About the Festival

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.

A jazz choir performing at the HSJF

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.

 

 

 

Festival Executive Committee

Lawrence E. Bethune
Festival Executive Director

Rob Rose
Managing Director

Jennifer DeCicco
Director of Operations

Elizabeth Dawe
Director of Festival Projects and Registration

Bradley Berger
Director of Production

Cathy Horn
Adjudication Director

Cynthia Bethune
Facility Liaison/Hospitality Director

Laurie Hughes
Marketing and External Relations Coordinator

Email Address
[email protected]