The Stax Music Academy is currently holding auditions for the 2018-19 SNAP! After School Program and Stax 101 beginner lessons! Any student interested in music is welcome to schedule an audition regardless of musical experience. We offer scholarships and no young person is turned away because of inability to pay tuition. Auditions are mostly for us to gauge which ensemble you will fit into best. We have Junior Academy for middle schoolers and Senior Academy for high schoolers.
Auditions are underway now and may be scheduled by contacting Bria Brown at or by calling 901-926-2535 ext 250.
Students interested in joining SMA may audition for the following ensembles: Rhythm Section, Junior Rhythm Section, Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz, Street Corner Harmonies, Premier Percussion, Stax Vocal Classics, Audio Engineering & Production, and Spoken Word, as well our Stax 101 beginner classes in piano, guitar, and bass guitar.
Auditions and interviews are open to rising fifth-graders through seniors. Tuition for the SNAP! After School Program is $1,000 per school year; the STAX 101 program is $600 per school year . Both financial need-based and merit-based scholarships are available. SMA does not turn away any student based on inability to pay.
According to SMA spokesperson Pat Mitchell-Worley, “An audition at the Stax Music Academy does not require any particular level of musical talent or expertise. It is mainly for staff to work with potential new students to identify into which ensemble they might best fit. Many people think children have to have a high level of musical talent to join, but we have everything from beginner lessons to Audio Engineering & Production for students who don’t play or sing.”
SMA’s SNAP! After School Program operates 4 – 7 pm Monday-Thursday from August 20, 2018 through May 2019. Also, all students study music theory and participate in a daily activities period, which includes activities focused on social/emotional development, guided discussions on current news, and music history.
The Stax Music Academy, a blend of music education and youth development, inspires young people and enhances their academic, cognitive, performance, and leadership skills by utilizing music with an intense focus on the rich legacy and tradition of Stax Records. An incredible staff of educators and seasoned professionals teach discipline, musicianship, and solid technique. In addition to our full and part-time staff of educators, students often participate in workshops and master classes with Grammy-winning artists, former Stax Records artists, and other music industry professionals that share their time, experience, talent, and expertise.