Gold Coast Jazz Society 2023-2024 Concert Season

Thanks to the generosity of Jeanette M. Russell and the family of Robert G. Friedman, this year the Gold Coast Jazz Society awarded financial scholarships to the students below to help offset summer jazz camp and college tuition expenses. This function of the Gold Coast Jazz Society has some of the most far reaching effects on the future of deserving music students. We are proud to support the educational efforts of these talented individuals through the financial help of the Gold Coast Jazz Society.

We extend our congratulations to the students below who qualified to receive a scholarship for college tuition support.

students below who qualified to receive a scholarship for college tuition support


The students listed below were awarded a GCJS scholarship to attend a summer jazz camp of their choice.

The students listed below were awarded a GCJS scholarship to attend a summer jazz camp of their choice

Students are selected based upon financial need and artistic ability and participate in a live audition process. You can help us make a difference by joining the Gold Coast Jazz Society and supporting our fundraising activities. If you would like to make a contribution to the scholarship activities of the Gold Coast Jazz Society, please call our office at 954.524.0805.

General Directions:
Applicants must submit a video recording that meets the criteria listed below for each instrument category.  A professional recording is not required but the best possible representation is encouraged.  A YouTube type recording from a computer or quality phone device is sufficient.

Repertoire for the scholarship recording must demonstrate the ability to improvise and play with a rhythm section, using a live band or play-along recording. Live concert performances are acceptable ONLY if they are edited to feature the applicant. Original compositions should not be included.

Please submit video auditions, which have been recorded on your phone.  Upload your video to YouTube and email the YouTube link to:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. AND This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  

Piano

Required pieces (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie's Bounce in medium tempo (minimum of four improvised choruses). Perform three other selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods, keys, and tempos (minimum of two improvised choruses for each selection.) Note: Please be sure to demonstrate "comping" behind a soloist on at least one of these selections.

Bass

Required pieces (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie's Bounce in medium tempo (minimum of four improvised choruses). Perform three additional selections in different jazz styles, moods, keys, and tempos (minimum of two improvised choruses for each selection). One of the additional selections must be a ballad. One improvised chorus will be sufficient for the ballad. Demonstrate at least four choruses of walking bass lines on Billie's Bounce and two choruses of appropriate bass lines on each additional stylistic selection.

Drum set and Hand Percussion

Required pieces (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie's Bounce in medium tempo. Must include playing time for at least four choruses behind a soloist and at least two choruses of drum solo. Perform a medium tempo selection or a ballad demonstrating ability to perform with brushes. Perform two additional selections in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos. Each selection must include at least three choruses of playing time behind a soloist and at least two choruses of trading fours, eights, and/or soloing. Original compositions should not be included.

Jazz Guitar, Vibes

Required pieces (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie's Bounce in medium tempo (minimum of four improvised choruses). Perform three other selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods, keys, and tempos (minimum of two improvised choruses for each selection). Demonstrate "comping" on a standard song of your choice.

Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, all String Instruments

Required pieces (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie's Bounce in medium tempo (minimum of four improvised choruses). Perform three other selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods, keys, and tempos (minimum of two improvised choruses for each selection).

Jazz Voice

Three required scales (must be first on the tape). Scales may be sung in any key, and must be one octave, ascending and descending, and sung with letters, syllables or on la;

  • diatonic major scale
  • harmonic minor scale
  • whole tone scale

Standard ballad. First eight bars sung a cappella, then in a ballad tempo (accompanied).
Jazz standard (medium or up tempo). Perform two choruses, with the first 8 bars of the second chorus to be improvised, using either scat syllables or altering the melody by choosing notes that demonstrate an awareness of the harmony.

NOTE: standards should be selected from the songbooks of composers such as Gershwin, Ellington, Arlen, Rodgers & Hart, Kern, Berlin, etc. Prepare two additional selections of contrasting nature.

Due to the generosity of Jeanette M. Russell, the Elizabeth and Daniel O’Connor Family Foundation and Teri Pattullo (in memory of Brian Pattullo), the Gold Coast Jazz Society annually grants a limited number of scholarship awards to vocal and instrumental music students wishing to pursue an education in music with an emphasis in jazz studies.  Scholarships are awarded to assist with college or university tuition or to assist with tuition fees and associated expenses for students attending summer jazz camps.  Scholarship payments are made directly to the college, university or jazz camp of the student’s choice.

Applicants must be Florida residents who are either current or enrolling college students, graduating high school seniors, high school students or middle school students. Income eligibility guidelines are based on family size and median local income.  

Awardees are selected through a competitive review and audition process.  Initial applications are reviewed by the scholarship committee and finalists are selected each year.  Finalists are required to participate in a live audition at the Jeanette M. Russell Jazz Scholarship Competition.   

For further information, please download the current simplified application form. For additional assistance call the Gold Coast Jazz Society at 954-524-0805 or email Judy Murfin, Business Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Click on the links below to download the current applications. We have simplified the applications for you!

2024 Applications


Click here to view the current scholarship flyer


GOLD COAST JAZZ SOCIETY ANNOUNCES

Fifteen Music Majors Receive Gold Coast Jazz Scholarships in 2021
Read Article

Gold Coast Jazz Scholarship Award Recipients
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Are you a currently enrolled college scholarship applicant reapplying for your Gold Coast Jazz scholarship?
Please Read This Article

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