Audition Info — 2026/27

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All Auditions will include an ear test. Auditions will be graded on Professionalism, Stage Presence, an Ear Test, and the three specific categories listed under their instrument. All song performances will be done with a live backing band. A short interview will also be conducted with the management staff.

Auditions will be held on August 29th. Zoom or video auditions are allowed by request. A $10 audition fee is asked of all musicians performing in person, and $15 for zoom/video auditions. If you aren't able to pay this comfortably, an option to waive this fee is provided in the sign-up form. The deadline to sign up is August 22nd at 11:59 pm.

If you’re accepted:

What you'd get:
-Writing and performing music with other high-level youth musicians 
-Performing at large venues with professional tech
-$800 for the tour
-Free food and merch
-Professional photos and headshots
-Great networking
-Credits on released music

-Get free training on stage presence, your instrument, and tech relating to music performance

-Work for your professional portfolio

-Professional publicity applicable to your future, such as performance videos, highlight reels, professional bios, and following on social media

-Time with members from large groups such as Lake Street Dive, Couch, and Sammy Rae and the Friends

-Opportunities for bonuses

What you'd do:

-Show up to Saturday rehearsals September through June

-Play ~1-3 shows per month October through May

-Play 10 to 20 shows with us May through August on a tour (we will plan around school)

-Memorize and learn ~25-40 songs throughout rehearsal time

-Develop and write new songs to perform

  • 1: Perform Easy to Love by Couch with a live backing band

    2: Perform a groove of the adjudicator’s choosing, with fills every 8 or 4 measures. Use the form A A Solo A, with A being the groove with fills.

    3: Jam with adjudicators over one of the following genres: Motown/Soul, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Funk, Neo Funk, Soul/Pop

  • 1: Play Easy to Love by Couch with a live backing band.

    2: Jam with adjudicators over one of the following genres: Motown/Soul, Pop, Rock, Jazz, Funk, Neo Funk, Soul/Pop. Adjudicator’s choice

    3: Solo over a backing track in one of the following genres: Latin Jazz, Classic Jazz, Funk, Funk/Blues, Soul/pop

  • 1: Play Easy to Love by Couch with a live backing band

    2: Perform a song of your choosing, with the guitar part removed (Use Logic or Pro Tools. If not available, state so and provide a Spotify link in the audition sign up “Message”)

    3: Write a guitar part to an original MINC song. The song will be provided before the audition. This does not need to be improvised, but it must be 100% your work

  • 1: Perform Rhodes on Easy to Love by Couch

    2: Perform Clavinet on Superstition by Stevie Wonder with a live backing band

    3: Solo over Jessie, by Couch, on synth.

  • 1: Perform Jessie by Couch on Alto Saxophone

    2: Solo over a live backing band in one of the following genres: Latin Jazz, Classic Jazz, Funk, Funk/Blues, Soul/Pop

    3: Demonstrate knowledge and prowess on at least two (2) other instruments (other voicings do apply — you may audition with three saxophones, for example, and still get a perfect score in this category)

  • 1: Perform Easy to Love by Couch with a live backing band

    2: Range test

    3: Solo over a backing track in one of the following genres: Latin Jazz, Classic Jazz, Funk, Funk/Blues, Soul/Pop

  • 1: Perform Jessie by Couch with a live backing band

    2: Perform Superstition by Stevie Wonder with a live backing band

    3: Improvise/riff a vocal solo over Superstition

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