Snap Audition
Coming Soon
Why?
As a father of two music students, I help with numerous online auditions. Sure, submitting online is more convenient than in-person, but not always easier. Each competition is a different maze of tasks. Fill out this form, pay there, upload here, but those mazes pale compared to administrating, adjudicating, and judging an online-submission audition.
As a software developer and entrepreneur, this got me thinking: is there a way to drastically cut down the time it takes, and improve the overall quality? Can my company develop an online platform to make it easier and safer for students? Can we make it super easier to judge?
The answer is yes! Snap Audition - coming soon - is the online platform to make online auditions a zillion times easier, and at an affordable price. But we aren't doing it alone. Below is a growing list of leaders from the arts and education communities who are advising us. Together we can help make auditions a lot easier and more fun!
-Eric DeGrove, Founder
Leadership

Eric has a diverse background including 20 years experience in software development and information technology. He has founded five companies. A passionate music fan, he attended the University of North Texas to pursue Jazz Studies. He has received post-graduate education in sociology, statistics, history, social research, and marketing, including a Masters in history and inter-cultural studies.
Advisors

Stoney Black
Stoney's music education experience spans decades, including currently the director of bands at Spring Creek High School in Colorado Springs. Along with numerous marching, concert, and jazz band awards, Stoney regularly adjudicates and judges music auditions all over Colorado and beyond.
Paula has been running the MusicMakers Academy in Manchester Connecticut for almost 30 years. There she teaches voice, piano, early childhood music, and Etiquette, both online and in her professional studio. Paula has adjudicated in state competitions in the past but now focuses on preparing her student for auditions at the state and college levels.
Lori brings over 25 years experience teaching voice privately, conducting choirs and performing as a soloist and choir member into the studio for every lesson. Lori recently returned to Colorado Springs from Los Altos, California, where she was Associate Conductor and Director of Musicianship at the internationally renowned, award-winning Cantabile Youth Singers of Silicon Valley.
Jazz bassist and composer Jason Crowe has performed, recorded, and taught at the highest levels for more than 25 years.He has also performed at the Monterrey, Montreux, North Sea, Vail, Telluride Jazz Festival, as well as Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry, as a former member of the USAF Academy Band in Colorado Springs.

Jim Phillips
Jim has taught at Coeur d'Alene High School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, since 1998. There he directs the Jazz Band, Chamber Orchestra, String Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Marching Band/Pep Band. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at Idaho All-State and NAfME All-Northwest (Idaho) Conventions. Currently, he is the Idaho District 1 Large Group Festival Chairman and President-Elect, and served as Chair for 2013, 2018, and 2023 Idaho Music Educators Association All-State Orchestra.

Chris Sacco
Serving as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Studies in the Ava School District, Chris and his ensembles have received numerous honors and awards during his tenure. As a strong advocate for both organizational and educational leadership in music, Chris has served in many leadership roles throughout the state and is currently the President-Elect of the Missouri Music Educators Association.

Ben-Miesel
Ben holds degrees from The Ohio State University and Case Western Reserve University. He has been teaching for 12 years and currently serves as a band director for Mentor Schools in northeast Ohio, with an emphasis on middle school education. Ben has served as the Ohio All-State Coordinator for the 2019 OMEA PDC in Cleveland, OMEA District VII President and board member (2019-23), a staff member for the Saluting America's Band Directors marching band Macy's Day Parade (2023), and is an active adjudicator for OMEA.

Jonathan Sindler
Jonathan Sindler has been teaching instrumental music in Maryland for 27 years and is currently the Director of Bands at Mount View Middle School in Howard County, Maryland. Mr. Sindler is in high demand as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.
Snap Audition is a Project of
Blink Tech Solutions