Jr/Sr Honors Jazz Ensembles

How many honors jazz ensembles are there?
MCPS offers two Honors Jazz Ensembles. The Junior Honors Jazz Ensemble is for students in grades 7-9, and the Senior Honors Jazz Ensemble is for students in grades 10-12.

What makes it an "Honors" ensemble?
Students are selected to MCPS Honors ensembles each year through a blind audition process. Eligible students prepare the same audition materials, audition on the same date and at the same location, and are scored by the same judges using a standard rubric. Students with the highest audition scores are invited to join the ensemble. 

The only exception to the blind audition process is for students who audition on piano, guitar, bass, and drums, due to the nature of the audition process for these instruments.

The MCPS Honors Ensembles are self-funded performing ensembles that provide recognition to talented instrumental music students in grades 7-12. These programs are designed to supplement the school music programs by providing talented and motivated students with a special enrichment performance opportunity.

Who is eligible to audition?
In order to be eligible to audition, students must:
1. be in grades 7-9 (for the Junior ensemble) or grades 10-12 (for the Senior ensemble), a Montgomery County resident, and enrolled in a Montgomery County Public School.
2. be enrolled in an instrumental music class for the current school year.
3. be recommended by their school instrumental music teacher.
4. have their caregiver’s approval.

Additionally, students selected to the ensemble are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Students who miss any rehearsals or performances may be removed from the ensemble. So please be sure to check the rehearsal and performance schedules before you register to audition!

At this time, the MCPS Honors Jazz ensembles are open for student auditions on the following instruments only: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, piano, guitar, bass, and drum set. Additionally, students who play vibraphone may audition for the Senior Honors Jazz Ensemble. Depending on scores and demand, a piano player may be invited to play vibraphone for either of the ensembles.

Who is in charge of these ensembles for the 25-26 school year?
Our talented team of MCPS music educators run our countywide ensembles. This year, we are excited to have the following teachers working with the Honors Jazz Ensembles:

Junior Honors Jazz Ensemble
Conductor: Dan Janis, Bethesda-Chevy Chase HS
Assistant Conductor & Manager: Abel Solomon, James Hubert Blake HS

Senior Honors Jazz Ensemble
Conductor: Greg Casement, Albert Einstein HS
Assistant Conductor & Manager: Alex Mann, Brookhaven, College Gardens, Kemp Mill, & Twinbrook ES

Additionally, all ensembles are supported by Phil Barnes, MCPS Coordinator of Instrumental Music & Theatre.

Where can I find the audition information?
Here are some links to help you navigate the audition process:
Caregiver Letter
Audition Requirements 

Note: Audition materials for the MCPS Honors Jazz Ensembles cannot be shared publicly. Students must be logged into their MCPS Gmail account in order to access audition materials.

Auditions will be held at Albert Einstein High School (11135 Newport Mill Rd, Kensington, MD) on Monday, October 13, 2025. We are unable to accommodate alternate audition dates/times/locations, or virtual auditions. If your child has a religious conflict, please let your instrumental music teacher know as soon as possible. 

Student auditions for Senior Honors Jazz Ensemble are 5:00pm – 6:15pm, with check-in beginning at 4:45pm. All students must be checked in for senior auditions by 5:30pm. 

Student auditions for Junior Honors Jazz Ensemble are 7:00pm – 8:30pm, with check-in beginning at 6:45pm. All students must be checked in for junior auditions by 7:30pm. 

How do I register to audition?
Just complete this form: https://tinyurl.com/mcpsjazz25-26 
Students will need to log into their MCPS Google account in order to access the form, and then have a caregiver complete the form for them.

After you complete the form, be sure to follow the link on the confirmation page to pay the $5.50 audition fee via the MCPS SchoolCash Online (SCO) system. Students who have not prepaid the audition fee will not be permitted to audition. If there is a concern with paying the audition fee, please let your school's instrumental music teacher know as soon as possible.

Please be sure to identify who you are when paying your audition fees on the SchoolCash Online system. This usually requires you to uncheck a box so you can type in the name of the student associated with the payment.

The registration form will open by noon on Monday, September 15, 2025 and the deadline to register is 5:00pm on Friday, October 3, 2025. No late registrations will be accepted!

Once I've registered, how do I prepare for the audition?
First and most importantly, be sure to review the audition requirements and begin practicing! You should plan to meet with your instrumental music teacher at least once before the auditions to play through the audition music for feedback. If you have a private teacher, be sure to spend some time on the audition material with them as well! But your school's instrumental music teacher is going to be your best resource to help you prepare for the audition.

