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High School Honor Jazz Band Weekend – Director Nominations

Friday, Sept. 26 – Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025

The Ohio State University Honor Jazz Band Weekend welcomes students in grades 10–12 to campus.

Outstanding musicians, selected from high school jazz band director nominations, will be placed via video audition submission into one of two jazz bands to perform with other high-achieving students in a fun and challenging environment.

Both bands will perform on Sunday afternoon in the Timashev Family Music Building. The concert is free and open to the public.

Nomination Process

Jazz band directors — you may nominate up to ten (10) outstanding student musicians in grades 10–12 for consideration, using a link that will be provided below. We will make every effort to include at least one student from each school, within the limitations we face in achieving balanced instrumentation. 

Nomination portal for jazz band directors

Nomination Deadline: Monday, Sept. 1

Step 1 — Assemble your list details ahead of time so that you are prepared to rank your nominees #1–#10, without duplicating a ranking.

Step 2 — NEW. We ask that you enter your nominees into the form in rank order. Enter your #1 ranked student first, then enter your #2 ranked nominee, and so on.

Step 3 — Double check each entry for accurate spelling of ALL student nominee and parent email addresses. 

  • Typos result in failure to deliver messages to nominees and/or parents.

Nomination Deadline: Monday, Sept. 1

What to Expect

Students, parents and band directors will be notified of nominees' status on Friday, Sept. 5.

Selected students will join other high school musicians for an exciting weekend of concerts and high-level music making. Rehearsals will culminate in a concert of challenging and rewarding repertoire conducted by the Ohio State jazz faculty.

Accepted students and parents will receive a registration form in their status notification. The online registration and payment must be completed by Monday, Sept. 15.

Submit Video

Students who wish to attend will be asked to submit a brief audition video, for the purpose of seating the honor bands. Videos must be received by us by Monday, Sept. 22. 

All selected students who elect to participate will be asked to submit a video recording prior to attendance for the purpose of placement auditions. Students will be required to perform the following:

  1. Bb concert major scale showcasing their range on the instrument
  2. The melody for "Billie's Bounce" by Charlie Parker
  3. An improvised solo over the chord changes to "Billie's Bounce" with either pre-recorded or live accompaniment

"Billie's Bounce" Honor Jazz Band audition packet [pdf]

Cost is $100 and includes:

  • Saturday lunch and dinner and Sunday lunch
  • Shuttle bus to and from the hotel (hotel cost not included)
  • Honor Jazz Band instrument case decal
  • Recording of Honor Jazz Band finale concert
  • Instruction and master classes with Ohio State jazz faculty

Families will be required to manage their own accommodations. Selected participants will be provided with the name of a recommended hotel in the area. Ohio State shuttle bus transportation will be provided between and the Timashev Family Music Building for rehearsals and performances. 

Families who select a different hotel will need to provide their own transportation for their student to report to and leave all events in a timely manner.

Honor Jazz Band Weekend Highlights

Daily

Honor Jazz Band rehearsals

Friday

7:30 p.m. — Concert by three Ohio State big bands — Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab Big Band and Jazz Workshop Big Band.

Saturday

  • Master classes led by School of Music faculty
  • Question and answer session led by School of Music recruitment team
  • Jam session hosted by The Ohio State University Jazz Club

Sunday

3 p.m. — Honor Jazz Band Finale Concerts

Questions?

  • For questions regarding the program, email Professor Mike Smith, High School Honor Jazz Band Weekend event director, at smith.8675@osu.edu.
  • For questions about the nomination process, accommodations, student registration and payment, or audition video, email Christopher Dent, Honors Ensembles administrator.