For the first time in its 12 year history, the Triton Jazz Festival will span four days, Tuesday through Friday, and will feature the best high school jazz musicians in the state who are all competing for a top festival ranking and a chance to participate in the Iowa Jazz Championships (IJC) in Des Moines in April.

“While the festival has a competitive element, we want the education of the Triton Jazz Festival to be the focus,” said Jeremy Smith, director of athletic bands and organizer of the Triton Jazz Festival. “While some bands are established, some are young, new to the process, possibly rebuilding, and more. For some of the bands attending, this is their chance to have a trip away from school, so in addition to the learning and performing, their highlight is the opportunity to travel together, have a meal together, watch other bands in action, and more.”

Regionally, Southeast Valley, Webster City, Manson Northwest Webster, Pocahontas Area, Greene County, South Hamilton, Newell Fonda, and Humboldt will all be participating in the jazz competition, as well as schools from Sioux City to Denison to South O’Brien to Cedar Rapids.

“Our location allows bands from multiple districts to attend, allowing them to view, perform with, and compete against many schools they normally may not get to in a more regional setting,” said Smith.

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Triton Jazz Festival includes a number of bands each year that have qualified and placed at the Iowa Jazz Championships in Des Moines.

“Not only does the learning from our festival help to make them better, the competition results are also used as consideration for potential wild card consideration to be part of the IJC,” said Smith.

Bands are judged on style, interpretation, solos, ensemble, groove, music selection, and more. They are critiqued by some of the top jazz educators in the country and also participate in classroom jazz sessions with guest clinicians.

“The focus of our event remains the experience and education of the students that participate,” said Smith. “We want this to be a great event for schools and musicians.”

The all day festival will be held Tuesday through Friday at Decker Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

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Iowa Central Community College will host four days of jazz music Tuesday through Friday as it hosts the 12th annual Triton Jazz Festival.

“I’m thankful for Iowa Central to allow us to have this event to bring students to our campus,” added Smith. “Each year directors have recommended our festival to other directors because of our performance facility, on campus dining options available to students while they’re here, the quality of media coverage the festival receives, and the quality of educators and adjudicators we bring in. I’m looking forward to this year’s festival.”

Triton Jazz Festival

Tuesday through Friday

Decker Auditorium, Iowa Central Community College

BY THE NUMBERS:

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In its 12th year, Iowa Central’s Triton Jazz Festival will welcome 51 bands from 47 schools across Iowa for the four day music competition.

51 Iowa high school bands registered

47 Iowa high schools represented

12th year of jazz festival

Four days of jazz music