At the May 4, 2008 District 7 Executive Board meeting it was approved for a District 7 Vocal Jazz Festival to be piloted during the 2008-2009 school year with Kennard-Dale High School serving as host. The following are revised guidelines from the August 24 meeting of the Executive Board:

Festival

• District 7 Vocal Jazz will be held concurrently with the District Jazz Festival (March 26-28, 2009)
• The Vocal Jazz Ensemble will consist of 16 singers, 4 on each voice part (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass)
• The host school will be responsible for obtaining a guest conductor for District Vocal Jazz as well as conductors for District Jazz A and B Bands
• The host school will make arrangements for all necessary microphones and other electronic equipment required for the festival.
  

Audition Material

• Students will prepare the same selections as for All-State Vocal Jazz.
• A rubric will be used for evaluation of students during their auditions. (Click here to view.)
  

Registration Procedure

• Student registration for the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, conducted concurrently with Jazz Band registration should include Voice Part selection (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass).
• One school fee should be charged, as with Band/Orchestra. There should be a place to indicate names for both the band and the choral director.
  

Audition Process

• Students will audition the same day as District Jazz Band try-outs.
• Students will be divided in two to four tryout rooms (one or two for female voice parts and one or two for male voice parts, depending on the number of students auditioning and the number of directors available).
• Judges will be choral directors who should be there with their students, with three per tryout room.
• At the end of auditions, 4 students per voice part would be selected, bas ed on highest scores. Students must receive the recommendation of a majority of the judges in the room to qualify for the festival.
  

Rhythm section for Vocal Jazz Ensemble

• A rhythm section comprised of piano, bass, and drums will accompany the Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
• In drum, piano, and bass audition rooms, judges should offer their recommendations for the students ranked third to be considered as the rhythm section for the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Only qualified students should be selected for the festival.

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