Mountaineer Honor Jazz Ensembles

The Mountaineer Honor Jazz Ensembles is a two-day experience for high school jazz students. Participants will be selected based on a recorded audition and music teacher recommendation.

The Mountaineer Honor Jazz Ensembles will rehearse and perform together under the direction of Dr. Alton Merrell (Assistant Professor of Piano) and Dr. Robert Sears (Assistant Professor of Trumpet), and participate in masterclasses with guest artist Tito Carrillo and WVU faculty Alton Merrell, Robert Sears, Jeff Siegfried, Hakeem Bilal, Paul Thompson, and Brian Wolfe. The festival will also include performances by guest artist Tito Carrillo with the WVU Jazz Faculty and WVU Jazz Ensemble, feature performances by WVU jazz combos and the WVU Funk and Soul Ensemble, and culminate in a performance by the Honor Jazz Ensembles.

2025 Guest Artist

Tito Carrillo

Associate Professor of Trumpet at Texas State University

We're excited to announce the guest artist this year will be Associate Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Texas State University, Tito Carrillo. Check Tito out on his popular YouTube channel JAZZMIND. See clips of him playing and teaching below.

Learn more about renowned jazz trumpeter Tito Carrillo's extensive career

Honor Ensembles

Honor jazz ensembles will include an all-star big band and two jazz combos. Chairs are filled on a first-come, first-served basis so don't delay.

Audition/Application Information

The audition deadline is Saturday, March 1st. All high school students are encouraged and welcome to participate. Please record yourself playing the following and add a link to the video recording in the application form linked below.

Apply, Register and Audition Music

• Saxophone
  • Prepare m. 111 to the end of Ichiban Blues by Vern Sielert. You may choose either alto, tenor, or bari saxophone parts.
  • Optional but encouraged: Choose one to two jazz standards, play the melody and then improvise 2-3 choruses over the form of the tune.
• Trumpet/Trombone
  • Play a chromatic scale from lowest to highest comfortable notes.
  • Prepare m. 111 to the end of Ichiban Blues by Vern Sielert. Trumpet players my choose either trumpet 1 or 3. Trombonists may choose either trombone 1, 3, or bass trombone.
  • Optional but encouraged: Choose one to two jazz standards, play the melody and then improvise 2-3 choruses over the form of the tune.
• Piano/Guitar/Vibes
  • Prepare m. 137 to the end of Ichiban Blues by Vern Sielert.
  • Choose one to two jazz standards. Play the melody (1 chorus), comp (1 chorus) and then improvise 2-3 choruses over the form of the tune.
• Bass
  • Prepare the beginning to m. 79 of Ichiban Blues by Vern Sielert.
  • Choose one to two jazz standards. Play the melody (1 chorus), walk a bass line (1 chorus) and then improvise 1-2 choruses over the form of the tune.
• Drums
  • Prepare the beginning to m. 79 of Ichiban Blues by Vern Sielert.
  • Play the melody to a tune of your choice on the drum set and improvise 2-3 choruses over the form of the tune.
  • Be able to alternate four bar phrases of time and filling in the following styles:
    • Swing
    • Bossa Nova
    • Samba
  • Optional: Show your ability to play a 12/8 Afro Cuban, Funk, and/or Cha Cha grooves.

Cost

There is no cost to submit an audition. Students selected to participate in an Honor Jazz Ensemble will be required to pay $25 as a participation fee. Students will be notified via email how payment can be processed. The event is open to all high school students from around the country. Lodging and travel are the responsibility of the student. Some need-based financial assistance may be available.

Festival Schedule 2025

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Thursday, March 27, 2025