2026 NDSU Jazz Festival
Thursday, February 5 and Friday, February 6
NDSU Festival Concert Hall
Join the NDSU Challey School of Music for the 43rd annual Jazz Festival!
In this non-competitive festival, high school and junior high jazz groups from across the region gather to perform and receive coaching from professional jazz artists and educators. All guest artists hold jazz clinics throughout the day, then perform alongside NDSU jazz ensembles during a high-powered concert at 6 p.m. each evening in Festival Concert Hall.
Guest Clinicians
We're excited to welcome the following musicians as our clinicians for the 2026 NDSU Jazz Festival!
-
Vern Sielert, trumpet
- Professor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies at University of Idaho
-
Aric Schneller, trombone
- Director of Jazz Studies at Sam Houston State University
-
Dustin Retzlaff, bass
- Director of Jazz Studies at University of Minnesota-Morris
-
Mike Blake, percussion
- Professor Emeritus of Jazz and Percussion at University of North Dakota
Thursday Schedule
| Time | Band | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Moorhead High School Jazz Band | Pam Redlinger |
| 9:00 | West Fargo High School Jazz Ensemble | Dan Christianson |
| 9:30 | Davies Early Bird Jazz Band | Kristin Strege |
| 10:00 | Liberty Middle School | Amy Johnson |
| 10:30 | Mandan Middle School "Braves" Jazz Band | Brandon Bondley |
| 11:00 | Fargo South Studio Band | Tristan Byer |
| 11:30 | Mandan Middle School "Mandan" Band | Sara Baumann |
| 12:00 | Fargo South Jazz Orchestra | Noah Johnson |
| 12:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 1:30-2:20 | Clinics | Vern Sielert, trumpet - Beckwith Recital Hall |
| Mike Blake, drums - Room 116 | ||
| Dustin Retzlaff, bass - Room 118 | ||
| Aric Schneller, trombone - Room 122 | ||
| Saxophone Section - Room 146 | ||
| Jazz Piano - Room 111 | ||
| 2:30 | Mandan Jazz Ensemble III | Shawn Boehm |
| 3:00 | Legacy High School Jazz Ensemble I | Mark Herold |
| 3:30 | Mandan High School Jazz Ensemble II | Shawn Boehm |
| 4:00 | Sheyenne High School Jazz II | Nicole Rumppe |
| 4:30 | Legacy High School Jazz Too | Pierette Johnson |
| 5:00 | Mandan High School Jazz Ensemble I | Jon Baumann |
| 6:00 | NDSU Jazz Ensemble Concert with Guest Artists |
Friday Schedule
| Time | Band | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 | Fargo North Spartan Jazz | Jeff Dasovick |
| 9:00 | Minot North High School 9th/10th Jazz Band | Jeremy Meinert |
| 9:30 | Minot Magic City High School Jazz Ensemble II | John Spitzer |
| 10:00 | Davies Three O'Clock Jazz Band | Kristin Strege |
| 10:30 | Minot North High School 11th/12th Jazz Band | Jeremy Meinert |
| 11:00 | Davies Two O'Clock Jazz Band | Darcy Brandenburg |
| 11:30 | Minot Magic City High School Jazz Ensemble I | John Spitzer |
| 12:00 | Fargo North Broadway Jazz | Kelsey Dragosovich |
| 12:30 | Lunch Break | |
| 1:30-2:20 | Clinics | Vern Sielert, trumpet - Beckwith Recital Hall |
| Mike Blake, drums - Room 116 | ||
| Dustin Retzlaff, bass - Room 118 | ||
| Aric Schneller, trombone - Room 122 | ||
| Saxophone Section - Room 146 | ||
| Jazz Piano - Room 111 | ||
| 2:30 | Central Cass Jazz Band | Brandon Noffze |
| 3:00 | Willmar High School Jazz Ensemble | Todd Blaser |
| 3:30 | Grand Rapids JazzAm | Sander Grotjohn |
| 4:00 | Alexandria Area High School Jazz Band | Derek Ziemer |
| 4:30 | Roseau High School Jazz Band | Chris Barnes |
| 5:00 | Grand Rapids Jazz Ensemble I | Dale Gunderson |
| 6:00 | NDSU Jazz Ensemble Concert with Guest Artists |
Sponsors
Thank you to the following businesses for supporting the NDSU Jazz Festival!
- The Radisson Blu Hotel – Fargo
- International Music Camp
- Schmitt Music
- Eckroth Music
- Popplers Music