How to Enter
Entering is as easy as showing up and sharing your talent.
Contestants will need to select songs from the Open Mic Jazz Repertoire Sheet and will be judged on vocal technique, song interpretation, stage presence and audience response. You may only enter once. At the end of the four-week audition period, judges will choose the top 24 competitors who will advance to the quarter final round on either 2 or 9 October 2019.
The Open Mic Jazz singing competition in Cape Town is open to all aspiring jazz singers over the age of 18.
Warm Up Wednesdays
To prepare for this popular singing event in Cape Town, contestants are encouraged to practice their audition with GrandWest’s Open Mic Jazz Band at Jackson Hall every Wednesday evening. Warm Up Wednesdays kicks off at 21h00 and ends at 23h00 until 28 August. Performers are welcome to invite their friends and family to support them at the Warm Up Wednesday’s practice sessions.
The Auditions
Auditions for the Open Mic Jazz singing competition will take place on Wednesday nights in September, and are limited to 30 contestants per night. There will be four audition rounds and contestants must register between 19h00 and 20h00 at Jackson Hall on the day of their audition.
2019 Competition Schedule
The Audition Rounds
GrandWest
Audition Rounds
Date: 4, 11, 18 and 25 Sep
Venue: Jackson Hall, GrandWest
The Quarter Finals
Quarter Final 1
Date: 2 October
Venue: Jackson Hall, GrandWest
Requirements: Prepare two songs from the Repertoire Sheet. The songs must be different from your first audition; one must be uptempo and the other a ballad.
Quarter Final 2
Date: 9 October
Venue: Jackson Hall, GrandWest
Requirements: Prepare two songs from the Repertoire Sheet. The songs must be different from your first audition; one must be uptempo and the other a ballad.
The Semi Final
The Semi Final
Date: 14 October
Venue: Market Hall, GrandWest
Requirements: Prepare two songs from the Repertoire Sheet. The songs must be different from your previous auditions; one must be uptempo and the other a ballad.
The Final
The Final
Date: 16 October
Venue: Market Hall, GrandWest
Requirements: Prepare two songs from the Repertoire Sheet. Any two songs can be chosen, either sung before in previous rounds or new songs; one must be uptempo and the other a ballad.
Repertoire Sheet
Choose the song you want to perform during singing auditions in Cape Town from a selection of over 100 well-known jazz standards — the classic compositions of the genre that are widely known, performed and recorded.
Please note that the YouTube links are references only. Jazz standards have various arrangements of the same song and the Open Mic Jazz Band will provide the basic versions of these songs.
Contestants will need to select songs from the Open Mic Jazz Repertoire Sheet:
Audition Tips
The Open Mic Jazz singing competition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to show off your jazz singing potential. If you're thinking of entering the vocal competition, two Open Mic Jazz seasoned musos share their top tips:
My favourite kind of contestants are the ones that come prepared. Be the boy scout, learn the words, learn the tunes, so you can get up there and concentrate on giving a cracking performance with lots of fun, excitement and vibrancy.Andrew Ford, musical director, piano
Don't over-sing. Just be yourself, that's important. And enjoy yourself.Wesley Rustin, double bass
Competition Rules
- This competition is open to South African citizens only. Entrants must provide proof of a valid South African Identity Document.
- Entrants must be 18 years or older.
- Only non-professional singers may enter. “Non-professional” is defined by the fact that the main (or sole) source of income is not derived from being employed as a singer.
- Only songs from the repertoire list may be performed.
- The Open Mic Jazz Band will provide the accompaniment music for the song chosen.
- A maximum of 30 people per night can audition.
- Registration takes place between 19h00 and 20h00.
- Auditions start at 20h00.
- Entrants may only audition once per year.
- Entrants must be present for all competition requirements.
- The 24 quarter finalists will be announced after the last audition.
- The 12 semi-finalists will be announced after the second quarter final.
- The six finalists will be announced after the semi-final.
- The three winners will be announced at the end of the finals.
- The judges’ decisions are final.
- No communication will be entered into with the judges, either written or verbal.
- GrandWest and Heart FM have the rights to publish images and details of all entrants in the media (including social media networks) for publicity purposes.
