The event, which begins at 6:00 PM at North Schuylkill Junior/Senior High School, will feature eight performing groups representing seven area high schools, offering an evening of live jazz performances and musical collaboration.
Participating schools include Blue Mountain, Conrad Weiser, North Schuylkill, Pottsville Area, Shenandoah Valley, Southern Lehigh, and Williams Valley, each bringing their own jazz ensembles to the stage under the direction of their respective music educators.
The festival will follow a structured performance schedule beginning at 6:15 PM, with ensembles performing throughout the evening, followed by a featured finale performance at 8:30 PM.
This year’s event will be adjudicated by a panel of accomplished musicians and educators, including:
- John Maurer, a nationally recognized trumpet and flugelhorn artist and educator
- Scott Blanke, a Philadelphia-based trombonist, composer, and music educator
- Ravi Seenarine, a saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist active in the regional jazz scene
Each ensemble will be evaluated using a rating scale ranging from Good (63–77) to Superior (93–105), providing valuable feedback and insight to the student performers.
In addition to the student performances, the evening will feature a special appearance by the M&J Big Band of Pottsville, an 18-piece ensemble known for its energetic performances and diverse musical repertoire. The group, which has earned back-to-back Republican Herald Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Live Entertainer, will headline the event and include guest performances by North Schuylkill student musicians.
The M&J Big Band performance will also feature the evening’s adjudicators, offering attendees a unique opportunity to see professional musicians perform alongside local talent.
Admission to the festival is $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens, with tickets available at the door.
The event continues to grow each year, highlighting the strength of music education programs across Schuylkill County and beyond, while providing students with the opportunity to perform in a collaborative and professionally evaluated setting.
