What is a Festival Pass? How can I get one? Festival Pass holders receive admission to all three headlining concerts at the festival at a discounted price. For more details, and to purchase a festival pass, contact the UNC Performing Arts Box Office at 970-351-4849.

Where can I buy tickets to the evening concerts? Tickets are available for purchase at the UNC Performing Arts Box Office HERE or 970-351-4849.

When do tickets go on sale? Tickets go on sale winter 2021.

What are the After-Hours Jazz Sessions? Are they free? On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings following the main stage concerts, the festival presents intimate After Hours Jazz Sessions. These sessions are held in Downtown Greeley at Tower 56 and Moxi Theater. These sessions are free, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All ages are welcome, and the room is non-smoking. The music starts at approximately 10:15 pm each evening.

I’d like to attend some jazz workshops and school performances during the day. Where do I obtain a schedule of daytime events? You can find the complete school group and jazz workshop schedule under the “Attend” menu on our website. School group performance and jazz workshops times are posted approximately one month prior to the festival.

Do I have to pay to attend a school performance or jazz workshop? All school group performances and daytime workshops are free and open to the public.

School Director FAQ’s:

What is included in the school group registration fee?

30-minute festival performance time slot (15-minute for solo vocalists)
Feedback clinics* and digitally recorded comments given by renowned jazz educators
Educational workshops presented by our celebrated guest artists
Opportunities to interact with festival headline artists at Q&A Sessions
Sessions on jazz improvisation and listening with jazz education icon Jamey Aebersold
20% off your next UNC Jazz Press order

*no feedback clinics for college big bands

Where can I buy tickets to the evening concerts? Are there discounted evening concert tickets for students? Tickets are available WINTER 2021 for purchase at the UNC Performing Arts Box Office HERE or 970-351-4849. A limited number of seats are available to students, teachers, and chaperones at discounted prices.

What day will my group perform?

Vocal groups perform on Thursday.
College Big Bands perform on Saturday. College Combos perform on both Friday and Saturday.
High School and Middle School Big Bands and Combos perform on both Friday and Saturday
Modern Bands perform on Saturday

What equipment is provided, and what equipment do we need to bring?

Jazz Ensembles: Pianos, drum sets, and cymbals are provided. Microphones, Guitar amp, bass amp, keyboard amp, chairs, and 25 music stands are also provided. Vibes are available in all performance rooms. We do not provide electronic keyboards or auxiliary percussion. Rhythm section players are not provided for vocal soloists. Please visit www.uncjazzfest.com for standard set-up configurations prior to attending the festival.

Modern Bands: Pianos, drum sets, and cymbals are provided. Microphones (5 vocal, 1 solo, 1 area), Guitar amps (3), bass amps (2), keyboard amps (2), chairs, and 15 music stands are also provided. Vibes are available in all performance rooms. We do not provide electronic keyboards or auxiliary percussion. Rhythm section players are not provided for vocal soloists. Please visit www.uncjazzfest.com for standard set-up configurations prior to attending the festival.

How many microphones are available to vocal groups? Up to 20 individual microphones are available for each vocal jazz ensemble. Larger groups may use the group microphone setup.

Will there be an opportunity for my students to meet the headlining artists? Students and directors have the opportunity to attend “Meet the Artist” question and answer sessions each day of the festival.

What is there to do at the festival? During the day, school groups perform and receive clinics, attend inspiring educational workshops on a variety of jazz topics with renowned jazz educators from around the nation, and listen to school performances by their peer groups. In the afternoon, students are invited to attend Q & A sessions with headlining artists, as well as student jam sessions, hosted by UNC’s house rhythm section. Each day at the festival culminates with an evening concert, featuring unforgettable performances by some of the world’s greatest jazz artists. Following the concert, students have the opportunity to attend After Hours Jazz Sessions, featuring performances by many of our festival adjudicators and artists.

Are there Educational Workshops available for my students? Educational workshops on a variety of jazz topics take place all three days of the festival between the hours of 10:00 am and 5:00 pm. These workshops include “Meet-the-Artist” Q&A Sessions hosted by our headlining concert artists, and educational clinics presented by the festival’s many artist clinicians. All educational workshops are free and open to the public. Please check back one week prior to the festival for an updated workshop schedule.

Are there Student Jam Sessions? Student Jam sessions are held each day of the festival. Bring your students to sit in with our house rhythm section, enjoy food and drink, and witness student learning at its finest! For specific times, visit the Festival Schedule page on our website.

Does the festival give out awards? The festival awards prizes to student musicians for outstanding performances at the festival. If one of your students receives a prize, you will be notified. Students can claim their prizes at the concert by going to the Jazz Education Network booth in the lobby.

What Do School Groups Receive?

A 30-minute performance slot (total time including getting on/off stage, applause, etc.); vocal soloists have 15 minutes
A 30-minute slot in a warm-up room
Audio recorded comments from clinician(s)
A Feedback clinic with one of the clinicians. Big bands will move to a separate clinic room; vocal groups, vocal soloists, and combos may elect to leave time in their 30-minute slot (15 min. for vocal soloists) for feedback (college/university big bands do not receive feedback clinics)
An optional confidential rating assigned by the clinicians
Free entry to the educational clinics, jam sessions, and after hours jazz sessions
A well-equipped performance venue with high-quality backline (piano, bass amp, guitar amp, drum set, cymbals, and vibes), music stands/platforms, and a professional sound system with engineer
Pianos and drum sets that are tuned each day
Warm-up and feedback clinic rooms equipped with a piano, bass and guitar amps, drum set, cymbals, and music stands

What are the After-Hours Jazz Sessions? Are they free? On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings following the main stage concerts, the festival presents intimate After Hours Jazz Sessions. These sessions are held Downtown Greeley at Tower 56 and Moxi Theater. These sessions are free, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All ages are welcome, and the room is non-smoking. The music starts at approximately 10:15 pm (Thurs & Fri) and 7:15 pm (Sat).

I’d like to attend some jazz workshops and school performances during the day. Where do I obtain a schedule of daytime events? You can find the complete school group and jazz workshop schedule HERE. School group performance and jazz workshops times are posted approximately one month prior to the festival.

Do I have to pay to attend a school performance or jazz workshop? All school group performances and daytime workshops are free and open to the public.

What is Modern Band? Modern Band teaches kids to perform, improvise and compose using the popular styles that they know and love including rock, pop, reggae, hip hop, R&B and other modern styles. Modern bandclasses feature guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, vocals, technology, computers, and more!

When are Next Year’s Dates? April 22-24, 2021.

ADA Accommodations: For questions about ADA accommodations at UNC, please contact Natalie Pique, Investigative Coordinator & ADA Specialist, Institutional Equity & Compliance at natalie.pique@unco.edu.