Minnesota Orchestra Jazz Festival
with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Friday, March 6, 2009; 9:00 am- 3:00 pm
Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis

The Minnesota Orchestra is accepting applications for high school or college jazz ensembles interested in participating in the Festival.  (Download the application).

Festival details:
This is a non-competitive festival for up to five high school (or college) Jazz Ensembles.  Each group will perform on stage at Orchestra Hall and be critiqued by members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.  Immediately following its performance those same clinicians will work with each group.  Participants will also have the opportunity to watch the other groups perform and be critiqued.  The festival concludes with massed sectionals for each instrument family. 

Schedule:
The Festival will take place Friday, March 6, 2009.  Participating groups should arrive at Orchestra Hall between 8:30 and 9:30 depending on the specific schedule for each group.  Final start times will be determined jointly once groups are selected.
The festival will end at 3:00 for all participating groups.

Repertoire:
Groups should plan to perform up to two pieces of music, at least one of which should be a selection from Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington Library.  All eligible titles (currently 80) are published by Alfred Publications, Inc. and prominently feature and Essentially Ellington logo on the cover of the conductor’s score.  For a complete list of titles visit www.essentiallyellington.org and select “repertoire.”

Each participating group will become a member of the Jazz at Lincoln Center program and will receive a complementary set of this year’s six Essentially Ellington charts.

Fee:
There is a participation fee of $125 per group.  This includes:  band workshop sessions, instrument sectionals and a photograph of each group performing on stage at Orchestra Hall.  Participating groups will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis concerts at Orchestra Hall on March 6 & 7, 2009.  A special discount will be available to all participating ensembles.

Lunch:
Groups will be on their own for lunch, with many inexpensive options near Orchestra Hall.

Equipment:
Orchestra Hall will provide pianos and drum sets and a bass amp for each Festival session.  Participating groups should bring all other equipment.

Additional details:
Specific information about Festival schedule, as well as information about parking, lunch, etc will be provided once groups are selected.

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: jalc.org

Please call with additional questions!  (612) 371-5613.