Welcome to A-JAM!

Hey! You found us! Welcome to A-JAM! Check out our blog Links to an external site.. To audition for our program, email us. 

NEWS UPDATE! You're invited to attend an International Jazz Master Class with bassist and director of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Links to an external site., Dr. Michael Klinghoffer  Links to an external site.and students of San Antonio symphony bassist Zlatan Redzic Links to an external site.. 

Thursday, April 28 at 9 AM Texas (5 PM Israel). FREE and open to all students and public via Zoom or in person in the recital hall of Palmetto Center for the Arts at Northwest Vista College (PCA 107). Information, including the Zoom link is at PalmettoArts.org Links to an external site.. See the A-JAM blog Links to an external site. for more. 

More on the audition process

Welcome, jazz students! If you are a full-time student at any one of the five Alamo Colleges, you are invited to apply now for the A-JAM (Alamo Jazz Allstars Mentorship) program, an intensive introduction to the exciting world of jazz performance, both locally and globally. Because of the pandemic, all auditions and applications are being conducted remotely this year. To apply, the first thing to do is contact Dr. Cartwright to enroll in the auditions. She'll add your ACES email address to the audition roster so that you have full access to the application and all resources in Canvas.

The deadline for submission of your application is Friday, January 29 at 11:59 PM. The online application turns into a pumpkin at midnight, so be sure to mark your calendar and put it on your radar! 

Before submitting your application, you will need to record a prescreen video. Don't be afraid! All the materials and instructions you need to do this are available in the Canvas modules, which are organized by instrument. Just click the modules tab to get started. 

Once you've applied, you will qualify for the remote interview, at 5 PM on Tuesday, February 9 via Zoom. Again, mark your calendar. You will receive a link once your application has been received. During the interview you will be asked to demonstrate the following:

• Scales and arpeggios: major, dorian, mixolydian, and harmonic minor (all keys, pitched instruments only)
• Sight-reading: chordal (lead-sheet), rhythmic, and melodic 
• Rhythmic feels: swing, bossa nova, contemporary, and syncopation exercises (drummers and percussionists only)

If you're accepted into the program, you'll need to enroll in corequisities (applied lessons, improv class, and jazz ensemble). If you're a serious jazz student, chances are you're already registered for these courses, but if not, it would be wise to register Links to an external site. now! Keep in mind that online and remote classes can be taken on any campus, no matter which of the five colleges is your home campus. Contact Dr. Cartwright if you have any questions. If the course requires instructor permission, we can make that happen for you! Below are the required courses:

• Private Improvisation (MUAP 1285)
• Applied lessons (search the MUAP prefix for your instrument or voice)
• Jazz Ensemble (MUEN 1122)

IT COULD BE YOU THIS YEAR Links to an external site.! 

One lucky A-JAM student receives an invitation to participate in the prestigious international jazz meeting Links to an external site. of the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ), performing and networking with top students and professionals from all over the world. This is an opportunity of a lifetime Links to an external site.. This year, the This year's jazz meeting Links to an external site. is scheduled for July 5-10, 2021 in Munich, Germany. It remains to be seen if it will be entirely remote or a hybrid mixture.  Stay tuned! One lucky Alamo Colleges music student and professor will be invited, so please spread the word! Pictured above is A-JAM student allstar Jea Lorr (Jeané Gaines) and her group, performing at The Cove. Jea was lucky enough to participate in the international jazz meeting in São Paulo, Brazil in 2011. Read more about the program Links to an external site.. Check out these highlights from interviews with A-JAM alumni Links to an external site. on Trinity University's KRTU Jazz 91.7 FM!

We sincerely thank this year's distinguished panel of judges, including Alamo Colleges faculty members Gregory Gonzales Links to an external site. (St. Philip's College), pianist Aaron Prado (Northwest Vista College), percussionist Joe Caploe and multi-reedist Brian Christensen (multiple affiliations); and noted regional artists trombonist-vocalist Ron Wilkins, singer Joan Carroll, and alto saxophonist Richard Oppenheim. 

Connect with us via Palmetto Center for the Arts Links to an external site. at Northwest Vista College, Facebook Links to an external site., and the A-JAM blog Links to an external site.