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Director Information 2026

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2026 FILES & FORMS

 

ELIGIBILITY

  • The festival is open to all accredited middle and high school instrumental jazz ensembles.

  • Competing jazz ensemble students may only represent one jazz ensemble and one school.

    • If a jazz ensemble student is participating in more than one jazz ensemble or school during the course of the festival, one jazz ensemble/school will be scored/in competition and one will be allowed to perform in a non-competitive capacity for comments only. This decision can be made by the directors of the ensembles.

      • Exception for students playing a different instrument – i.e. a student who plays trumpet in a band cannot play trumpet competitively in any other band.  A student who plays trumpet in a band is allowed to play bass in a different band, competitively.

  • Faculty, directors, or professional musicians are not allowed to perform in an ensemble unless they choose to perform in a non-competitive capacity for comments only.

 

DIVISIONS

  • Middle School/Jr. High School

  • Middle School/Jr. High School 2nd & 3rd Band

  • A/AA, AAA, & AAAA for High School

    • A: 1 to 449

    • 2A:  450 to 899

    • 3A: 900 to 1200

    • 4A: 1201 +

  • 2nd, 3rd and 4th bands - 2nd bands will be placed a division below the school’s 1st band, 3rd bands will be placed a division below the 2nd band, etc. OR  2nd, 3rd & 4th bands might be scheduled in their own division.

  • Enrollment must be calculated from grades 9-11.

  • Divisions with a small number of bands may be combined.

    • A & 2A divisions have often been combined

 

PRELIMINARY COMPETITION

  • WARM UP – Thirty-minute warm up slot for high school groups. Twenty-minute warm up slot for middle schools.

  • PERFORMANCE – Twenty-minute performance time slot to set up, perform, and exit the stage.

  • PENALTY – A two-point penalty will be assessed for each full minute exceeding the set time limit.

  • CRITIQUE/CLINIC – Thirty-minute critique/rehearsal slot for high school groups and twenty-minute critique/rehearsal slot for middle school groups.  These will be with an adjudicator and full equipment set-up in the room (music stands, chairs, piano, drumset, amps).

  • CONDUCTOR SCORES - Providing conductor scores for judges is not required, not needed; most of our hired judges prefer to not use them.

  • SCHEDULING - The following are factors are used in scheduling bands for preliminary competition:

    • Bands will be scheduled in a block containing all bands in the same division.

    • Schedule within each division will be assigned randomly.

      • Consideration for out-of-festival conflicts (travel, personnel conflicts, etc.) will be evaluated and accommodated to the best of our ability.

    • In-festival conflicts such as director availability for multiple bands will be factored in with space for those directors to the best of our ability.

    • Festival loyalty - in the event the festival becomes full and/or a waitlist is created, bands with consistent, regular attendance will be given priority.

  • PRELIMS AWARDS - (This was a new format in 2025)

    • The top 3 scoring bands from each division will be awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place trophies.

      • Middle School Division - 1st, 2nd, 3rd​

      • Middle School 2nd Band Division - 1st, 2nd, 3rd

      • High School A/2A - 1st, 2nd, 3rd

      • High School 3A - 1st, 2nd, 3rd

      • High School 4A - 1st, 2nd, 3rd

    • Outstanding musicians selected by the judges will receive a certificate.

  • ADVANCING TO FINALS - (This was a new format in 2025)

    • MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY - 5 Bands Advance to Finals

      • The top 5 scoring bands from prelims will advance to the evening Finals.

      • Final placement will be determined via judge deliberation.​

        • NOTE: In the event there is a "top band" and "2nd band" division for middle schools, the top 5 scoring ensembles for ALL middle school bands will advance to finals regardless of division.​

    • HIGH SCHOOL DIVSIONS - 8 Bands Advance to Finals

      • The top scoring band in each division will advance to the evening Finals round.

      • The next 5 highest scoring bands will advance to finals regardless of division.

      • Final placement will be determined via judge deliberation considering both prelims and finals performances.​

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FINALS

  • The announcement of finalist bands will be made during the awards presentation at the conclusion of the preliminary round. Check the schedule for specific times of these announcements.

  • Middle School Division finals will begin at 7pm.

    • Each finalist band will have a twenty-minute time slot.  

    • Finalist bands should play music appropriate for the time allotted. This time slot includes setup, performance, tear down, and exiting the stage. The recommended amount of music is approximately 10 minutes.

    • There are no clinics/critiques following finals performances. 

    • Enforced in 2026!  - Middle school bands will be required to perform at least ONE song not played earlier in the festival. ONE song may be repeated.

  • High School Finals will begin at 7pm (Divisions A/2A, 3A, 4A). 

    • Finalist bands will have a fifteen-minute time slot.

    • Finalist bands should play music appropriate for the time allotted.  This time slot includes setup, performance, tear down, and exiting the stage. The recommended amount of music is approximately 10 minutes. 

    • There are no clinics/critiques following finals performances. 

    • Enforced in 2026! - High school bands will be required to perform at least ONE song not played earlier in the festival. ONE song may be repeated.

