Rex Richardson, photographer: Dinko Bažulić

The University of Minnesota Jazz Festival is a non-competitive educational festival that brings together the best jazz talent that Minnesota has to offer. It will occur on Saturday, March 4, 2017. You and your students will reap benefits of this exciting lineup of clinicians and guest artists. The 2017 Jazz Festival featured guest artist is renowned international trumpeter Rex Richardson.  

From 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., visiting school groups perform for clinicians and each other. Each visiting ensemble performs a 20 minute set in Ted Mann Concert Hall. Following this short performance, the band moves to a rehearsal space where they will spend 40 minutes with two clinicians who will work with them and offer suggestions on how to improve their performance. Both the Ted Mann performance and the clinic are recorded to CD, and directors receive written comments also.

The day ends with a FREE evening concert featuring U of M Jazz Ensembles and special guest.

The entry fee for the University of Minnesota Jazz Festival will be $375.00 per ensemble. This fee provides your ensemble with a twenty-minute performance and a forty-minute clinic, as well as access to additional workshops that will be held throughout the day. Performance slots are limited, so please register as soon as possible to assure your spot. 

In addition to the events mentioned above, there will be:

• Performances by visiting middle school, high school and college jazz ensembles
• Extended sessions with festival clinicians
• Jazz workshops for participating students

Guest Artist: Rex Richardson, trumpet
Dean Sorenson, Jazz Festival director

2017 Participants
Central High School; LaCrosse, WI
Central Middle School; White Bear Lake, MN
Como Park Senior High School; Saint Paul, MN
Eastview High School; Apple Valley, MN
Farmington High School; Farmington, MN
Field Community; Minneapolis, MN
Hidden Oaks; Prior Lake, MN
Longfellow/LDI Middle School; LaCrosse, WI
Minneapolis Schools, 34th St. Jazz Combo; Minneapolis, MN
Minnetonka High School; Minnetonka, MN
New Prague High School; New Prague, MN
Ramsey Middle School; Minneapolis, MN
Richfield Middle/High School; Richfield, MN
Rosemount High School; Rosemount, MN
Twin Oaks Middle School; Prior Lake, MN

Festival Registration

Online registration ensures quick receipt and effective registration record-keeping. Spots are limited and fill fast, so please register early. We will update the website when registration is full. After completeting the online registration form, please send checks payable to the University of Minnesota and mail to:

Equipment & Meal Needs

Please complete our equipment and meal needs form. This form will allow you to indcate how much equipment is needed and how many students will eat brunch or dinner.
Complete this form once for each participating group.