Pennsylvania Music Educators Association

     2026 PMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition Instructions    
Time Frame: Wednesday 11/12/25- Tuesday at NOON 1/6/2026 

Directors who wish to have their students (grades 10-12 only) considered for selection should:

1. Complete the application form with payment ($20). The Director must be a current PMEA member. All student applicants must upload a headshot photo - (ABOVE the SHOULDERS) labeled Lastname_Firstname (i.e. Smith, Jack). *Please note that the person who starts the application can add collaborators to it (i.e. if the Director starts the application they can add their student to add their audition videos). Whoever is listed as the primary person on the application is the one who will receive any communications as well as the one who will need to submit the application and payment.  

2. The audition selections must be submitted online. The audition selections must be recorded from start to finish without cuts and/or splices. Do NOT use a metronome when recording any of the audition selections. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS on how to submit EACH SELECTION are listed BELOW. ARMS, FINGERS and HEAD must be visible when recording the audition videos. NO EAR BUDS or HEADPHONES are permitted to be used in the recordings. To obtain the best audio quality, a good microphone as well as high-end computers or digital recording devices for the recording equipment are suggested. *Audition videos may be uploaded to the application (mp4 preferred) OR submitted as a link (YouTube or Vimeo only).

3. No identifying clothing may be worn (i.e. no school t-shirts, no name identification, no PMEA, NAfME All Eastern or National shirts). Additionally, please do NOT include any identifying information in the video file name or in the contents of the recording (i.e. your name or school name).

4. The "Window of Opportunity" to record begins Wendesday, November 12, 2025 and ends at Noon (12:00 p.m.) on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. A confirmation email will be sent to the address on the account used to submit the application. Please check your SPAM filters for any communications and also check with your IT Administrator if a school email address is used and no email is received.

5. The director is asked to view the file and verify the recorded audition is consistent with the student’s level of performance.

6. Although PMEA checks to ensure the videos play in the correct format and the file can be opened- PMEA is NOT responsible for the content repertoire of the video. Please follow the repertoire and file labeling instructions.

7. Students may audition on multiple instruments, however a separate payment and application is required for each submission. All requirements for EACH instrument must be met and be recorded on a separate video.

8. Results of the 2026 PMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble will be posted on Friday, January 30, 2026 via the PMEA Website- www.pmea.net.

***If selected for the 2026 PMEA Jazz Ensemble, the student will no longer be eligible for any of the other All-State ensembles. Jazz students are eligible to apply for NAfME Eastern Division if applicable for any given year.***

Complete Audition Information can be found at www.pmea.net/pmeaall-stateinformation/

RECORDING INSTRUCTIONS

1. Record EACH TITLE separately.

2. LABEL THE FILE with the SELECTION TITLE from the list and upload in the corresponding section of the application OR submit as a weblink (YouTube or Vimeo links only).

*Please note that the maximum video upload size is around 2 gigs. If your videos will be larger, it's recommended to submit weblinks instead.