  • PLEASE respect other performing ensembles and the flow of the festival by keeping your performance within the allotted time.

  • All bands playing longer than the allotted twelve-minute time slot could result in disqualification from awards consideration.

  • Final placements within each division will be determined via judge deliberation considering both prelims and finals performances.​.

 

JUDGING

  • Scoring for all divisions will be the same without regard to size of school. 

  • Judging sheets can be picked up at the end of the evening, or will be mailed after the festival.

  • Please CLICK HERE for a sample of the judges sheet used at our festival

  • Performance mp3s will be available via Google link emailed to the director.

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EQUIPMENT PROVIDED

  • On stage: 

    • Groups will use a standard set up of chairs & stands with risers for trombones and trumpets,

    • bass amp & guitar amp

    • drum set (two toms plus floor tom, bass drum, snare drum, hi-hat, ride and one crash cymbals),

    • acoustic grand piano,

    • vibes, and congas can be provided on stage if requested (no vibes or congas in warm up rooms).

    • sound reinforcement system

  • PLEASE DO NOT MOVE DRUM EQUIPMENT ON STAGE – Exception: Cymbals and snare are okay to move. If you would like to remove one of the toms, please ask.

  • PLEASE DO NOT move amps, piano, sounds shells, or any other equipment on stage other than cymbals and mics.

  • MICS may be moved for placement near your soloists.

  • Percussion:  As mentioned, drum set will be provided. Please bring your own sticks and mallets. You must use the equipment provided. Exception: You will be allowed to change or add cymbals, snare, and add percussion instruments (i.e. timbales, congas, etc.) Your time limit remains twenty minutes for your performance plus on & off. Any special requests (i.e. left handed drummer) must be communicated to the stage manager prior to your performance and the festival will do its best to help with your set up.

  • Warm up rooms:  

    • Chairs & stands, piano/keyboard, bass and guitar amp, and drum set. 

    • NO vibes or congas will be provided in the warm up rooms.

  • Clinic rooms:  

    • Chairs & stands, piano/keyboard, bass and guitar amp, and drum kit. 

    • NO vibes or congas will be provided in the critique rooms.

 

EQUIPMENT/INSTRUMENT STORAGE

  • Gym:  Each group will have its own area in the gym to store instrument cases, garment bags, backpacks, etc. Someone at the check-in table will direct you to your storage area if needed. Mouthpiece buzzing, and light playing in the gym will be allowed at a low volume level.

  • This gym storage area will be monitored, but the Mead School District is not liable for missing items. Please have someone from your group watch your instruments.

  • Mall/Commons area: This area will have tables and chairs, as well as displays from local music stores and concessions. 

    • This area may not be available in the morning session of middle school day.​

  • Repair: Minor repair services will be available in the mall area of the school.

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LUNCH & FOOD AREA

  • Middle schools may use the center portion of the gym as a lunch location. Due to the festival being held on a Friday for middle schools, the commons area traditionally used for student hangout and eating area is not available. Consider taking your groups offsite if needed.

 

SET UP AND PERFORMANCE FORMS

  • Forms will be available via digital links. Please complete this digital form by WEDNESDAY of festival week to allow our crew to make the needed number of copies.

    • In the event digital forms are not available, Please fill out the performance information form and one copy of the set-up form. Please bring FOUR COPIES of the performance information for. 

  

ARRIVAL, PARKING & CHECK IN

  • Please keep a look out for the signs that direct you and your group towards bus parking. 

  • There will be volunteers in the parking lot directing bus parking and unloading.

  • We will be using one entrance for the festival. This entrance is the multiple set of glass doors located on the East side of the school.

  • The general public and participants will also use this entrance. As you check in, one of our volunteers will hand stamp, or provide wristbands for you, your students and chaperones.  Please have your bus drivers contact us if they will be entering to watch bands.  There is no admission fee for drivers.

 

PERFORMANCE GUIDES

  • Guides are available to help you navigate your pathway from the gym, to warm up, to the stage, and to the clinic area. Please meet your guide in the gym storage area five minutes before your scheduled warm up time and they will lead to your warm up room. 

 

ADMISSION

  • All directors, chaperones, bus and equipment vehicle drivers, and students of participating bands will be admitted free of charge.

    • Free chaperone admission will be limited to TWO per ensemble.

  • Wristbands or hand stamps will be given to identify those with the performing ensembles.

  • Admission for adults 18 and over will be $10.

  • Admission for non-participating students with school ID, senior citizens, and those with military ID will be $5.

 

CHANGING AREAS

There are large boys and girls bathrooms next to the gym at the East entrance of the school available for your students to use for changing rooms.  Please do not use the theatre restrooms for changing; these are being used by spectators.

 

CONCESSIONS

Concessions will be available at the festival most of the day Friday and Saturday. These concessions will be snack-type food and drinks, Crave Cookies, Gourmet Grilled Cheese (food truck), and Surge Coffee (specialty coffee truck).

 

Fast food is also available in the vicinity along with pizza restaurants and Jimmy Johns that will deliver to the festival. There is also a Fred Meyer at the intersection of Division (HWY 395) and Hastings Rd.

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