The Teagarden Jazz Festival

Jazz with Personality

Save the Date for next year!

Saturday February 7th, 2026

The joy of early New Orleans-style jazz is at the heart of this scholastic combo festival, which is dedicated to fostering a better appreciation of this classic American art form.

Each year, scores of young musicians gather at the annual Teagarden Jazz Festival for experiences that take their musical skills to the next level.

What others are saying about the festival…

“I just wanted to send one more thank you for your help with getting our program hip to the trad jazz scene here in Sacramento. What a wonderful art form and teaching tool it is, but the true strength is in the community. Everyone I interacted with was so gracious with their time and so incredibly helpful. My students had such a positive experience putting it all together and you could just feel the good vibes from all the performances. We are looking forward to doing it again next year and our students liked it so much that we are starting an after school student led ensemble.”
Thanks Again,
Peter Mancina, Music Director
Mesa Verde High School

“It was a blast to such palpable excitement for great music & can’t wait to see more next year.” 
Maxfield Hunt
KFQX Racketeer Radio

Festival Schedule and Tickets

General admission to the Jazz Festival for the public is $15 (students are admitted at no charge) and is valid all day.

Tickets will be sold onsite (as wristbands) in the Capistrano Hall lobby.

Don't miss the Closing Concert featuring the Teagarden Jazz Festival All-Star Clinicians Band with guest artist Gunhild Carling (Swedish jazz multi-instrumentalist) and Awards Presentation in the Capistrano Concert Hall after the band performances.

Who Can Perform in the Festival?

The Teagarden Jazz Festival is open to all small ensembles of 4-9 musicians (up to 12 for brass bands with a max of 7 horns) performing at a time.  Small ensembles will be accepted regardless of experience in the following categories:

• Elem/ Middle School and Elem/ Middle School (Jazz Club/ Private)
• High School and High School (Jazz Club/ Private)
• College (school sponsored or student organized)

Festival Format

Each group will spend 45 minutes with three clinicians. Clinicians will provide feedback of your performance of three tunes (lead sheets) with the option of spending a portion of the clinic teaching your group a jazz composition totally by ear, focusing upon aural training and improvisation. If you have nothing prepared to bring to The Teagarden Jazz Festival, you can have your clinicians introduce your ensemble to a selection of lead sheets of your choice (bring with you) or spend your entire session on aural training and improvisation.

Band Registration Information

Online registration for the Teagarden Jazz Festival will contiune until December 30, or until we fill up. Registration fees are $150 for the first ensemble per school and $125 for each additional ensemble, and are due two weeks after the application is submitted online. Band registration will not be complete until registration fee is paid online or by check.

Registration fee checks should be made out to SacJEF and mailed to:

Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation
P.O. Box 661763
Sacramento, CA 95825