THE EUROPEAN ACADEMY OF ARTS SAXOPHONE/JAZZ

E-COMPETITIONS

 LIST OF UPCOMING SAXOPHONE AND BRASS COMPETITIONS





  • January, 2021 - All the Things You Are (Standards—Medium and Up Tempo).

    A significant portion of standard jazz repertoire comes from Broadway show tunes written from the 1920s through the 1940s. Select a medium or up tempo tune from that repertoire for this month’s competition.

    Composers: Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Rogers and Hammerstein, George and Ira Gershwin

    Tunes: All the Things You Are, What Is This Thing Called Love, Beautiful Love, Autumn Leaves, All of Me, There Is No Greater Love, There Will Never Be Another You, Honeysuckle Rose, How High the Moon, Have You Meet Miss Jones

Application deadline: January 15th; Prescreening: January 16th-21st; Final Round: January 23rd - 25th; Results: January 26th

  • February, 2021 - I Love You Body and Soul (Standards—Ballads)

    Ballads are slow jazz tunes that provide contrast to the medium and up tempo tunes that make up the majority of a jazz program. Many standard jazz ballads come from Broadway show tunes, but this month’s competition is also open to ballads written by great jazz musicians.

    Composers: Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Rogers and Hammerstein, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane

    Tunes: Body and Soul, Mood Indigo, Angel Eyes, I Can’t Get Started with You, In A Sentimental Mood, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Misty, My Funny Valentine, Naima, Stella by Starlight, God Bless the Child

Application deadline: February 15th; Prescreening: February 16th-21st; Final Round: February 23rd - 25th; Results: February 26th

  • March, 2021 - It Don’t Mean a Thing if It Ain’t Got That Swing (Swing Era)

    Jazz was the popular music of the 1930’s and 40’s. The driving force was a number of well-known Big Bands led by musicians such as Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Bennie Goodman, and Chick Webb. Select a tune associated with Big Band jazz for this month’s competition.

    Composers: Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, Count Basie

    Tunes: Take the “A” Train, Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, In the Mood, Cottontail, It Don’t Mean a Thing, Lester Leaps In; Sing, Sing, Sing; Perdido, Satin Doll, In a Mellow Tone

Application deadline: March 15th; Prescreening: March 16th-21st; Final Round: March 23rd-25th; Results: March 26th

  • April, 2021 - To Be or Not to Bop (Bebop)

    Bebop developed in the mid-1940s as a reaction to Swing. Chord changes became more complex. Fast tempos became faster, and slow tempos became slower so tunes were no longer easily danceable. Bebop musicians wanted their audience to listen instead of dance. Select a tune composed by a Bebop musician for this month’s competition.

    Composers: Charlie Parker, Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Sonny Stitt, Dexter Gordon

    Tunes: A Night in Tunisia, Confirmation, Donna Lee, Au Privave, Scrapple from the Apple, Well You Needn’t, ‘Round Midnight, Bebop, The Eternal Triangle, Ornithology, Yardbird Suite, Blues for Alice, Straight No Chaser, Blue Monk

Application deadline: April 15th; Prescreening: April 16th-21st; Final Round: April 23rd-25th; Results: April 26th

  • May, 2021 - Fiesta! (Latin Jazz)

    To go along with Cinco de Mayo, this month’s competition is Latin themed. Brazilian pianist Antonio Carlos Jobim is the most important composer of Latin Jazz repertoire. He was a leader in developing the Bossa Nova, new beat, style of Latin American music. Although bossas incorporate Latin American rhythms and percussion, they tend to be slower and less fiery than their immediate samba predecessors. Select a tune influenced by the rhythms of Latin American music.

    Composers: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luis Bonfa, Tito Puente

    Tunes: Black Orpheus, Girl from Ipanema, Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars, How Insensitive, One Note Samba, Caravan, St. Thomas, Manteca, Blue Bossa, Picadillo, Wave

Application deadline: May 15th; Prescreening: May 16th-21st; Final Round: May 23rd-25th; Results: May 26th

  • June, 2021 - Countdown to Giant Steps (Post Bop—Hard Bop and Cool)

    As Bebop was a reaction against Swing, Post Bop was a reaction against Bebop, and it went mainly in two different directions, Hard Bop and Cool. Hard Bop practitioners often increased the tempo and the complexity of the chord changes to extremes beyond Bebop, culminating in the complex and fast tunes by John Coltrane such as Giant Steps and Countdown. Although music of the Cool period could still be fast and complex, Cool practitioners often relaxed the tempo and complexity. Cool is also known as West Coast Jazz. Select a tune embodying either Hard Bop or Cool principles.

    Composers: John Coltrane, Miles Davis, John Lewis, Sonny Rollins, Charles Mingus, Wayne Shorter, Horace Silver, Gerry Mulligan, Clifford Brown, Tadd Dameron, Benny Golson, Dave Brubeck, Bill Evans

    Tunes: Giant Steps, Bessie’s Blues, Doxy, Song for My Father, Nostalgia in Times Square, The Sidewinder, Lady Bird, Joy Spring, Killer Joe, Sugar, Boplicity

Application deadline: June 15th; Prescreening: June 16th-21st; Final Round: June 23rd-25th; Results: June 26th

  • July, 2021 - Some Skunk Funk (Fusion)

    Led by Miles Davis in the late 1960s, Rock influenced tunes with straight eighth-note rhythms, simpler chord progressions, and electronic instruments began to appear. This music fused Rock elements with jazz and was thus referred to as Fusion. Select a tune with Rock influences for this month’s competition.

