone will be made available, and videos will be due June 1. A virtual JFBB flute choir will be created in time for an August performance during the 2021 NFA summer convention.
Recorded Round Repertoire
Each piece should be uploaded as a separate file in the following order. All uploaded files must be audio recordings. No videos are allowed.
- Gene De Paul, “I’ll Remember April”
- Wes Montgomery, “West Coast Blues”
- Dizzy Gillespie, “Groovin’ High”
All JFBB applicants are required to play the “head” (e.g., melody) of each piece from the audition repertoire. Applicants will be judged on their jazz style (e.g., swing feel, Latin feel, jazz concept). A small amount of melodic and rhythmic freedom may be taken while playing the “head” of each tune, if it contributes stylistically to the performance, but please keep in mind that the judges will be listening for a certain degree of accuracy. While allowing for some freedom, as is typical in jazz, the judges will need to ascertain your ability to play a written part accurately.
To be considered as a soloist (playing an improvised solo) in the virtual JFBB performance in August 2021, applicants are asked to improvise only one chorus on both “I'll Remember April” and “Groovin' High”, and only two improvised choruses on “West Coast Blues”.
Playing an out-head (melody) following an improvised is optional, not required. The same is true about playing a Coda. It is optional, not required.
For those not wishing to be considered as a soloist, only one-time through the head is required on “I’ll Remember April” and "Groovin' High", and twice through the head on “West Coast Blues”.
For those who include improvised solos in their recordings, even if they are not chosen as a soloist in the JFBB virtual performance, they will still be considered to play in the JFBB.
* Competitions are subject to all rules and regulations on this page as well as the 2021 General Competition Information and Rules and Regulations. Incomplete entries will be subject to disqualification.
Artistic Coordinator
Yuko Hoshi
yukohoshiflute@gmail.com
Operations Coordinator
Sanae Nakayama
sanae.tripletta@gmail.com
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