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 5:30 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 Idaho University
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Aric Schneller, trombone
- Director of Jazz Studies at Sam Houston State University
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Dustin Rietzlaff, bass
- Director of Jazz Studies at University of Minnesota-Morris
-
Mike Blake, percussion
- Professor Emeritus of Jazz and Percussion at University of North Dakota
Registration
We have reached our maximum number of bands for the 2026 NDSU Jazz Festival and registration is now closed.
Already filled out the registration form?
If your school already filled out the registration form, please follow these next steps to be fully registered for the festival:
1. Upload your director and/or group bio and student roster by January 9, 2026.
2. Mail your payment of $250 no later than January 31, 2026 to the address below. Bands will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis after registration payment is received.
NDSU Challey School of Music
Attn: Jazz Festival
PO Box 6050
Dept. 2540
Fargo, ND 58108-6050
If you have any questions about your registration status, please email Dr. Matthew Patnode at matthew.patnode@ndsu.edu.
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