Auditions are now open for the Saint Louis Big Band, conducted by Maestro Antonio Solimene, for the 2026–27 academic year.
For a musician, playing in a big band is one of the most formative experiences: it means performing in an orchestra at a professional level and taking the stage alongside prominent guests at prestigious events and festivals.
In recent years, the Saint Louis Big Band, conducted by Antonio Solimene has had the opportunity to perform on prestigious stages alongside special guests such as Javier Girotto, Kurt Elling, David Lynx, and Rosario Giuliani, among others.
Auditions are open for:
- male voices
- female voices
- trumpet
- trombone
- sax
- guitar
- floor
- low
- battery
How to Participate in the Auditions
Saint Louis students may join the Saint Louis Big Band in addition to the ensemble music workshop included in their curriculum for the 2026–27 academic year. Auditions are also open to non-students, with reduced fees for wind instruments.
To apply, you must schedule an audition by filling out the form available on this page.
The auditions will be held at the Saint Louis campus in Rome, located at Via Cimarra 19/b, on the following dates:
- Thursday, October 8, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday the 15th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday, October 22, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Moving forward, the Big Band’s rehearsals will take place starting October 29, every Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Saint Louis Big Band performs twice a year, in March and June, as well as at festivals and special events organized by Saint Louis, such as Jazz Factory at the“Ennio Morricone” Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome.
Saint Louis Big Band
The Saint Louis Big Band is an orchestral ensemble that fully adheres to the classic big band structure, namely: 4 trumpets, 5 saxophones, trombones, a rhythm section, and 6 backup singers.
The group, formed in September 2007, has performed at many prestigious jazz festivals , including Villa Celimontana Jazz, Atina Jazz, Brindisi in Jazz, and the Nick La Rocca Jazz Festival; they have performed on prestigious stages such as the “Ennio Morricone” Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome and the Casa del Jazz; and they have collaborated with numerous internationally renowned artists, including Kurt Elling, Peppe Servillo, Gegè Telesforo, Rosario Giuliani, Daniele Scannapieco, Marcello Rosa, and David Lynx.
