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Essentially Ellington

High school ensembles: assemble.

The 2026 Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band 2 Day Festival will be taking place on Sunday February 15, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday February 16, 2026, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (times for the festival are estimated and may be subject to change).

Attendance Requirements:

To ensure a smooth festival, please note the following attendance guidelines:

  • Mandatory Attendance: All bands are required to be present on Monday, February 16, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  • Optional Attendance: Participation in festival activities on Sunday, February 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. is optional. However, it is mandatory for each band to have a representative complete in-person registration on Sunday, February 15, at 11 a.m.

  • Registration Fee: The registration fee is a flat rate and will remain the same regardless of band attendance on Sunday.

Registration Details:

  • Participation for this festival will be based on a lottery drawing. Registration for the lottery will open on Friday, September 26th, 2026, at 5 p.m. A Formstack registration link will be posted on this webpage at that time.
  • Registration Process: We will have 25 spots available through the registration link. Once these 25 spots are filled, the registration form will automatically close.
  • Lottery Draw: After the registration period closes, we will conduct the lottery to randomly select 14 bands to participate in the festival. Additionally, we will select one alternate band to fill any spot that may become available if a selected band is unable to attend. Given the high demand and the large number of bands interested in participating, we believe this approach will provide an equitable way to select the bands for our event.
  • Notification: All selected bands, including the alternate, will be contacted directly once the lottery process is complete.

Should you have any questions regarding next year’s festival, please email Brooke Saad at Brooke.Saad@drphillipscenter.org

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to partner with Jazz at Lincoln Center in presenting the fourth annual, internationally recognized and acclaimed Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Festival.

This noncompetitive event offers an amazing opportunity to perform Ellington’s music and receive professional, critical feedback from Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians. Previous Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians have included Terrel Stafford, a master trumpeter and the head of Jazz Studies at Temple University, Jim Gasior, EE finalist director, pianist, and educator, Rodney Whitaker, director of The Jazz Orchestra at Dr. Phillips Center, as well as additional professional jazz musicians. The 2024 Essentially Ellington clinicians will be announced by the beginning of January, 2024.

During the festival, bands will play at least one tune from the Essentially Ellington library before participating in a workshop and receiving awards and written adjudicator feedback.