With our world-class faculty, award-winning student ensembles, and state-of-the-art facilities, you’ll find everything you need here at Lamont to prepare you for a career in jazz and commercial music. Our faculty is made up of dedicated artist-teachers who will help you develop a strong jazz vocabulary and entrepreneurial spirit while you learn the basics of performing, writing and arranging.
As a jazz and commercial music major you’ll participate in at least two ensembles every quarter, including the Lamont Jazz Orchestra and Small Groups. Lamont limits enrollment to 300 students, so you’ll enjoy small class sizes with plenty of personal attention. You’ll also learn from the amazing guest artists we bring in for master classes and performances; recent guests have included Joshua Redman, the Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra, Pat Metheny, Miguel Zenon, and Cyrus Chestnut.
Auditions
Applicants may choose to either audition in person in Denver OR submit a recorded video audition.
Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You may indicate your preference for a live or virtual audition on the Lamont application.
Click here to view the current year’s audition dates and the full steps for how to apply.
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In-Person Audition Requirements
All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of their prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.
Jazz Performance: All Programs
Prepare three pieces that you feel best exemplify your talent. You’re encouraged to choose contrasting pieces from the standard canon of jazz tunes, in which you perform the melody and then improvise. We're looking for performances that demonstrate musicality, technical skill and an understanding of standard chord progressions, e.g. blues form, chord scales, two five ones, etc.
Audition requirements are the same for all instruments as well as voice.
Minor
Prepare one piece that you feel best exemplifies your talent. You’re encouraged to choose contrasting pieces from the standard canon of jazz tunes, in which you perform the melody and then improvise.
Jazz Composition and Arranging
- Submit 2-4 musical scores of contrasting works.
- Submit corresponding recordings of your scores, and any additional works you'd like to share. You may either submit the audio files or link to them on YouTube, Soundcloud, Google Drive, etc.
- Audition on your primary instrument or voice with three pieces that you feel best exemplify your talent. You’re encouraged to choose contrasting pieces from the standard canon of jazz tunes, in which you perform the melody and then improvise. We're looking for performances that demonstrate musicality, technical skill and an understanding of standard chord progressions, e.g. blues form, chord scales, two five ones, etc.
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Video Audition Requirements
Applicants unable to travel to Denver for a live audition may submit a video audition via the Lamont application. Repertoire may be recorded separately in multiple takes; editing within each take is prohibited.
Jazz Performance: All Programs
Prepare three pieces that you feel best exemplify your talent. You’re encouraged to choose contrasting pieces from the standard canon of jazz tunes, in which you perform the melody and then improvise. We're looking for performances that demonstrate musicality, technical skill and an understanding of standard chord progressions, e.g. blues form, chord scales, two five ones, etc.
Audition requirements are the same for all instruments as well as voice.
Minor
Prepare one piece that you feel best exemplifies your talent. You’re encouraged to choose contrasting pieces from the standard canon of jazz tunes, in which you perform the melody and then improvise.
Jazz Composition and Arranging
- Submit 2-4 musical scores of contrasting works.
- Submit corresponding recordings of your scores, and any additional works you'd like to share. You may either submit the audio files or link to them on YouTube, Soundcloud, Google Drive, etc.
- Audition on your primary instrument or voice with three pieces that you feel best exemplify your talent. You’re encouraged to choose contrasting pieces from the standard canon of jazz tunes, in which you perform the melody and then improvise. We're looking for performances that demonstrate musicality, technical skill and an understanding of standard chord progressions, e.g. blues form, chord scales, two five ones, etc.
Faculty
Remy Le Beouf
Assistant Professor, Chair of Jazz & Commercial Music Studies, Composition
Mike Abbott
Adjunct Professor, Guitar
Eduardo "Bijoux" Barbosa
Adjunct Professor, Bass
Annie Booth
Adjunct Professor, Jazz Arranging, Improvisation, and Composition
Marion Powers
Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Voice
Adam Gang
Adjunct Faculty, Saxophone and Jazz Improvisation & Composition
Dru Heller
Adjunct Faculty, Drum Set
Richard Harris
Assistant Professor, Trombone
Gabriel Mervine
Adjunct Professor, Trumpet
Zach Rich
Adjunct Professor, Arranging and Improvisation
Peter Stoltzman
Adjunct Professor, Piano
Tatiana Mayfield Brown
Assistant Professor, Jazz & Commercial Music; commercial music voice
Gabriel Santiago
Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Improvisation & Composition
Camilla Vaitaitis
Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Keyboard Skills
Seth Lewis
Adjunct faculty, Jazz Improvisation & Jazz History
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The Lamont Jazz Orchestra, directed by 4X grammy-nominated composer and saxophonist Remy Le Boeuf, performs regularly within Lamont and in the larger Denver area. The ensemble was recently invited to perform as the only student ensemble featured at the Five Points Jazz Festival.
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Jazz and Commercial Music Students at Lamont have access to a wide variety of genres through our rotating combos and small groups.
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Denver offers students with a thriving arts scene to perform in regularly, including gig opportunities throughout the city. Lamont offers formal performance engagements, too, like this recent concert at Children's Hospital Colorado.
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Lamont Jazz Orchestra Rehersal
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Lamont Jazz Orchestra rehearsal
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Lamont Jazz Orchestra Rehearsal
