The Teagarden Jazz Festival

Jazz with Personality

Saturday February 10th, 2024

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 (formerly named Traditional Jazz Youth Band Festival) for experiences that take their musical skills to the next level.

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 Adrian Cunningham (NY, reeds) 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:

• Elementary/ Middle School
• High School
• High School (Jazz Club/ Private Instructor-sponsored)
• College

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