In the spring of 2006, Jazz at Lincoln Center piloted its first Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festivals. The noncompetitive regional festivals are designed to offer bands of all levels the opportunity to perform Ellington's music and receive professional feedback from Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians and other jazz professionals in their own backyard.

During the 2008-09 school year all members are eligible to take part in regional festivals. Participating bands are required to play at least one tune from the Essentially Ellington library and receive a post-performance workshop, soloist awards and written or taped adjudicator feedback.

Spring 2009 regionals will be held:

February 26, 2009
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
For information contact:
Jim Ketch, Director of Jazz Studies
Department of Music, Hill Hall, CB #3320
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3320
Phone: 919.962.7560

March 11, 2009
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
For information contact:
Terell Stafford, Director of Jazz Studies
Boyer College of Music and Dance
2001 N. 13th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: 215.204.8036

March 28, 2009
Greenwich High School, Greenwich, CT
For information contact:
John Yoon, Director of Music
10 Hillside Road
Greenwich, CT 06830
Phone: 203.625.8025

April 18, 2009
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
For information contact:
Rodney Whitaker, Director of Jazz Studies
College of Music
102 Music Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1043
Phone: 517.432.2194

Other locations to be announced!

"The EE Regional Festival positively impacts students by giving them the opportunity to see their peers performing the same music that they've been studying."
- Dave Yarborough, EE Regional Festival Participant

Have an idea for an EE Regional festival in your state? Email us!