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.

Please note: Due to construction at the Hynes Convention Center this year, several of our usual locations and rooms have changed. The Festival will be taking place on the second and third levels of the Hynes Convention Center as well as the second level of the Sheraton Hotel. The Sheraton is easily accessible from the Hynes: simply exit the Hynes through the South Lobby on the first level into the Prudential Center mall, and then make an immediate right into the Sheraton Hotel.

Notable room changes this year:

• Registration Desk, Information Table, and Storage Area are located in the second floor hallway of the Hynes Convention Center
• Director and Parent Hospitality Lounge is located in room 200 of the Hynes Convention Center
• Berklee Bookstore is located in the Veteran's Memorial Lobby on the second level of the Hynes Convention Center
• Rising Star Club/Jam Room is located in Ballroom C on the third level of the Hynes Convention Center
• Berklee Showcase Room is located in Ballroom A on the third level of the Hynes Convention Center
• Class SD is located in Independence Ballrooms East and West of the Sheraton Hotel
• Class VJE1 is located in Back Bay Ballrooms A and B of the Sheraton Hotel
• Class VJE2 is located in Back Bay Ballrooms C and D of the Sheraton Hotel