Audition Requirements

PLEASE NOTE: These requirements are for students wishing to march in the Jaguar Marching Band, not for Music Majors or Minors.  For details on those auditions, please visit this page. Students who pass the Music Major/Minor admission audition will have their Jaguar Marching Band audition waived.

Wind Players (Woodwind and Brass)

Audition Dates
Saturday, February 8, 2025       
Thursday, February 20, 2025 (Concert Honor Band Participants)       
Saturday, March 15, 2025       
Saturday, April 5, 2025

In addition, auditions may be scheduled separately if schedules do not allow attendance at one of the four main audition days. 

All wind auditions will be heard by the Director of Athletic Bands, the Associate or Assistant Director of Athletic Bands, or another Department of Music Faculty member, to be accepted into the ensemble. The audition is informal, and no prepared piece is required other than "South!". The performer will be asked to: 

1. Perform the F, Bb, Eb, and Ab concert major scales in two octaves from memory with arpeggios (in eighth notes at quarter note=120). Saxophones may perform the Bb concert major scale one octave to avoid altissimo register.
2. Perform the chromatic scale from memory in at least two octaves from any starting note (in eighth notes at quarter note=120) 
3. Perform our fight song, South!

South! PDFs (South! starts on third line)

Piccolo/Flute
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Mellophone
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium/Baritone TC
Euphonium/Baritone BC
Tuba

4. Short Sight reading excerpt

Video Auditions for Wind Players

If significant distance is a factor there is an option to be able to submit a video audition for wind players.  While we prefer in-person auditions we also know that there are extenuating circumstances that sometimes require a student to utilize the video audition format. You can submit your video audition by clicking the link below:

Fall 2024 JMB Video Auditions

Jaguar Drumline Auditions - Saturday, April 20, 2024

The audition day for Jaguar Drumline is Saturday, April 20, 2024  All Jaguar Drumline auditions will be in-person. For additional information on audition requirements, visit our auditions page. 

Jaguar Color Guard Auditions - Saturday, April 20, 2024

The audition day for Jaguar Color Guard is Saturday, April 20, 2024. No other performing unit can add the color, motion, and field coverage provided by a color guard. The Jaguar Marching Band seeks a group of dynamic performing men and women who can consistently provide these elements.  For information on audition requirements, visit our auditions page.  

Feature Twirler

Finalists for the feature twirler position will be selected from a nationwide search conducted via video and resumé submissions.  After reviewing all submissions, select finalists will be notified and invited to the University of South Alabama campus for a live audition. The feature twirler will receive a generous scholarship in the amount of $7500 for their service to the Jaguar Marching Band, renewable yearly based on meeting the scholarship requirements and performance expectations.

2025 Jaguar Marching Band Feature Twirler Audition Information

About the Jaguar Marching Band

The University of South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band is an ensemble of over 250 select musicians, color guard, and a feature twirler. Housed in the Department of Music within the College of Arts and Sciences, the University's largest academic division, the Jaguar Marching Band serves as an ambassador for the University, a model of marching technique and instruction for the music education community, and a touchstone for Jaguar fans and alumni. The band is under the direction of Dr. Will Petersen, Director of Bands at the University of South Alabama.

About the University of South Alabama

Since its founding in 1963, the University of South Alabama has offered a superb, well-rounded educational experience with high academic standards. 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s fields of concentration are remarkably diverse, encompassing business, the liberal arts, education, engineering, computing, the sciences and healthcare.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s commitment to student success includes small class sizes and hands-on research opportunities in 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. The undergraduate honors program for highly motivated and accomplished students includes course work and extracurricular activities throughout the four years of a student's undergraduate career.

In healthcare, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ provides students with an exceptional medical education through the colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Allied Health Professions. At the same time, the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Health System serves the region with advanced and innovative care through the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Physicians Group, University Hospital, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Mitchell Cancer Institute.

91¶ÌÊÓƵ annually enrolls nearly 16,000 students and has awarded 85,000 degrees in its 58-year history. The University’s Mitchell-Moulton Scholarship Initiative, a $25-million matching challenge, is strengthening 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s commitment to expanding opportunities for current and future students.