47th Annual High School Jazz Festival to Host 3,000 Musicians

Berklee’s 47th annual High School Jazz Festival, the largest of its kind in the U.S., will host more than 200 ensembles featuring 3,000 students from 13 states and Puerto Rico competing for $175,000 in scholarships to Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program. Students and band directors will also be honored for their outstanding musical achievements.

The event is free and open to the public and takes place on Saturday, January 31, 2015, at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Scholarship and award winners will be announced at 5:30 p.m. followed by a winners’ showcase concert at 7:30 p.m. Find the complete schedule at berkleejazz.org.

In addition to witnessing performances by the top high school jazz bands and ensembles in the country, audiences will experience Berklee student ensembles performing a range of musical styles, including big band, jazz, rock, Americana, and salsa. Participants will also enjoy clinics and concerts by Grammy-nominated quintet Kneebody and by “Let it Out” YouTube phenomenon Alissia & the Funketeers, whose video is trending with 1.2 million views and counting.

Watch Kneebody perform at the 2015 Berklee High School Jazz Festival:

For the first time in its eight-year history, the John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year Award will be presented at the High School Jazz Festival. Given in conjunction with the Jazz Education Network (JEN), this year's the award will go to Janis Stockhouse, director of bands at Bloomington High School North in Bloomington, Indiana. Throughout her 34 years at Bloomington High School North, Stockhouse has impacted the lives of thousands of students, with many going on to pursue careers in music.

Liz Lupton is a publicist in the Office of Media Relations. Media inquiries: llupton@berklee.edu.