Jacobs B-Band candidates no action is needed! We will use your youth ensemble audition towards Jacobs B-Band.
JJO In Person Audition Sign Up & Requirements
All students wishing to participate in Jacobs Jazz Orchestra are required to audition in person! Sign up for your slot below!
Due to the high level of interest in Jacobs Jazz Orchestra, placement is not guaranteed for any student—new or returning—as space is limited.
This year we will have alternate's for each instrument in Jacobs Jazz Orchestra. Alternate's are still considered member's of JJO and are expected to be prepared.
⏰ JJO Rehearsals will be Monday's 6:30-8:30pm and Sunday's 12:30pm-2pm. Rehearsals will begin Sunday August 16th. No rehearsal Sept 7th Labor Day.
Last Spring 2026, JJO competed in Jazz at the Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington High School Big Band competition in NYC. Only 20 school in the nation were chosen for this competition. JJO tied for 4th place with 5 outstanding soloist awards. This year with hard work, commitment, and dedication we are planning to place higher.
NEXT STEPS
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1. Reserve a Time Slot for Your Audition
All students auditioning for JJO must audition in-person on Saturday, July 11th or Saturday, July 18th, 2026
📍 Location: Liberty Station, YLJC Suite 107
2650 Truxtun Road, Suite 107
San Diego, CA 92106
If you’re not available for these dates, please contact us at info@yljc.org.
2. Download Requirements
Go to our Jacobs Big Bands page on the website.
Find Jacobs Jazz Orchestra Audition Materials and click to download the audition packet.
Read the audition requirements carefully.
🎯 Note: Auditions will not be considered if requirements are not followed.
3. Practice! 😄
🎯 Note: Auditions will not be considered if requirements are not followed.
Helpful Information
Use YLJC ChatBot 🤖
The YLJC ChatBot provides quick answers to commonly asked questions about our program including:
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Information available on our Website
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Audition Requirements
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Class Schedules
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YLJC Policies
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Instructor Contact Information
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Events
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Clinc & Masterclasses
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and general music questions
We recommend that all students and families bookmark the YLJC ChatBot or add it to your phone’s home screen so you can get your questions answered quickly and easily.
Please note that the YLJC ChatBot is designed to respond only to questions related to YLJC and general music topics.
Class Dates and Location
📅 Classes begin: September 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17, 2026
(Full 2026–27 class calendar available here)
📍 Location: YLJC @ Liberty Station
The scholarship application window will open on May 14, 2026, and close on August 24, 2026.
Performances
YLJC’s home away from home is Panama 66 in Balboa Park (Google Map). Our student ensembles perform there every Wednesday evening, followed by a jam session hosted by our Artistic Director, Gilbert Castellanos.
Wednesday nights at Panama 66 are a great opportunity to see the ensembles in action, meet our instructors, and connect with current students and families. The events are free and open to all ages, so bring your friends and family!
➡️ See who's playing next: Events
Clinics & Masterclasses
Kakos Clinics & Materclasses is a TUITION-FREE program for current YLJC students and FREE to the community. Thank you to Charles and Gina Kakos for the generous sponsorship! 🙏
➡️ See upcoming Clinics & Masterclasses
💬 Questions?
Ask the YLJC ChatBot for quick answers!
Not finding answers?
Don’t hesitate to reach out — we're here to help! 📧 info@yljc.org