What does the audition process look like?
When you arrive at the audition site, you will need to stop at the registration table to check in. The check-in table is usually in the main lobby or the auditorium lobby of the school. When you check in you'll receive an index card with your audition number. It's very important to hold on to this card until you finish your audition, and that you check in before registration closes! See above for check in and audition times.

After you check in you will be directed to the warmup area. The warmup area is usually a large room in the school such as the auditorium or cafeteria. You may have anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour (or more) to wait in the warmup area for your turn to audition. You can use that time to warmup and practice. However, we typically do not provide any kind of musical equipment in the warmup area. Plan to bring your own music stand, and if you play a larger instrument (e.g., percussion, piano) do not expect to see those in the warmup area.

Once it is your turn to audition, your audition number will be called. Be sure to be listening/watching for your number! We will have several audition rooms running simultaneously, and things may seem chaotic. But we call all audition numbers sequentially, so if you pay attention you can get a good idea of when you will be pulled from the warmup area to audition. 

When your number is called, report to the front of the room to meet with your guide. You only need to bring with you what you need for the audition room (your instrument and music). Leave everything else, including cases and stands, in the warmup area. The guide will escort you from the warmup area to your audition room. Once you get to your audition room, you will probably have to wait outside the room for a few minutes for the students ahead of you to finish auditioning. While waiting it's important to stay quiet and not play, so that you don't disturb anyone else's audition.

When it's your turn to audition, the student helper in the room will invite you in. The helper will take your audition card and give it to the judges. (In some cases we utilize multiple audition rooms in order to get through larger numbers of students. If you have to audition in multiple rooms, they will take your card in the final room.) The judges will be behind a screen to keep the audition anonymous. In order to protect the integrity of the blind audition process, it's important that you do not talk to the judges, and that you keep your voice lowered when speaking to the student helper! If you have a question or concern, you should whisper it to the student helper, who will then pass it along to the judges. (The only exception to this is in the rhythm section room. The judges will not be behind a screen, so be sure to not wear any clothing that identifies you or your school.) You will perform the audition as outlined in the audition requirements document, and the student helper will direct you through everything. The audition evaluation criteria can be found in the caregiver letter.

After you finish your audition, the student helper will help you out of the room. Wait quietly in the hallway for a guide to escort you back to the warmup area. Once you are back in the warmup area, you are free to pack up and leave. Just be sure you take everything that you brought with you! You do not need to check out at the registration table.

How will I know if I made the ensemble?
After the auditions are complete, the staff for each ensemble will review the audition results and determine the final roster for the ensemble. Once the roster has been finalized, the Instrumental Music Coordinator will email it to all MCPS Instrumental Music teachers, who will then share it with their students. This process usually takes about a week.

Depending on what the audition results look like, we may choose to select alternates for the ensembles. Alternates scored high enough on their audition to be considered for the ensemble, but did not make the final roster. If something happens with a student in the ensemble that causes them to be removed from the ensemble, then the alternate will be contacted to take that student's place. If you have more questions about alternates please ask your school's instrumental music teacher.

If I make the ensemble, what happens next?
If you are selected to an ensemble, your instrumental music teacher will share some more materials with you, including a welcome letter and information on how to accept your spot in the ensemble and how to pay your ensemble fee. MCPS charges a $65.00 ensemble fee for the Honors Jazz ensembles, which covers things such as staff stipends, your music, and facility expenses. If there is a concern with paying the ensemble fee, please let your school's instrumental music teacher know as soon as possible. But there is usually a very quick turnaround for you to accept your spot and pay your fee.

Please be sure to identify who you are when paying your ensemble fees on the SchoolCash Online system. This usually requires you to uncheck a box so you can type in the name of the student associated with the payment.

Rehearsals for the Honors Jazz ensembles will begin the week of November 17, and each group rehearses once per week for two hours. The exact rehearsal schedule can be found in the caregiver letter. Both ensembles will perform along with the MCPS Faculty Big Band at the MCPS Honors Jazz Concert on Saturday, January 17, 2026, 7:00 p.m. at Sherwood High School. 

Students selected for either ensemble are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.

What if I have other questions?
Start by asking your school's instrumental music teacher! They are always your best source for information on MCPS countywide ensembles. If they can't answer your question, they will follow up with someone who can.