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About the Festival

The Lion City Jazz Festival (LCJF) is our flagship mentorship festival dedicated to nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians. The 2026 edition is especially exciting, featuring the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra (JASSYO!) alongside esteemed mentors such as

7-time Grammy Award winner Randy Brecker, acclaimed saxophonist Ada Rovatti, and a lineup of international guest musicians.

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Selected participants will perform as part of JASSYO! together with the LCJF mentors for the Finale Concert on 28 March 2026.

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Apply now for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to share the stage with internationally acclaimed jazz artists and JASSYO!

AUDITIONS

Prerequisites

​1. We are looking for:

  • Vocalists

  • Saxophonists

  • Flutists

  • Trombonists

  • Trumpeters

  • Pianists

  • Guitarists

  • Bassists

  • Drummers

​​2. Overall Proficiency

Applicants should:

  • Have a working knowledge of music theory

  • Demonstrate strong proficiency on their chosen instruments

  • Be able to improvise in the jazz idiom at an advanced level

​​3. Age Requirements

  • Applicant must be below the age of 35 on 23 March 2026 

  • Applicants under 18 must seek parental consent

​​4. Nationality & Local Residency

  • Must be Singaporeans, Permanent Residents (PR) or Student Pass Holders (STP)

​5. Commitment to Scheduled Dates

Successful candidates must commit to all rehearsals and entire duration of the festival 

Application Deadline: 

  • Friday, 2 January 2026​
     

  • Shortlisted applicants will be notified by Friday, 9 January 2026

Live Audition

Date: Sunday, 25 January 2026​

Venue: Tumbleweed Studios, 8 Raffles Ave, #02-19 Esplanade Mall,
Singapore 039802

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Selected applicants will be notified by Friday, 6 February 2026

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Pre-Festival Rehearsals​

Date: Mondays, 2, 9, 16 March 2026
Time: 7pm to 10pm
Venue: TBC

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Festival Rehearsals​

Date: Monday, 23 March 2026 - Friday, 27 March 2026

Time: 10am to 6pm (TBC)

Venue: Gateway Theatre, 3615 Jalan Bukit Merah, Singapore 159461

Festival Soundcheck and Performance â€‹

Date: Saturday, 28 March 2026

Soundcheck Time: 3pm to 6pm (TBC)

Concert Time: 7.30pm to 10pm (TBC) 

Audition Information

  1. ​Pre-Screening Recording Submission


Applicants must submit a video recording of themselves performing TWO pieces:
 

For Instrumentalists

a) Blues Improvisation
 

  •  2 solo choruses over a blues in F using this backing track:
    https://open.spotify.com/track/6uysPjvYNXYb10N1UHljWM?si=8KWDfajcSFKjA5lN-otWsg1

    * Note: Applicants can pan the recording hard left or right to remove the piano or bass track respectively. 
    Drummers may record their 2 improvised blues choruses without an accompaniment track, or with their own live / pre-recorded accompaniment. The performance should be at a medium tempo.


AND

b) ONE of the following selections: 
 

  • Tell Me a Bedtime Story (Herbie Hancock) 
    Structure: melody in → 2 improvised choruses → melody out 
    Bassists and drummers should play an accompaniment part during the melody in / out 
    Can be performed with a backing track, live rhythm section, or solo/unaccompanied (not recommended for drums / bass)     

 

  • Suspone (Michael Brecker) 
    Structure: melody in → 2 improvised choruses → melody out 
    Bassists and drummers should play an accompaniment part during the melody in / out  
    Can be performed with a backing track, live rhythm section, or solo/unaccompanied (not recommended for drums / bass) 

 

For Vocalists

 

a) Blues Improvisation 
 

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AND

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b) ONE of the following selections: 

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  •  Prelude to a Kiss (Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon and Irving Mills)
    Perform the melody once with a backing track or live rhythm section

 

  • Moody's Mood for Love (Jimmy McHugh, James Moody, Dorothy Fields, Eddie Jefferson)
    Perform the melody once with a backing track or live rhythm section

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     2. Live Audition (Shortlisted Candidates)


Date: 25 January 2026
*Note: Candidates' individual time slots will be assigned accordingly

Venue: Tumbleweed Studios, 8 Raffles Ave, #02-19 Esplanade Mall, Singapore 039802
 

For Instrumentalists

Requirements:


1. Perform ONE of the following with a live rhythm section (provided):

 

  • ​"Some Skunk Funk" (Randy Brecker), with at least 1 improvised solo chorus
     

  • "Spherical" (Michael Brecker), with 4 improvised solo choruses over the 1st solo section


2. Sight-Reading

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For Vocalists
 

Requirements:

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1. Perform BOTH of the following with a live rhythm section (provided):
*Note: Applicants may be requested to improvise a solo over these pieces

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  • "Chan's Song" (Stevie Wonder and Herbie Hancock)
    *Note: This will be performed with a medium tempo funk groove. Applicants may choose from the following keys, Db, Gb, B or E (first chord of the song) 
     

  • "Stormy Monday" (T-Bone Walker)
    *Note: This will be performed as a medium shuffle

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2. Sight-Reading

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