Berklee's 41st Annual High School Jazz Festival, January 31

View High School Jazz Festival details here.

Berklee College of Music's 41st annual High School Jazz Festival, the oldest and largest competition of its kind in the U.S., will take place on Saturday, January 31, at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend as 3,000 students and 200 bands will perform and compete for tuition scholarships totaling $175,000. Announcements of the scholarship and award winners will take place at 6:00 p.m. 

In addition, the day will feature concerts and clinics that are free and open to the public. Highlights include trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and vibist Jason Marsalis, who will perform with Berklee City Music students; world-class drummers Gregg Bissonette (Santana, Ringo Star), John Blackwell (Justin Timberlake, Prince), and Terri Lyne Carrington (Herbie Hancock, Al Jarreau); and Utah's Crescent Super Band, which Down Beat magazine named the top performing high school-aged big band in the country. Featured student bands include the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra and the college's P-Funk, Salsa, and Tower of Power ensembles. 

Get a glimpse of what happened at the festival....

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Berklee's High School Jazz Festival, the oldest and largest competition of its kind in the U.S., was created by former college president Lee Elliot Berk. Its original name was the New England High School Stage Band Festival. Over the years, thousands of high school students and music educators have benefited from the performance evaluations, clinics, workshops, and scholarship opportunities available.

Full schedule: 

Open Jam Sessions, Ballroom C, third level, 10 a.m. - noon 

Berklee City Music Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, directed by Matt Clauhs, Ballroom A, third level, 10 - 10:20 a.m.

Berklee City Music Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, directed by Lance Van Lenten featuring Jeff Galindo, Ballroom A, third level, 10:20 - 10:40 a.m.

Berklee City Music Vocal Ensemble, directed by Diane Richardson featuring Dennis Montgomery III, Ballroom A, third level, 10:40 - 11 a.m.

Berklee City Music Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, directed by Tim Mayer, Ballroom A, third level, 11 - 11:20 a.m.

The Jazz Ensemble Companion: A Guide to Outstanding Big Band Arrangements Selected by Some of the Foremost Jazz Educators, presented by Michele Caniato, Room 200, second level, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Berklee City Music Advanced Ensemble, directed by Winston Maccow featuring Delfeayo and Jason Marsalis, Ballroom A, third level, 11:20 a.m. - noon. 

Jazz Improvisation Clinic: Delfeayo & Jason Marsalis, Ballroom A, third level, noon - 1 p.m. 

Crescent Super Band, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, second level, noon - 1 p.m.

Gregg Bissonette Clinic, Ballroom C, third level, 1 - 2 p.m.

Berklee Salsa Ensemble, Ballroom A, third level, 2 - 2:50 p.m.

Terri Lyne Carrington Clinic, Ballroom C, third level, 2 - 3 p.m.

Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, directed by Greg Hopkins, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, second level, 2 - 3 p.m. 

Keeping Up with the Sounds, presented by Carolyn Castellano, Room 300, third level, 2 - 3 p.m.

Berklee P-Funk Ensemble, Ballroom A, third level, 3 - 3:50 p.m.

John Blackwell Clinic, Ballroom C, third level, 3 - 4 p.m.

Berklee Tower of Power Ensemble, directed by Wayne Naus, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, second level, 4 - 5 p.m.

Awards Ceremony, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, second level, 6 - 7 p.m.

Winners Showcase Concert, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, second level, 7 p.m.