Jazz Ensembles

Triangle Youth Music Jazz Ensembles

There are four levels of jazz ensemble available through Triangle Youth Music. All the groups study and perform big band literature of all genres. 

Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble

The award winning Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble (TYJE) is based in Raleigh under the direction of Dr. Gregg Gelb. TYJE is for advanced musicians in grades 8 – 12 who want to develop the skills to perform a wide range of jazz compositions. The ensemble will provide the opportunity for members to study and perform the best of big band jazz in a professional setting. TYJE will have a variety of performance opportunities and participates in the Essentially Ellington program from Jazz at Lincoln Center.


TYJE Musicians Rehearse on Sundays from 12:30-3:30 PM at Price Music Center, NCSU.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 Season: $700

Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra

Triangle Youth Jazz Orchestra was added in 2015. TYJO is an advanced, mostly high school ensemble, directed by Lisa Burn. TYJO is for musicians who want to develop the skills to perform the best of big band jazz in a professional setting.


TYJO Musicians Rehearse on Sundays from 12:30-3:30 PM at Price Music Center, NCSU.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 Season: $650

Triangle Youth Jazz Band

The Triangle Youth Jazz Band (TYJB) is an intermediate level ensemble, typically comprised of middle school students. TYJB is for musicians who want to develop the skills to perform the best of big band jazz in a professional setting and to audition successfully for our more advanced ensembles.


TYJB Musicians Rehearse on Sundays from 1:30-3:30 PM at Price Music Center, NCSU.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 Season: $650

Triangle Youth Jazz Lab

Triangle Youth Jazz Lab provides beginning jazz ensemble training with the goal of eventual transition to our more advanced ensembles.


Instrumentation

Musicians, 4th grade and above, who play alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, string bass or bass guitar, guitar, or drums. Students should have a sincere interest in learning to play jazz, be able to read music, and have a minimum of one-year of school ensemble or private instruction.


TYJL Musicians Rehearse on Sundays from 12:15-1:15 PM at Price Music Center, NCSU.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 Season: $600

Triangle Youth Jazz information and audition details

To Audition for Jazz Programs: Auditions for all TYM programs are held in late August, prior to the beginning of the school year. Information about audition dates and times will be available in late June.


To Register for Jazz Lab: There is no audition required for TYJL. Registration will open in late June, and the link to register will be found here

Awards and Recognition

TYJE has earned the Outstanding Community Band Award seven years in a row since 2012 at The Carolina Jazz Festival, North Carolina Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Festival at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


Our 2015-16 Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble was selected to go to the finals in New York City in the national competition Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Festival and earned second place (out of an original field of 92 ensembles). They are the first and only group from North Carolina selected for this honor.


Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble has again selected as a Jazz at Lincoln Center Essentially Ellington Festival finalist during our 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

Share by: