The 2020 Disneyland Resort All-American College Band is now accepting signups for its Pacific Northwest auditions. The auditions will be taking place in Portland, Oregon on Saturday, December 7th at 11:00 AM. The auditions will be at:
The Hallowed Halls
4420 SE 64th Ave
Portland, OR 97206
To sign up for an audition slot, visit: disneylandevents.com/aacb.pdf
According to the website, the Disneyland Resort All-American College Band is seeking the following:
We are seeking college students with a diverse musical background, excellent musicality, and an expressive/outgoing personality. Participants must be at least 18 years old, currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university, and have completed at least one year. The Disneyland Resort will provide fully-furnished housing and weekly compensation.
Open Positions:
- 4 Trumpets
- 3 Tenor Trombones (double on Euphonium encouraged)
- 1 Bass Trombone (double on Euphonium encouraged)
- 2 Alto Sax (double on flute/clarinet/piccolo encouraged)
- 2 Tenor Sax (double on flute/clarinet/piccolo encouraged)
- 1 Baritone Sax (double on flute/clarinet/piccolo encouraged)
- 2 Tuba/Sousaphone – will play on tuba and sousaphone
- 2 Horn/Mellophone – will play on French horn and mellophone
- 1 Snare Drum (doubles on Drum set or Auxiliary Percussion)
- 1 Tenor Drum/Quads (doubles on Drum set or Auxiliary Percussion)
- 1 Bass (Acoustic & Electric; doubles on Bass Drum or tuba)
- 1 Jazz Piano (doubles on auxiliary percussion)
There are no string, theater, singer or dancer positions.
Audition Information on What to Prepare
Our shows require performers to be versatile in many styles; personality and enthusiasm are important factors for a successful audition. Students should come prepared to showcase their musical ability as outlined below and will be expected to exhibit moderate proficiency in sight-reading skills. You may not be asked to play all of your prepared pieces. If you wish to use an accompaniment track, please bring your own media player (iPod, smartphone, etc.).
Here is what students are asked to perform:
Wind Instruments – Trumpet, Trombone, Sax, Tuba, French Horn
Classical
Students should prepare two classical pieces. Each should be a maximum of one minute in length. They should demonstrate a student’s technical proficiency and lyrical ability. The audition page suggests a “solo concerto, etude or any orchestral excerpt.”
Saxophone Doubles
Come with two excerpts that display that are technical and lyrical that demonstrates the student’s ability to play the clarinet and flute/piccolo.
Jazz and/or Lead Players
Play Billie’s Bounce. Be prepared to play both the head and also once through the changes. Students should also prepare another jazz piece at one-minute maximum that demonstrates their ability and knowledge with Jazz styles and improvisation. Pieces suggested are Nica’s Dream, There Will Never Be Another You, All the Things You Are. The student should improvise on at least one chorus.
Lead Trumpet will need to prepare two excerpts that demonstrate to “ability to phrase in a jazz style and play in the upper register.” The student should play one medium swing and one up-tempo swing or ballad.
Bass – Acoustic, Electric
Perform Billie’s Bounce, play the head. Perform a walking bass line (2 choruses) and also improvise 2 choruses. Perform another jazz piece that demonstrates knowledge and understanding of jazz styles and improvisation. Pieces suggested are Nica’s Dream, There Will Never Be Another You, All the Things You Are. Students will also need to improvise one chorus.
Jazz Piano
Classical
Perform two classical pieces that are a maximum of one minute each. These pieces should demonstrate technical proficiency and lyrical ability. It is suggested that students perform a solo concerto, etude or any orchestral excerpt.
Jazz
Perform Billie’s Bounce. Be ready to play the head and also once through the changes. Students should also prepare another jazz piece at one-minute maximum that demonstrates their ability and knowledge with Jazz styles and improvisation. Pieces suggested are Nica’s Dream, There Will Never Be Another You, All the Things You Are.
Drummers
Prepare a rudimental etude that emphasizes technical facility. Also, be prepared to demonstrate abilities on the following styles on a drum set: Bossa Nova, Samba, medium swing, jazz waltz, 12/8, Afro Cuban, up-tempo swing, Ballad w/brushes, and Hip-Hop. Play on each style for one minute. It is also optional to perform Billie’s Bounce (play the head and once through the changes).
Students auditioning for the 2020 Disneyland Resort All-American College Band will be asked to perform at least one of their pieces. It could lead to more. They may also be asked to sight-read a piece as the Disney team evaluates their abilities. All of this is done in an effort to gauge the proficiency of the student who is auditioning. Students will then be asked to do some basic movement in a small group. Finally, students may also be asked to stay for a brief interview.
Students do not need to have any background in dance. According to the band’s information, “as long as you can step-touch and clap your hands to the beat, and you’re not afraid to boogie, you will be fine.”
There will not be any accompaniment provided at the audition. For students wanting to improvise with a recorded track, they are encouraged to bring their own device (iPhone, etc) that can be connected to a speaker via a connector cable that the Disney team will provide.
Students are encouraged to prepare a resume of past performances and education prior to the audition. It is suggested that students create a profile on disneyauditions.com, upload a resume, photo, and any links to media the student would like to share. Disneyland does GREEN auditions so students don’t need to bring a resume or photos to the audition. It is suggested that students wear comfortable, clean, and fresh clothes that are in good repair. Closed-toe shoes are also required. Remember, this is a job audition when preparing an outfit.
The 2020 Disneyland Resort All-American College Band will have its final casting session in early March. The band plans to make offers by mid-March. If a student isn’t contacted by the end of March, they are encouraged to try auditioning again the following year!
The Disneyland Resort All-American College Band, presented by Yamaha, has been a tradition at the Disneyland Resort for nearly five decades. Comprised of 21 students, the band performs throughout the Disneyland Resort for eleven weeks each summer. During this time, they also work with guest clinicians who are world-renowned artists, producers, and industry professionals. These clinicians have included Wayne Bergeron, Gregg Field, John Clayton, Jiggs Whigham, Rick Baptist, and many more in the past. This is all a part of the opportunities the students in the band get to learn about the entertainment industry.
The band performs five days a week at the Disneyland Resort. Each day includes the following:
- clinic, rehearsal, or industry experience
- five performance sets
- four moving/marching band sets
- one jazz band/concert set
For the students during the program, Yamaha provides pro-line instruments, including doubles. At the end of the summer, band students have the opportunity to purchase their instruments at a discounted rate.
More information about the Disneyland Resort All-American College Band can be found on their Facebook page or by visiting disneylandevents.com/aacb.pdf
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