If you are a school jazz band director looking to update or add your listing, please contact NJAJE Executive Director Jeffrey Lesser @ [email protected]

School Jazz Ensemble Festivals for 2026

In order to participate in local jazz ensemble festivals, please contact the corresponding host or director. Contact information for each festival is provided below.
February 26, 2026
Seneca High School
Contact: Grady Barber
[email protected]
609-268-4600
Direct x663600 Voicemail x832800
Friday, March 6, 2026 (MIDDLE SCHOOLS ONLY)
Southern Regional High School
Contact: Jennifer Hodgson
[email protected]
Friday, March 6, 2026
Penns Grove High School
Contact: Ken Rafter
856.299.6300 x6535
[email protected]
Friday, March 13, 2026
Shawnee High School
Contact: Nick Rotindo
[email protected]
Friday, March 20, 2026 (HIGH SCHOOLS)
Southern Regional High School
Contact: Jennifer Hodgson
[email protected]
​Friday, March 20, 2026
Lenape High School
Contact: Jack Franchi
[email protected]
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Livingston High School
Contact: Jim Hegedus
[email protected]
201-572-0533
Friday, April 17, 2026
Pitman High School
Contact: Phil Verespy
[email protected]
856-589-2121 ext. 1218 ​

Archived Festivals (contact host for a current date)

Friday, February 7, 2025   (Guest Artist and Judges/Clinicians - The Earl Phillips Big Band)
Bridgewater Raritan High School
Contact: Tom Bourgault and Nick Mossa
Register here: https://forms.gle/emNmZecCKSsTG8p86
Wednesday - Friday, February 12 - 14, 2025
Rowan University Jazz Festival
​Contact: Dennis DiBlasio
[email protected]
856-256-4500
February 28, 2025  (Guest Artist Mike Cemprola - Airmen of Note)
Overbrook High School
Contact: Brian Height
[email protected]
856-767-8000 x3043
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Monroe Township Middle School Jazz Festival
Contact: David Rattner
[email protected]
MTMS Jazz Registration Form
Friday, March 7, 2025
South Brunswick High School Jazz Festival
Contact: Joshua Oldham
[email protected]
To register, please follow this link
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Steinert High School 
Contact: John Ketterer
[email protected]​
609-631-4150 ext. 3412
Saturday, March 22, 2025
National Jazz Festival
https://www.nationaljazzfestival.org/
Philadelphia, PA
Friday, March 28, 2025  (Guest Artist and Judges/Clinicians) - The Earl Phillips Big Band)
Pennsbury High School
Contact: Francis Carpino
[email protected]
Phone: 215-949-6700 x70874
Friday, March 28, 2025
Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School
Contact: Durand Thomas
[email protected]
Register here
Saturday, March 29, 2025 (Guest Artist Doug Beach)
Kingsway High School
Contact: Joe Henderson
[email protected]​
Friday, April 4, 2025
Princeton High School (Middle School Festival)
Contact: Joe Bongiovi
[email protected]​
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Jackson Liberty High School
Contact: Scott Katona
[email protected]
Saturday, April 5, 2025
Princeton High School (High School Festival)
Contact: Joe Bongiovi
[email protected]​
Friday, April 11, 2025
Deptford High School
Contact: Carl Cox
[email protected]
​Friday, April 25, 2025
JP Stevens High School
Contact: John Zazzali
[email protected]
732-452-2808
​Registration Link
The following events were scheduled for 2024. We will update them for 2025 when we receive information from directors!

February 9, 2024
Edison High School
Contact: Marc Denicuolo 
[email protected]

February 23, 2024
Egg Harbor Township High School
Contact: David Craig Milnes
[email protected]
609-680-1988

March 1, 2024
Allentown High School
Contact: Ross Hecht
[email protected]
609-259-7292

April 5, 2024
Pennsbury High School
Contact: Francis Carpino
[email protected]
Phone: 215-949-6700 x70874
​
April 12, 2024
Mainland High School
Contact: Derek Rohaly
[email protected]

April 13, 2024
Newark Academy in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center 
Newark Academy, 91 South Orange, Livingston, NJ 07039
[email protected]
(973) 992-7000 x224

April 19, 2024
Sparta High School
Contact: Andy Lopez
[email protected]​
973-729-6191

May 2, 2024
West Milford High School
Contact: Matthew Gramata
[email protected]

February 17, 2023
Clayton High School
​Contact: Dave Dashefsky
[email protected]

March 4, 2023
Montgomery High School
Contact: Kawika Kahalehoe
609-466-7602 ext. 6124; [email protected]



March 24, 2023
Schalik High School
Contact: Scott Pieczara
[email protected]

April 27, 2022
34th Annual Music Spectacular Jazz Festival and Clinic
Contact: Wilbur Witteman 
​
Hamilton High School West
Contact: Peter Certo
609-668-3609

Holmdel High School
Contact: John Koryat

Rutgers University Jazz Festival
Contact: Marc Stasio
848-932-1894

Wayne Valley High School
Contact: 
973-317-2258