​ILMEA Jazz Information



2025-26 ILMEA Jazz Auditions information is posted below. Please go to the ILMEA website to read all audition information.

Note: The use of headphones, air pods, non-ILMEA provided backing tracks, accompanying yourself or giving pitches or having someone else accompany or give pitches, using metronomes, being cued, or editing of components will automatically result in the audition being disqualified. This does not mean that a student must record their audition in one take, but rather individual components of an audition may not be edited or manipulated.

2025-26 ILMEA Audition Timeline:
  • September 10, 2025 - Audition excerpts released
  • September 17, 2025 - Audition submission window opens
  • October 1, 2025 - Audition links due (WV directors will need these 1-2 days earlier)

Here is the ILMEA Link to Audition Etude and Material Summary. On this page, students should find the following under the Senior Instrumental Jazz tab at the bottom:

1. ILMEA Senior Jazz Etude - Cycle 2 - Be sure to prepare the etude with the play along track provided (coming soon as of May 2025). Reference recordings are also being added as they are available.
  • Here is a link to the music for Jazz Etudes - Cycle 2
  • Jazz Etude Playalong Tracks - Coming soon
  • Jazz Etude reference recordings - Coming soon

2. For "Billie’s Bounce" students will improvise 3 choruses - but do NOT need to play the melody.
  • Here is a link to the lead sheets. Students must use the accompaniment track provided on the ILMEA website.
  • Here is a link to the F Blues recording.
  • Be sure you have the best audio mix possible so you are heard clearly and the judge can also hear the accompaniment track.​

3. ​Drumset players demonstrate a functional approach to a variety of rhythmic studies: 1. Swing (fast or slow) 2. Latin (samba or bossa) 3. Brushes (medium swing or ballad) 4. Funk
  • Drumset players will demonstrate improvisational ability by playing a medium fast swing drum solo in a 12 bar blues format. The student should play four measures of swing followed by four measures of solo, going through three choruses.

4. Combo - Students will improvise 1 chorus of Autumn Leaves using ILMEA provided resources - Coming soon.


Please see a director with any questions or for help preparing your audition. These are highly competitive auditions, so you'll need to play your best to maximize your chances of being selected. Good luck and have fun improving as a jazz musician!