Jazz Ensembles are open to all UMass Amherst and Five College students (not just Music majors) by audition.

See below for audition information. Contact Prof. Holmes for more info about instrumental ensembles; contact Prof. Jensen-Hole for info about Vocal Jazz Ensemble.

Visit the JAZZ STUDIES WEBPAGE

Instrumental Jazz Ensemble Auditions will be held on the first week of classes in Prof. Holmes' office, Rm. 252 (except Drumset auditions, in Prof. Giampietro's office, 149M).
Spring 2024 Placement Auditions will only be required for new students or those wishing to change ensembles or chairs within an ensemble.
Jazz Ensemble audition info (pdf in Google drive folder) =>

If you have questions, please contact Jazz TA Matt Padula at @email. You may also contact Prof. Holmes or Prof. Giampietro with any questions about auditions.

See below for Vocal Jazz Ensemble info and audition music.

Spring 2024 jazz instrumental audition music =>  (Same as Fall '23—Holmes' Frontrunner, see notes below)

Prof. Holmes' notes: Quarter note @ 138, swung 8ths. High parts on trumpet can be taken down an octave if needed.
There are pages missing on each part—just prepare the pages as combined in each pdf.
There is an mp3 included in the folder with a performance of the piece.

Ensemble descriptions

Jeffrey W. Holmes.
for info about Instrumental Jazz Ensembles
Jeffrey W. Holmes

Professor, Director of Jazz & African American Music Studies, Composition, Conductor

Holmes plays keyboards with the Paul Winter Consort, leads the Jeff Holmes Big Band featuring his wife, vocalist Dawning Holmes, and plays lead trumpet with the New England Jazz Ensemble. Recent recordings as performer and/or composer/arranger include the Jeff Holmes Quartet release "Of One's Own," the New England Jazz Ensemble’s “Peter and The Wolf“, HGTS’s “…and then they played…” and projects by Paul Winter, colleague Felipe Salles, and Earl MacDonald. He continues to appear as a guest conductor/clinician/adjudicator and performer/composer/arranger.
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Catherine Jensen-Hole in front of a rock wall.
for info about Vocal Jazz Ensembles
Catherine Jensen-Hole

Senior Lecturer II, Vocal Jazz, Undergraduate Composition & Arranging

A nationally published composer and arranger,
Catherine Jensen-Hole's compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by university and college ensembles across America. A sought-after clinician and adjudicator in vocal jazz, she has conducted All-State Choirs including the 2001 MENC All Northwest Jazz Choir and has been a faculty member at the North Texas Summer Vocal Jazz Workshop. Presently she co-teaches at the Jazz in July Summer Workshop (UMass Amherst) with Sheila Jordan, working with singers from the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia. Jensen-Hole is also a regular performer in the IAJE Music Educator Vocal Jazz Group that performs new vocal jazz music at the yearly conference. Her own UNC Jazz Press arrangements and compositions are regularly featured at these sessions.
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