Registration
Event Basics
Registration & Scheduling Information
This year's event is January 20th, at Bainbridge High School.
If you want to join our mailing list, click here.
TO REGISTER YOUR GROUP(S), CLICK HERE.
Performances times are assigned based on order of enrollment.
Registration and payment do not need to occur at the same time.
Groups that pay late might be dropped for a group wait-listed.
Payments are due January 20th.
Preliminary schedule will be released by January 6th.
After publication, the schedule will be linked [HERE.]
Prelims Information
Admission to preliminary performances is free and open to the public
Check-in at by 10:00 AM
Each group will be assigned a designated storage area
Although a festival volunteer will watch the room throughout the day, the Bainbridge High School Band Booster, members, staff, or BISD assume no liability for lost or damaged goods or equipment.
15 minute optional warm-up backstage
15 minutes on stage
60 minute clinic with a guest artist
This year will feature 12 school bands, which will be divided into 3 groups similar ability levels for the clinics.
Clinics will feature verbal feedback, demonstration, playing in school groups, and playing in intra-school scramble combos.
Finals Information
Subject to change.
Finals Lineup
1:30 - The Kareem Kandi Quartet
2:15 - Outstanding Soloists Certificates Awarded
2:20 - Outstanding Soloists perform with Guest Artist (approximate)
2:30 - Final Concluded
Each ensemble that registers for the festival will be granted free admission to the finals concert (all students, staff, and one chaperone.) This is a fundraiser, so we do appreciate additional guests purchasing concert tickets. Thank you.
Festival Rules
Eligibility & Focus
Jazz Combos
NOLA Style Brass Bands
Other non-big band jazz groups
Vocalists ARE allowed, as long as the literature guidance is followed.
Literature Selections
Lead sheets
The Real Book
The Real Easy Book
Originals
Play the head and let the musicians work it out. This is a festival for live interaction - not for arrangements.
Don't play a big band arrangement with missing parts.
The bulk of each performance should be improvisation; live interaction between soloists and rhythm section.
Rules for Finals
No traditional finals competition in 2024
Previous Years
Finals groups will have up to 10 minutes on stage, INCLUDING getting on and off stage.
Finals groups may perform a work they performed earlier in the day, or something new.
Student groups performing in finals must be made up of members from one school (no all-star groups).
Schools that send more than one group to the festival may not have more than one group in finals.
Special rule for groups not affiliated with a school
Groups not associated with a particular school music program MAY register for the festival as prelims alternates. If there is room in the festival, they will be added to the official schedule. If there is a viable division in these registrations, there will be an addition to the finals lineup. Any non-school related group that performs at finals must be made entirely of students that are also participating in their school jazz programs - so long as they have a jazz program at their school (of any kind) to be enrolled in.
Divisions & Cost
There are no divisions this year.
Each school will be awarded at least one Outstanding Soloist Award.
Comppetition Entrance Fee: $250
Scoring
Prelims
We've kept the scoring categories fairly broad, in an effort to allow the adjudicators to adjust their feedback to each band as they see fit. Let us know if you have concerns (far in advance), and we'll will consider improvements to the scoring system.
Finals
No finals competition in 2024
Judging at finals will be done by two of the festival adjudicators. All decisions are final. An effort will be made to ensure that the adjudicators from prelims are the same adjudicators during finals (and not a clinician), but this may or may not be possible, given the busy schedules of our guests. Thank you for understanding!
Equipment
Please bring your own:
Sticks
Mallets
Instrument cables
The following will be provided:
Warm-up rooms:
Guitar amp
Bass amp
Piano
Drum set
A mallet instrument
8 music stands
Stage:
PA with about 4 solo microphones
Guitar amp
Grand Piano & our Nord Piano 2
Bass amp
Drum set
Vibes
8 music stands
Clinic Rooms:
Guitar amp
Piano
Bass amp
Drum set
A mallet instrument
8 music stands
Taking the Ferry?
If you are coming to our festival via the WSDOT ferry, be sure to print an "Authorization Letter" on your school letterhead to get a massive discount on passenger fares.
Your district might have a card for ferry travel. If not, make sure you plan for the vehicle fares prior to the event.
Seattle - Bainbridge Ferry Schedules:
Other Details
Parking
Parking at Bainbridge High School on Saturdays is free and first come, first served. There is a loading and unloading near the performing and check in areas on Martin Luther King Lane, which is off of High School Road.
Food
There are several local food establishments within walking distance of Bainbridge High School; mostly in the Safeway plaza. Winslow (downtown Bainbridge) is a 30 minute walk from BHS, and there are many more good options there, too.
Merchandise
TBD
Instrument Repair
The festival will not have a repair technician on site.
Recordings
TBM TO BE CONFIRMED FOR 2024
Ted Brown Music will make sure each group gets a quality recording of their performances.
Judges tapes or written commentary will also be provided.
Registration
