Student Music Competition

Suncoast Jazz Festival

Download the 2025 Student Competition Details

2025 Competition Opens September 1 for Submissions

The below is only for reference and is not finalized for 2025. Be sure to check back for any updates.

The Suncoast Jazz Festival is celebrating its 35th year, November 21 to 23, 2025, at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater, Florida.  Festival attendees will hear a variety of music, including mainstream jazz, swing, early jazz, music from the Great American Songbook, Zydeco, and even a touch of gospel.

 

This year we invite student musicians to participate in the second Suncoast Jazz Festival Student Musician Competition. The Student Musician Competition will be held remotely, between September 1 and October 15, 2025.

Eligibility and Submission Criteria

  1. Students ages 12 to 20 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.

  5. Email the submission to SuncoastJazzFestival@gmail.com between September 1 and October 15, 2925.

Students performing at the Suncoast Jazz Festival

Competition Criteria

  1. Slating (Your introduction)

  2. Preparedness

  3. Stage presence

  4. Articulation

  5. Musicality

Prizes and Benefits

All student musicians who send in a submission will receive two adult single day tickets to attend this year’s Festival.  (Students may attend Festival at no charge.)

  1. All student musicians who send in a submission will be invited to attend our Festival’s Master Class held on Friday afternoon, November 21, 2025.

  2. Prizes: (divided equally when more than one musician is in the submission)

    • 1st prize - $500 scholarship, plus an opportunity to jam with a festival band.

    • 2nd prize - $250 scholarship

    • 3rd prize - $100 scholarship