On Monday, December 2, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School Monday Jazz Ensemble’s audition results were released, paving the way for another amazing season of jazz rehearsals, performances and competitions.

From November 13 to November 18, auditions for the jazz band were held, where many prospective jazz band members auditioned to gain a spot in an extracurricular jazz band. This was fresh off the end of the marching band season, where that band placed second at their state championship performance.

This year, the audition process was slightly different. Usually, one has to play an etude, which is an excerpt of a piece or a short piece that someone plays to showcase their musical ability; a standard jazz tune, which is a very short piece that is generally played with a full band; scales, which are playing notes in an ascending and descending order in a certain pattern; and sightreading, which is when someone auditioning has to play a tune for the first time. This year, the sight reading section of the audition was removed, making the process easier for the students auditioning.

There were three days of auditions held for the different sections of instruments that are in the jazz band. Trumpets and trombones were the first in the audition sequence, performing their tunes and sight reading on Monday, November 11. The rhythm section, which consists of guitar players, drums, vibes (a type of keyboard percussion instrument), bass, and auxiliary instruments, had their audition on Wednesday, November 13. Finally, the saxophone section auditions; which consisted of baritone and alto saxophone players; took place on Monday, November 18.

Now that auditions have been completed, the accepted members can begin their intensive rehearsal regimen in preparation for soon-approaching competitions. Rehearsals have already begun for the Monday Band members, with their first rehearsal taking place on Wednesday, December 4, from 4-6 PM, and practices continuing on a standard Monday and Wednesday rotational schedule.

Looking ahead, the competition season for this jazz ensemble typically begins in early March; this year, the ensemble’s first competition will be the New Jersey Association of Jazz Education on Tuesday, March 4, followed by the next competition at the Allentown High School Jazz Festival on the following Friday, March 7. Until then, the newly accepted members of the ensemble will work diligently towards perfecting their skills and repertoire to put on the best version of the ensemble when the time comes.