Band and Band Director Registrations Now Open for the 2024 Las Vegas Regional Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Festival and "Mini" Band Director Academy are officially open!
If your band only attends one jazz festival in 2024,
this is the one not to miss!
You are cordially invited to participate in the nation's largest and highest rated Essentially Ellington regional festival licensed by Jazz at Lincoln Center and co-hosted on the campus of the University of Nevada Las Vegas by the UNLV Division of Jazz and Commercial Music.
Two full days of jazz education, performances, clinics, masterclasses, and collaboration experiences starting early February 16 through the final festival spectacular cheer tunnel and performance Saturday February 17, 2024.
Confirmed Jazz Outreach Initiative sponsored clinicians include Jazz Outreach Initiative Artistic Director, educator, and trumpet master Kenny Rampton from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, master jazz educator and drummer and leader of the Diva Jazz Orchestra Sherrie Maricle, and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra saxophonist, master jazz educator and President of Jazz St Louis, Victor Goines! Additional adjudicators provided by Jazz at Lincoln Center will be announced when confirmed. Additional featured jazz artists and educators include pianist Prof. Dave Loeb, UNLV Division of Jazz and Commercial Music, master trombonist Curt Miller, master bassist John Belzaguy, and more!
FRIDAY NIGHT GUIDED STUDENT JAM SESSION WITH PIZZA PARTY AND BAND DIRECTOR DINNER!
Final concert will feature select clinicians and musicians, the multi-award winning UNLV Jazz Ensemble I, and select Outstanding Student Soloists.
THEN ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2024 while your band enjoys the sights of Las Vegas and an optional tour of the UNLV campus, band directors are invited to attend a special "mini" Band Director Academy licensed to JOI by Jazz at Lincoln Center! This all day multi-class seminar includes courses selected in consultation with Jazz at Lincoln Center from their NYC Band Director Academy curricula. For Nevada educators, this will count towards district step advancement and
state licensure requirements through a partnership with NASA. DISCOUNT AVAILABLE FOR BAND DIRECTORS PARTICIPATING IN "EE24!" Open to all band directors (middle and high school) regardless of participation in the regional Essentially Ellington festival!
LIMITED SLOTS AVAILABLE SO RESERVE YOURS NOW AS THIS FESTIVAL ALWAYS BOOKS FULL AND MANY BANDS WHO RETURN AGAIN AND AGAINARE WAITING TO REGISTER!
Any questions at all, please reach out to us via email at essentiallyellingtonvegas@joi-lv.org.
2023 Band Director Testimonials:
"We had an absolute blast! The kids left feeling so inspired and motivated and we can't wait to come back next year. What a fantastic festival!" - Chris Sullivan, Band Dir., Harvard-Westlake Upper School, Los Angeles, CA.
"Congratulations on putting on one of the best jazz festivals I've ever taken a group to! The kids and parents are still talking about it! They came away totally inspired!" - Dennis Crystal, Band Dir., Newbury Park HS, Newbury Park, CA.
STUDENT TESTIMONIAL VIDEOS: