INAUGURAL FESTIVAL
PHILADELPHIA, PA
February 15, 2020
Welcome to the inaugural festival
The National Jazz Festival was created by instrumental and vocal jazz directors, caring parents, and supportive jazz musicians in an effort to fill a void and lack of a major national jazz festival with an educational philosophy. Upon the cancellation of other festivals, the National Jazz Festival team saw a need to create an event that allows thousands of students to continue to share their talents and hard work with their peers from around the country. Band directors, teachers, students and parents are donating their time to make this inaugural event a success. We are proud to say that the National Jazz Festival is being produced for you today 100% by volunteers. These volunteers are sharing their love of jazz by supporting jazz education.
We are proud to be showcasing 1,200 students performing in 63 ensembles from 11 states, including Puerto Rico at today’s event. These statistics already make the National Jazz Festival the largest independent high school jazz festival in the East! We hope that you return to the National Jazz Festival each year as we grow, expand, and celebrate jazz students from around the country to continue and advance this American art form.
Simply by attending today, you have helped us support jazz education and have helped us launch the next cutting edge festival that will bring new opportunities to students for many years to come. For that, we share our deepest gratitude and hope you enjoy your day at the National Jazz Festival.