Student Music Competition

Suncoast Jazz Festival

This competition is now closed. Winners to be announced at the Suncoast Jazz Festival.

The Suncoast Jazz Festival is celebrating its 34th year from November 22 to 24, 2024 at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Florida. Festival attendees will hear a variety of music, including swing, blues, Brazilian, New Orleans early jazz, modern acoustic jazz, music from the Great American Songbook, and even a touch of rockabilly and gospel.

 

The Festival invites student musicians to participate in the first Suncoast Jazz Festival Student Musician Competition, held remotely, between September 1st and October 31, 2024.

Download the Student Music Competition Document

Submission Criteria

  1. Students ages 14 to 18 are eligible

  2. An entry can include one to six musicians (solos, ensembles, or combos).

  3. Each submission must include the following:

    (a) for each student - name, age, and contact (e.g., email, phone, and mailing address),

    (b) school name,

    (c) name and contact information for the music teacher or band director, and

    (d) a link to your performance video uploaded to Youtube, Vimeo, or a platform of your choice.

  4. The submission should consist of a performance video clip of one arrangement between September 1 and October 31, 2024.

  5. Email the submission to the two emails below:

Students performing at the Suncoast Jazz Festival

Competition Criteria

  1. Slating: The introduction should include:  (a) band name and band members, (b) the submitted piece and composer, and (c) any pertinent information about the arrangement.

  2. Preparedness

  3. Stage presence

  4. Articulation

  5. Musicality

Benefits

All student musicians submitting a performance video will:

  1. Receive two adult single-day tickets to attend this year’s Festival.  (Students may attend the Festival at no charge.)

  2. Be invited to participate in a Master Class held on Friday, November 22nd, 2024.

Prizes

1st prize

$1000 scholarship (for the entire submission), and the potential opportunity to perform at the 34th Suncoast Jazz Festival (November 22nd to 24th, 2024)

2nd prize

$500 scholarship (for the entire submission)

3rd prize

$250 scholarship (for the entire submission)