    Composers: Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul

    Tunes: Freedom Jazz Dance, Watermelon Man, Cantaloupe Island, Some Skunk Funk, Mr. Magic, Birdland

Application deadline: July 15th; Prescreening: July 16th-21st; Final Round: July 23rd-25th; Results: July 26th

  • August, 2021 - All Blues (Blues Progression)

    The blues is the most common contrafactum in jazz. Numerous melodies have been written by composers across the jazz spectrum to go with a basic 12-bar blues progression of IIV-I-V-I. Select a tune based on a blues progression for this month’s competition.

    Composers: Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, George Gershwin, Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk

    Tunes: Take the Coltrane, C-Jam Blues, Now’s the Time, Tenor Madness, Mr. P.C., Freddie Freeloader, All Blues, Summertime, Equinox, Billie’s Bounce, Blue Trane

Application deadline: August 15th; Prescreening: August 16th-21st; Final Round: August 23rd-25th; Results: August 26th

  • September, 2021 - I Got Rhythm (Rhythm Changes)

    Rhythm Changes refer to the chord changes to George Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm,” which is the second most common contrafactum in jazz after the blues. Select a tune based on Rhythm Changes for this month’s competition.

    Composers: George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins

    Tunes: I Got Rhythm, Cottontail, Moose the Mooche, Anthropology, Oleo, Meet the Flinstones

Application deadline: September 15th; Prescreening: September 16th-21st; Final Round: September 23rd-25th; Results: September 26th

  • October, 2021 - What’s New? (Contemporary)

    Select a composition by any contemporary jazz composer for this month’s competition.

    Original compositions in any style are also welcome and encouraged.

    Composers: Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Joshua Redman, Pat Methany, Wynton Marsalis, Chris Potter

    Tunes: Sea Journey, Windows, Spain, 500 Miles High

Application deadline: October 15th; Prescreening: October 16th-21st; Final Round: October 23rd-25th; Results: October 26th

  • November, 2021 - My Favorite Things (Modal and Odd-Meter)

    The 4/4 time signature is the easiest time signature for jazz musicians to improvise in, so most jazz compositions are written in 4/4 time. Odd-meter compositions, tunes with time signatures such as 3/4, 5/4 or 6/8, began appearing after Bebop, most notably in Dave Brubeck’s Time Out album. Modal jazz, tunes consisting of very few chord changes that usually stayed within the same mode, grew out of Hard Bop and was influenced by Indian Classical music. Select an odd-meter or modal tune for this month’s competition.

    Composers: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Paul Desmond, Dave Brubeck

    Tunes: My Favorite Things, All Blues, Take Five, Footprints, All Blues, Impressions, So

    What, A Love Supreme, Spiritual, Afro Blue, India, Some Day My Prince Will Come

Application deadline: November 15th; Prescreening: November 16th-21st; Final Round: November 23rd-25th; Results: November 26th

  • December, 2021 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Holiday Songs)

    Select a jazz version of a holiday song for this month’s competition.*

    *Most of the example tunes listed for each competition can be found in Volumes I and II of The

    Real Book. When searching for holiday songs, start with The Real Christmas Book.

Application deadline: December 15th; Prescreening: December 16th-21st; Final Round: December 23rd-25th; Results: December 26th

Requirements for the accompanist from The European Academy of Arts

1.            The music score needs to be send to the office of The European Academy of Arts no later than 10 days prior to the recording date.

2.            The recording will take a place in the concert hall of The European Academy of Arts.

3.            The schedule for the recording needs to be completed no later that 10 days in advance.

4.            The payment for the recording needs to be submitted and received no later than 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the recording.

5.            The cost for a rehearsal with an accompanist is either $30/half-hour; or $60/one hour.

Please mail the accompanist fee to:

The European Academy of Arts, 4080 Lafayette Center Drive, Suite 170B, Chantilly, VA, 20151

Please note the following:

  • Pianists must play from original publications. There is no other choice for this competition.

  • Singers are responsible for the accompanist's compliance with this strict rule. No exceptions. 

  • The performance recorded for the video entry must be acoustic and not amplified. The only microphone(s) involved should be for recording, and the voice must not be amplified.

  • No mixing or sound enhancement is allowed through any kind of soundboard, including at a recording studio. No reverb can be added to the recording. 

  • The recording must be acoustic. It must accurately represent a live performance.

  • No audio dubbing over your video is allowed. If you are recording your video in a professional recording studio the sound engineer must not add reverb, sound enhancement or sound mixing in any way.

  • Complete instrumental introductions, interludes, etc., must be performed.


ELIGIBILITY


The EAA ongoing monthly E-Competition is open to keyboard players of all ages and nationalities.

AGES 


Musicians of all ages are encouraged to apply, especially young children who may not have much experience but are enthusiastic about sharing their musical abilities.

PRE-SCREENING

  1. You must perform at least one piece, matching the criteria for the appropriate month.

  2. Please fill out the E-Competition Application Form below.

FINAL ROUND

  • If you are approved by the judges to pass prescreening, you will receive an email invitation with instructions on how to apply to the final round.

  • Please do not be disheartened if you do not advance to the final round, as we receive applications from many talented musicians from all over the world and can only approve a limited number of candidates to advance to the final round. Keep trying and never give up!

  • If you advance to the final round and grant us permission, you are guaranteed to be featured on our YouTube channel: The European Academy of Arts official YouTube channel

  • Please click here to learn more details about completing your application.

JUDGING

  • A panel of distinguished judges shall evaluate your prescreening and final round applications. Please note that the decision of our judges is final and cannot be appealed.

PRIZES

  • Each category has multiple prizes.

  • Our judges may award additional special prizes and issue certificates of recognition.

  • Winners and their music teachers will receive diplomas, their portrait photo and music biography will be published on the results page of our website, and their performance will be shared on our YouTube channel: The European Academy of Arts official YouTube Channel.