Every fall for the last eight years the winner of the Kobe Jazz Vocal Queen Contest-- held in Kobe -- has flown to Seattle to make their US debut at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley. Four years ago, SKSCA began holding a jazz vocalist audition as the reciprocal component of this exchange, and we are now proud to be hosting our fourth jazz audition.

Finalists will be selected by late February and will be invited to give a live audition at Dimitriou's Jazz Alley on Monday, March 24, 2008 from 7:00-9:00 pm. Family, friends, and community members are encouraged to come and support the finalists. The suggested donation will be $5.00 for students and $10.00 for adults with proceeds supporting this and future Seattle-Kobe jazz auditions.

The two winners will be guest vocalists at the 9th Annual Kobe Jazz Vocal Queen Contest held on the weekend of May 10-11, 2008 at KAVC Hall in Seattle's sister city, Kobe, Japan. (Back-up musicians will be provided.)

Grand Prize Winners will receive:

Two roundtrip tickets to Kansai International Airport in Osaka (one for the winner and one for a companion/parent). Tickets are for a set, 5-day/4-night stay in Kobe) Lodging for 4 nights (winner and companion in same hotel room) Most meals for the 5-day stay in Kobe (for winner and companion). *Meals/snacks during transit, souvenirs and additional expenses are the winners' responsibility. Airport transfers/ground transportation in Kobe.

Eligibility:
Applicants must (1) be a female high school student or adult 18 years or older, (2) reside in the greater Seattle area and (3) able to represent Seattle in Kobe, Japan from May 7-12, 2008.

Audition Schedule:
I. February 6, 2008: Submit (by mail only) three copies of your application (click here to download) and three copies of your audition tape/CD for finalist selection to the address shown below. Submissions must be postmarked on or before February 6, 2008 to qualify.
*Click here to download the application form.

Amy Scott (SKSCA Jazz Audition) 7523 19th Ave NW Seattle, WA 98117

II. March 1, 2008: Finalists will be notified by email.
III. March 24, 2008: Live audition at Jazz Alley (Mon) 7:00pm-9:00 pm


Guidelines/ Required Preparation:

I. Finalist selection: - Completed application form - Tapes/CDs: No longer than 10 minutes with two (or three) jazz tunes of contrasting styles - one should be a jazz standard II. Live audition: - Perform two tunes of contrasting jazz styles - May bring ONE accompanist (pianist, guitarist, etc.) - Each finalist will have a total of 12 minutes to set-up, perform, and leave the stage. - Performances will be judged on technical and artistic merit. - Valid passport (bring passport or copy of passport photo page to event) III. Grand Prize: Performance in Kobe, Japan - Depart Seattle on May 7, 2008 (arrive Kobe May 8). - Be introduced at the Kobe Jazz Queen Vocalist Contest on May 10 and perform on Sunday, May 11, 2008. - Depart Japan on May 12, 2008 (arrive Seattle May 12)

Sponsors for this event include:
Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association
Sankei Travel
Dimitriou's Jazz Alley
Kobe Trade Information Office
Shinkaichi Music Street


For questions or more information contact:
marimarkcarp@comcast.net
(206) 619-1951