JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band

Established in 2006, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band (YBB) is a free educational program that provides the opportunity for middle- and high-school students to rehearse with an 18-piece big band and perform with international jazz luminaries. The JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band program is designed to provide outstanding educational instruction that allows participants to develop musical and social skills while interacting in a diverse, professional setting.

To learn more about the program, please contact youthbigband@jazz.fm.

If you are interested in supporting the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band, please contact Jelani Watson at jwatson@jazz.fm.

Auditions for the Youth Big Band takes place on September 13, 14, 19 and 20 from 1-5PM. This year’s requirements include:

Melody/harmony instruments:

Play concert C major, F major and Bb major scales
Be prepared to play quarter notes and eight notes at 80bpm
Two octaves where possible
One prepared song of your choice
There will be some sight reading at the audition

Vocalist

Two major scales that are in comfortable keys for your vocal range
Be prepared to sing quarter notes and eight notes at 80bpm
Two octaves where possible
One prepared song of your choice
There will be some sight reading at the audition

Drums

Be prepared to play swing, bossa nova and salsa feels
There will be some sight reading at the audition

Youth Big Band 2025-2026

Christmas Party

The Rex (February 2026)

Youth Big Band 2025-2026

Christmas Party

The Rex (February 2026)

For middle and secondary school students, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band provides an opportunity for exceptional student musicians to hone their skills and interact in a diverse, professional setting. The band rehearses each Sunday at the JAZZ.FM91 studios in Toronto’s Liberty Village. The students receive regular workshops on improvisation, ensemble playing and jazz techniques from some of Canada’s foremost music educators and musicians.

The JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band performs extensively throughout the year including various festivals and special events.

For nearly two decades, the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band has shared the stage with legendary jazz figures, such as Joey DeFrancesco, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tom Scott, Lew Tabackin, Guido Basso and Al Jarreau. They have appeared with Canadian guests, including Shirantha Beddage, Kelly Jefferson, Alistair Kay, Brian O’Kane, Sundar Viswanathan, Ron Westray, Don Laws, and Alexis Baro and more.

Additionally, they have performed with the Thelma Yellin Big Band (Tel Aviv, Israel), Jazz Ensemble I (Montreal, PQ), the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra (Monterey, CA), the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra, and the York University Jazz Orchestra. Alumni from the group have gone onto further their studies at the Berklee College of Music, the Brubeck Institute, Humber College, McGill University, the New England Conservatory and the University of Toronto.

FAQs

Since 2006. Over 250 young musicians have gone through the program and moved on to post-secondary music education (some appear on JAZZ.FM91’s Jazzology) followed by professional careers in music.

There are 18 members, ranging in ages from 12 to 18 years old. Many members stay with the band for two or three years. Students come from schools all over the GTA and beyond.

They sure do. After a couple months of rehearsals, the YBB will play shows from November to July at venues such as The Pilot, The Old Mill and Koerner Hall, and at festivals across Ontario such as the TD Niagara Jazz Festival and the TD Toronto Jazz Festival — often including guest artists from Toronto and beyond.

Yes, yes it does. The YBB rehearses up to 35 times a year, mostly on Sunday afternoons at the JAZZ.MF91 studios. Rehearsals include session work and visits by music professionals to work with students and share their experiences.

We hold them in late-August to early-September. Registration opens in late-August and is announced on the air and on our website. Approximately one in three of those who audition are accepted—so get your chops ready!

If that is all you can play, then sadly no. But if you play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass or drums, then yes you can. If you can also play another instrument (clarinet, baritone, etc.), even better!

It costs the students exactly $0. The Youth Big Band is supported by JAZZ.FM91 and our donors as part of our Education & Outreach programming.

Yes, indeed. We are always interested in partnering with individuals, institutions or business that want to support music production, performance and education. The YBB performs in front of thousands of people every year across Ontario. We would be pleased to publicize your support for this important, widely recognized and well-established program.

To learn more about the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band program, please contact youthbigband@jazz.fm.

If you are interested in supporting the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band, please contact Jelani Watson at jwatson@jazz.fm.

JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band

Youth Big Band 2025-2026

Christmas Party

The Rex (February 2026)

Youth Big Band 2025-2026

Christmas Party

The Rex (February 2026)

FAQs

How long has the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band been around?

How many people are in the YBB?

Does the YBB play a lot of shows?

That must take a lot of rehearsing...?

When do you hold auditions for the YBB?

If I play the zither, the erhu or the glockenspiel can I audition?

Does it cost anything to be part of the YBB?

I am a big-wig in the marketing or community relations department of a large corporation, foundation or financial institution. Does the YBB accept sponsorship?