Auditions continue for new Youth Jazz Orchestra

The Mesilla Valley Youth Jazz Orchestra (YJO) launched earlier this month as “the first-ever intracity youth jazz group in Las Cruces and the surrounding areas,” YJO said in a news release.

YJO is an extracurricular auditioned outreach program, overseen by the Mesilla Valley Jazz and Blues Society (MVJBS), for high school jazz students desiring to reach the next level in their music education, the news release said.

The new community-funded organization is being directed by local jazz musicians Frank “Pancho” Romero and Roman Chip. Both Romero and Chip are music educators, each with decades of jazz experience and a passion for their students.

“We have many students across the district who are extremely talented,” said Romero, who is president of MVJBS. “Our hope for YJO is to bring students together from throughout the Mesilla Valley and provide a supplemental jazz experience, support collaboration and better prepare these students for competitive collegiate programs.”

YJO will require students to be enrolled in their respective high school’s jazz program or recommended by a private teacher if home-schooled or enrolled in a private or charter school, the news release said. Participating students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA and must attend all YJO rehearsals, 3-5 p.m. Sundays. The first YJO concert is Saturday, Oct. 14, as part of the Border Jazz Orchestra Concert Series.

YJO will include alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, trombone, drums, bass, trumpet, guitar, piano and auxiliary percussion.

The cost to join YJO is $20 per month, paid biannually, the news release said. Scholarships are available for students and families with financial need.

Auditions

Auditions to join YJO continue through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 20, the news release said.

Students can record auditions and upload them as private YouTube videos and then send a link to the video to mvjbspres@gmail.com and romanchip@gmail.com. If students need assistance, they can email Romero at the same email address above.

Audition material includes the New Mexico Music Educators’ Association Jazz 2023 and 2024 All State audition material, the news release said. Visit https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12-3RStr2Ia9q9yx0WY9zdzdro7suzXBr and https://docs.google.com/document/d/1q7UmICptv_iO5fpt9E6A1qux7kF0U6oMY-QmSBqrC3o/edit.

For more information and to access forms digitally, visitMVJazzBlues.net and PanchoRomeroMusicalServices.com.