The Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra (RYJO) was formed by Dr. Gordon Vernick in June 2011. RYJO consists of one big band and multiple jazz combos. RYJO exposes students to the full spectrum of jazz music and education. The students are selected through audition. Participating students have come from the many counties in the past, including, but not limited to: Fulton, Cobb, Dekalb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and Fayette. Home-schooled students are also encouraged to audition.
Jazz is an American music, and it is important to protect and preserve its important musical and cultural heritage. The best way to do this is to teach young musicians about the art form through performance. Our big band and jazz combos perform music that is historically significant as well as challenging. In rehearsals, RYJO stresses personal responsibility, musicianship, teamwork, and artistic expression.
The students receive outstanding instruction in jazz performance, jazz history, and jazz improvisation from our faculty. Each jazz combo is supervised by one of the jazz faculty from Georgia State University. The groups range from the intermediate level to the advanced level. The combos are often asked to perform in the metro Atlanta area at music venues and senior centers.
Dr. Vernick envisions this select high school group to be a continuation of the middle school jazz program, Rialto Jazz for Kids. The young musicians are treated as professionals, despite their age. Many of the graduating high school students go on to become music majors in college. Former band members currently attend the University of North Texas, New England Conservatory of Music, Georgia State University, The University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, Florida State University, The Juilliard School, and the Berklee College of Music.
We supply all music and folders. The students will need to purchase long and short sleeve shirts for our performances. It is also helpful if each student brings a 16GB flash drive to rehearsals so we can give them important recordings for listening purposes. All rehearsals will take place in Georgia State University’s Rialto Center located on Forsyth Street.
Past performance highlights include: concerts at Georgia State University, featured performances at Café 290, Churchill Grounds (Atlanta’s premier jazz club), the Atlanta Jazz Festival in Piedmont Park (2011, 2013, 2014), the Jazz Education Network Conference (Atlanta 2013), and the Governors Inaugural Reception at Philips Arena in 2011.
Application fee: $25–due at time of application
Concert polos: $40 for both polos (one short-sleeve, one long-sleeve)
The deadline to purchase concert polos is Friday, November 16, 2018. Members are required to wear their polos for all RYJO affiliated performances and events.
Big Band Tuition: $450 for the year
Combo Tuition: $350 for the year
The tuition deadline is Friday, October 12, 2018. If you require a flexible payment option, contact the Office of Educational Outreach prior to the October deadline.
All tuition and fees are non-refundable.
Saturday, August 11, 2018, from 10 am – 4 pm
Sunday, August 12, 2018, from 10 am – 4 pm
Monday, August 13, 2018, from 4:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Audition times run approximately 10-15 minutes in length. Times will be assigned and emailed out once your application is complete.
Sunday Night Combos rehearse on Sunday from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
Monday Night Combos rehearse on Monday from 6:00 pm to 7:20 pm.
Big Band rehearses on Monday from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
Your Combo’s rehearsal time will depend on which Combo you are placed in. Students will be assigned Combos and Big Band placement once auditions have concluded.
Concerts will be announced during the season.
There will be a concert for each group at the conclusion of each semester. More performances will be communicated via Remind and email during the semester.
Members of the Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra are expected to attend and be prepared for all rehearsals. However, we understand that life happens, and perfect attendance isn’t always possible. As such, we are enacting the following attendance policy for the year:
Freshman – Juniors: Students are allowed four (4) absences per year. Excuses are not required, but please notify Dr. Vernick, Amy Reid, and your combo instructor beforehand. Please refer to the Handbook for contact information.
Seniors: With the understanding that seniors may have college auditions and trips, senior students are allowed six (6) absences per year. Excuses are not required, but please notify Dr. Vernick, Amy Reid, and your combo instructor beforehand. Please refer to the Handbook for contact information.
Georgia State University hosts a variety of camps, clinics, after-school programs, classes, and activities that bring predominantly non-student minors onto campus, such as this event. The University considers the safety and well-being of these non-student minors while on campus immensely important. Accordingly, this program adheres to the Programs Serving Non-Student Minors Policy operational standards for the activities described, in compliance with the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Policy 12.9 (“Programs Serving Minors”).
Students will be issued a PantherCard to allow them access to the Jazz Suite in the Rialto Center. Students are responsible for knowing the location of their ID at all times. Contact the Office of Educational Outreach directly for lost IDs. Students needing a replacement ID will be charged a $10 replacement fee.
Members of RYJO are expected to be on time and be prepared for all rehearsals to the best of their ability. In both Big Band and Combos, your fellow members rely on you to be prepared each week in order to improve as a unit. Students who are chronically under-prepared may be moved to a different group or part. Please practice to ensure that this does not occur.
Concert attire applies to all events when the group is billed as part of “Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra”:
- RYJO Polo (long sleeve in winter, short sleeve in summer)
- Black pants (no shorts)
- Black socks
- Black shoes
Handbook
Big Book
Faculty
Complete the application and contact the Office of Educational Outreach at cotaoeo@gsu.edu to schedule an audition time.
This year’s Big Band Audition will consist of the Jazz Etudes listed below (or another appropriate jazz etude or transcription), GMEA Jazz Scales, and sight reading.
Prepare 3 selections including a blues, latin, and jazz standard (swing).
Suggested Jazz Composition List For Auditions:
| So What | Tune Up | Little Sunflower |
| Billie’s Bounce | Impressions | Footprints |
| Blue Bossa | Doxy | Maiden Voyage |
| Take the A Train | St. Thomas | Satin Doll |
| Summertime | Four | Song for My Father |
| Rhythm Changes | Solar | Ornithology |
| Autumn Leaves | Ladybird | All the Things |
| Just Friends | Recordame |
Auditions will take place in the Jazz Studies area of Georgia State University’s School of Music, located at 76 Forsythe Street NW, Atlanta, GA. This is next door to the Rialto Center for the Arts.
Please plan to arrive half an hour prior to your scheduled audition time to allow for check-in and warm up time. When you arrive, you will need to check-in with a Georgia State School of Music representative. Participants will have a photo taken at check-in, to be used in each RYJO Member’s campus ID cards, issued each year.
Students may be dropped off outside the building via the loading lane if space is available. Please do not park in the loading lane. Parking is also available on the street at meters or at any of several parking decks located nearby.
Each audition is scheduled for 15 minutes. You will be directed to the audition room upon arrival. Participants will play their prepared repertoire and meet Dr. Vernick during the audition. For a list of acceptable repertoire, including printable All-State etudes and scales, please visit the Auditon Music tab. Participants will be notified of their acceptance into the program and/or scholarship information in early September.
