JAZZ IN THE CHI FESTIVAL

ABOUT JAZZ IN THE CHI

The Jazz in the Chi Festival, presented by the Jazz Institute of Chicago, is an educational festival for high, middle and elementary school jazz ensembles. The Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Festival within Jazz in the Chi is co-produced by the internationally recognized and acclaimed Jazz at Lincoln Center.

All Jazz in the Chi participants perform a short set of music followed by a clinic with the adjudicating clinicians. Written and recorded feedback from the adjudicators help each participating ensemble continue to grow long after the festival! Workshops, master classes and a vendor fair with colleges, arts organizations and music merchants are designed to provide an immersive experience that benefits every participant! Ensemble directors are treated to a luncheon with the clinicians and participating ensembles enjoy a guest artist performance!
The Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Festival offers high school jazz big bands of all levels the opportunity to perform and receive professional feedback on the music of Duke Ellington and other seminal big band composers and arrangers. These bands will be required to join Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Essentially Ellington program and must play at least one tune from the Essentially Ellington library. By joining this FREE program, participants will receive original transcriptions of the music of Duke Ellington along with other acclaimed arrangers/composers, teaching guides, access to original recordings of the charts, and access to interactive rehearsal videos of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra playing this year’s music. Clinicians provided by Jazz at Lincoln Center work with the bands after they perform to give direct instruction and encouragement.