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Essentially Ellington

High school ensembles: assemble.

The 2025 Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band 2 Day Festival will be taking place on Sunday February 16, 2025, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday February 17, 2025, from 9 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 17, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

  • Optional Attendance: Participation in festival activities on Sunday, February 16, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. is optional. However, it is mandatory for each band to have a representative complete in-person registration on Sunday, February 16, at 12 p.m.

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

Participation:

At this time the lottery drawing is now closed and all spots for the 2025 Essentially Ellington regional high school jazz festival are full.

Should you be interested in joining the waitlist 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.