Michigan Youth Jazz Orchestra
Last updated 4/14/25
The Michigan Youth Jazz Orchestra (MYJO) provides advanced experience performing a variety of big band repertoire in venues throughout Southeast Michigan. The Michigan Youth Jazz Orchestra is open to all high-school aged instrumentalists interested in jazz and/or improvisation. It is recommended for students to have at least one year of jazz experience if they wish to participate but is not required.
MYJO Announcements
(4/14/25) Applications for MYE’s 2025-2026 Season are CLOSED
The deadline to apply for MYE’s 2025-2026 season has passed. If you are still interested in being part of MYE’s next exciting season, please reach out to the SMTD Office of Engagement & Outreach at [email protected] for more information.
Rehearsal Information
Time: Sundays, 12:00 – 2:00 PM
Location: The Cady Room
Frederick Stearns Building
(U-M North Campus, 2005 Baits Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109)
All rehearsals / events will take place at that above listed time and location unless otherwise noted
MYJO Season Schedule
Click below for next season’s schedule. NOTE: A final schedule will be sent to students accepted for the 2025-2026 MYJO Season
Instructors
CONDUCTOR/FACULTY DIRETOR – DENNIS WILSON
Associate Professor of Music, Jazz & Contemporary Improvisation
Dennis Wilson joined the Michigan faculty after teaching at Kansas State University where he also served as an assistant dean for the College of Arts and Sciences. Wilson is the lead trombonist for the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra and has toured, performed, and recorded with the Dizzy Gillespie Big Band, the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the New Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, the American Jazz Orchestra, the Benny Carter Orchestra, and Slide Hampton’s World of Trombones. He received a GRAMMY Award nomination for vocal arrangements for Manhattan Transfer and has performed on GRAMMY Award-winning recordings with Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Diane Schurr.
Auditions | Eligibility
Applications for the 2025-2026 Michigan Youth Ensembles Season are NOW CLOSED. Please reach out to the SMTD Engagement & Outreach Office ([email protected]) if you are still interested in joining us for next season.
MICHIGAN YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Students must submit a Michigan Youth Ensembles application and pay a non-refundable $30 application fee before their audition date. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify based on financial need (please view financial aid information below). Be sure to select your audition time after you submit your MYE application. Auditions are held IN-PERSON in the Earl V. Moore Music Building. Specific audition requirements for each instrument are listed below:
- Prepare an improvised solo using the song “Lady Bird” using the following guidelines. You can download a PDF file of “Lady Bird” here in your instrument’s key.
- A full playing of the melody
- Play a minimum of 2 (two) choruses improvising
- Play 1 (one) chorus of trading 4’s
- Play one additional chorus of the melody going out
- Walk a bass line or comp chords for an F of Bb blues with a jazz combo. A combo of SMTD students will be available at auditions.
- Prepare an improvised solo using the song “Lady Bird” using the following guidelines. You can download a PDF file of “Lady Bird” here in your instrument’s key.
- A full playing of the melody
- Play a minimum of 2 (two) choruses improvising
- Play 1 (one) chorus of trading 4’s
- Play 1 (one) chorus of the melody
DRUMS
- Prepare pieces that demonstrate the following styles:
- Swing (with sticks) = Trade fours with yourself. 4 bars of time into 4 bars of soloing. Repeat this cycle 6 times. Tempo range of 120 to 160 BPM
- Swing (with brushes) = Play time for 8 measures into 4 measures of soloing. Repeat this cycle 4 times. Tempo range of 100 to 140 BPM
- Bossa nova
- Samba
- Ballad (Use brushes). Tempo range of 80 to 110 BPM
- Funk / Rock
ELIGIBILITY
Students interested in the Michigan Youth Jazz Orchestra must be enrolled in grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Regular Instrumentation is Alto Saxophone (2), Baritone Saxophone (1), Bass Trombone (1), Double Bass (2), Drum Set (2), Guitar (1), Piano (2), Tenor Saxophone (2), Trombone (3), Trumpet (5) and Voice (2). Special orchestrations include Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Cello, Bb Clarinet, Euphonium, Flute, Harp, Horn, Marimba, Oboe, and Violin orchestrated by Prof. Wilson.
For questions about applications, audition requirements, or the audition process, feel free to contact SMTD Engagement & Outreach Staff via email at [email protected].
Tuition | Fees |Scholarships
Updated for the 2025-2026 MYE Season
Participant – $525.00
Non-refundable application fee – $30
A discounted tuition rate of $375.00 per additional ensemble is available for musicians who participate in multiple ensembles. This discount is applied to the ensemble of equal or lesser value.
Application Fee Waiver
Please view this page to review the qualifications and the documentation you will need to provide. Qualified students/families will reach out to the Acceptd Support team to request a waiver code to waive the $30 application fee. Fill out this fee waiver form to request a code.
NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIP
A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $125,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:
- Monthly Expenses
- Previous Year’s Tax Return
- Statement of Need
REFUND POLICY
Full refunds of MYE tuition are only available before the first regularly scheduled rehearsal of the current concert season. Those wishing to learn more about the MYE Refund Policy can do so by clicking here: SMTD Engagement and Outreach refund policy
Contact Us
Email at [email protected]
Phone at (734) 936-2660
The Engagement & Outreach Staff monitors emails / phone lines at the following times:
- Monday – Friday, 9:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. EST