The QO Jazz Band is an ensemble that meets during the school day and performs throughout the year. This ensemble will perform at the Fall, Winter, and Spring concerts at QO as well as participate in the MCPS Jazz Adjudication in January. The Jazz Band also performs at the annual QO Jazz Cabaret, which acts as a major fundrasier for the group, and various community events in Gaithersburg. The QO Jazz Band focuses on learning jazz pedagogy, studying various sub genres of jazz music, and understanding the history of jazz musicians and music.
Music Exercises and Resources for Students:
Music Exercises and Resources for Students:
Join us at our Cabaret in 2026!
Join us at our Cabaret in 2026!
April 9th, 2026 in the QO Cafeteria.
6-8 PM. Door's open at 5:30.
Light refreshments will be provided!
No ticket cost! Donations to the program are appreciated.
2025 All County Ensembles:
2025 All County Ensembles:
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Ariano. Information meeting during lunch in 153 on 9/4.
Calendar:
10/13 Monday from 5:00 PM-8:30 PM: MCPS Honors Jazz Auditions
11/11 Tuesday from 6:00PM-9:30PM: MCPS Junior Honors Band Auditions
11/17 Monday: MCPS Honors Jazz Rehearsals Begin
11/18 Tuesday from 6:00PM-9:30PM: MCPS Senior Honors Band Auditions
1/6 Tuesday: MCPS Junior and Senior Band Rehearsals Begin
1/17 Saturday at 7:00PM: MCPS Honors Jazz Concert
2/5 Thursday from 6:45PM-9:15PM: MCPS Senior Band Rehearsal
2/6 Friday from 4:00PM-9:00PM: MCPS Junior and Senior Band Rehearsal
2/7 Saturday from 6:30PM-9:30PM: MCPS Junior and Senior Concert/Gala
Important Links: Must use student google account to access!
Junior + Senior Music/Backing Tracks
Junior Jazz Details:
During the audition, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and vibraphone players will perform the etude without a backing track. Piano, guitar, bass, and drum set players will perform the etude with a live rhythm section.
You are expected to play the entire etude.
Be prepared to sight read a jazz excerpt.
Trumpet and trombone players will be asked to perform a chromatic scale (ascending and descending) to demonstrate your range. You can start and end on whatever notes you choose.
Updated for the 25-26 school year: Students auditioning on drum set must also perform 8 measures of the following grooves at the indicated tempi, and include stylistically appropriate fills in the 4th and 8th measures:
Fast Swing: quarter note = 180
Samba: half note = 120
Senior Jazz Details:
During the audition, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and vibraphone players will perform the etude without a backing track. Piano, guitar, bass, and drum set players will perform the etude with a live rhythm section.
You are expected to play the entire etude.
All trumpet and trombone players will perform the corresponding “Section” part of the etude in its entirety.
If you wish to be considered for lead trombone/trumpet, you must also play measures 24-end of the “Lead” parts of the etude.
If you wish to be considered for bass trombone, you must also play measures 24-end of the “Bass Trombone” part of the etude.
Improvise 1-2 choruses of blues using the backing track “Nothin’ But the Blues, Volume 2,” Number 10, Fast Blues in F from the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Play-A-Long series. You can access the track here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sSZyS6vxLtgbN6a4bQT6sKlxDI_2rGUr/view?usp=drive_link
During the audition, all students will improvise with the backing track.
Be prepared to sight read a jazz excerpt.
Trumpet and trombone players will be asked to perform a chromatic scale (ascending and descending) to demonstrate your range. You can start and end on whatever notes you choose.
Updated for the 25-26 school year: Students auditioning on drum set must also perform 8 measures of the following grooves at the indicated tempi, and include stylistically appropriate fills in the 4th and 8th measures:
Fast Swing: quarter note = 180
Samba: half note = 120
25-26 Maryland All State Junior and Senior Information
25-26 Maryland All State Junior and Senior Information
If you are interested, please speak to Mr. Ariano. He will have to nominate you for each ensemble.
Information meeting during lunch in 153 on 9/4.
NOW - September 24 - Nomination Window - All Ensembles
September 25 - September 29 - Late Nomination Window - All Ensembles
October 1 - October 15 - Registration Window (all ensembles, all instruments/vocal parts)
October 16 - October 27 - Registration Late Window (all ensembles, all instruments/vocal parts)
October 29 to November 5 - Audition Submission Window for Recorded/Asynchronous (Senior Jazz Band, Senior Commercial Band)
Early December - All State rosters released
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