Festival Information

Friday Night Open Jam Session

High School Jazz Festival participants are invited to an open jam session on March 12 at the David Friend Recital Hall, 921 Boylston Street, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sign-ups are at 6:30 p.m. Any musical styles and instruments are welcome, and we will provide a house band for anyone needing backup. There will also be a Band Directors Reception right next door in The Loft at 939 Boylston Street from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. RSVP to edawe@berklee.edu for both events if you would like to attend.

Read an interview with one of the competing band directors.

Berklee College of Music hosts its High School Jazz Festival at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Berklee's annual event is the largest of its kind in the United States.

Big bands, combos, and vocal jazz ensembles will perform and compete throughout the day. All ensembles are adjudicated by a panel of Berklee's top faculty and will receive a written critique of their performance. Top-ranked ensembles will be awarded partial scholarships to Berklee's Five Week Summer Performance Program, and individual students are invited to audition for tuition scholarships towards the full-time program or our Five Week Summer Performance Program.

The day's events will also include performances by Berklee faculty, tours of Berklee's campus, open jam sessions, and much more.

Ensembles can perform in competing categories determined by school size, or choose to participate in a non-competing category. All participating ensembles are adjudicated by a panel of Berklee's top faculty and receive a written critique of their performance.

High school music directors interested in participating in future events are encouraged to sign up for our mailing list.