So, I always wondered why the judges at a piano competition are called a jury. Usually a jury refers to a panel or group of people hearing legal matters, so it never made sense to me in the context of music.
Then I noticed it again when I learned that, at the uni where I’ll take a course next semester, at the end of the semester, you play for a “jury” as your final exam. So I googled, and here’s what Wikipedia said:
A music jury is a final performance by a music student for a panel of adjudicators, usually consisting of faculty of the institution. Students attend private lessons throughout the year, and they perform at the end of a semester or the year to illustrate progress before the panel.
Well, that explains it, but I’m still curious how this terminology came about. And how old it is…
Googling around some more, I found this from the Eastman School of Music (Site: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/facultystaff/faculty-resources/juries/)
All students registered for applied music credit are required to perform before a faculty jury. Undergraduate students perform juries annually and graduate students at least once during a degree program. Successful completion of a jury is related to the changing of a student’s class year; the sophomore jury is particularly crucial. Outstanding juries may lead to nominations for a Performer’s Certificate; conversely, students may be advised out of the degree following a failed jury.
No pressure!
Does anyone know anything beyond these details about this term?