Jazz and Commercial Music Studio

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Lamont offers an exceptional environment for jazz & commercial musicians, combining individualized instruction with world-class resources and performance opportunities. Our department is vibrant and collaborative, where musicians challenge and support one another in pursuit of artistic excellence. Guided by our phenomenal faculty, students engage in intensive private lessons, combos of varying genres and sizes, performance class, large ensembles, and masterclasses with renowned guest artists. In Lamont’s jazz & commercial music department, students celebrate each other’s successes and push one another to reach new artistic heights.

Audition Requirements

Jazz & Commercial Music Auditions

Studying Jazz & Commercial Music at Lamont

Lamont’s jazz & commercial music department prepares students to step confidently into the professional world with practical skills and real-world experience. Our exceptional faculty have active careers and firsthand industry insight, so students receive guidance on what it takes to succeed across diverse genres in today’s industry. The department community is one of passionate support and accountability, where creativity and professionalism go hand in hand.

Students immerse themselves in dynamic weekly schedules that include participation in two ensembles—ranging from jazz orchestras and small groups to R&B, experimental, and vocal jazz ensembles—building versatility and ensemble skills. Lamont’s jazz & commercial music students rehearse just steps away in a professional recording studio, and frequent collaboration with Recording and Production allows the opportunity to explore genre-blending styles and produce their own recordings. Comprehensive coursework in improvisation, composition, theory, and musicology rounds out a broad, well-rounded education.

With Denver’s vibrant but accessible music scene just outside campus, students regularly perform in renowned local venues like Dazzle and Nocturne, receiving performance experience through paid gigs and building their careers while still in school. Weekly community jam sessions and frequent performance opportunities ensure Lamont’s jazz and commercial musicians graduate not only skilled but ready to thrive in today’s evolving musical landscape. If you’re looking for a place to grow as a musician, artist, and individual, the Lamont jazz & commercial music department offers a vibrant and supportive home.

45-50 jazz & commercial music students at Lamont

Over 8 ensembles to participate in each quarter

300+ performance opportunities per year

Faculty

Remy Le Beouf

Assistant Professor, Chair of Jazz & Commercial Music Studies, Composition

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Mike Abbott

Adjunct Professor, Guitar

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Eduardo "Bijoux" Barbosa

Adjunct Professor, Bass

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Adam Gang

Adjunct Faculty, Saxophone and Jazz Improvisation & Composition

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Dru Heller

Adjunct Faculty, Drum Set

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Richard Harris

Assistant Professor, Trombone

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Gabriel Mervine

Adjunct Professor, Trumpet

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Zach Rich

Adjunct Professor, Arranging and Improvisation

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Peter Stoltzman

Adjunct Professor, Piano

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Tatiana Mayfield Brown

Assistant Professor, Jazz & Commercial Music; commercial music voice

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Gabriel Santiago

Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Improvisation & Composition

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Camilla Vaitaitis

Adjunct Faculty, Jazz Keyboard Skills

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Seth Lewis

Adjunct faculty, Jazz Improvisation & Jazz History

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Degree Programs

Jazz voice student performs at Provost Concert

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.

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
1. Submit 2-4 musical scores of contrasting works.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
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
1. Submit 2-4 musical scores of contrasting works.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Review Requirements for Artist Diploma

Life After Lamont

Notable Jazz & Commercial Music Alumni

Lamont students have worked with some of the most prestigious music organizations in the world. Alumni have performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolf Trap, Vancouver Symphony, Broadway, the West End, and San Francisco Opera. Lamont composers have premiered works at Carnegie Hall and the Monterey Jazz Festival, and conductors have led orchestras from Brazil to Hungary. Graduates of our Musicology and music theory programs hold posts at prestigious institutions nationwide. And our recording and production students have launched careers in Hollywood, editing soundtracks for films like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Chris Glassman - BM 2017

Director of Jazz, Interlochen Center for the Arts
Megan Letts - BM 2014

Vocalist, Mama Magnolia

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.
Jazz and Commercial Music Students at Lamont have access to a wide variety of genres through our rotating combos and small groups.
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.
Lamont Jazz Orchestra Rehersal
Lamont Jazz Orchestra rehearsal
Lamont Jazz Orchestra Rehearsal