One of Northern California’s longest-running and most respected student jazz showcases returns to Folsom next weekend, as the 37th annual Folsom High Jazz Festival takes over the Folsom High School campus on Saturday, Jan. 24, welcoming more than 130 ensembles for a full day of competition, concerts and celebration in support of local music education.
Widely recognized as one of California’s largest student jazz festivals, the all-day event brings together middle school and high school jazz bands, vocal jazz choirs and jazz combos from across the region. From early morning through late evening, classrooms and performance spaces throughout the campus will fill with swing, blues and contemporary jazz as students perform for audiences and professional adjudicators alike. The festival is organized by the Folsom High School Music Boosters and serves as a major fundraiser supporting the school’s music programs.
Performances begin at 7:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day until approximately 6:30 p.m., with ensembles rotating across six venues on campus. In total, more than 130 groups are scheduled to perform. Each ensemble receives real-time professional feedback from experienced judges, along with educational clinics designed to help students improve musicianship, ensemble balance and stylistic interpretation, making the festival as much a learning experience as a competition.
The timing of the Folsom High Jazz Festival continues to set it apart from many similar events. While most student jazz festivals are held early in the school year, the January date allows ensembles to arrive with months of preparation and prior performance experience, often resulting in more polished and confident performances. For many students, the festival represents a milestone opportunity to perform in front of large audiences while engaging with peers from other schools.
In addition to the competitive performances, several featured concerts are scheduled throughout the day. Noon concerts will take place from 12:35 to 1:15 p.m., with the Sac State Graduate Combo performing in the theatre. At the same time, the Sac State Graduate Vocal Jazz Ensemble and the ARC Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform in the library, giving attendees the chance to experience collegiate-level jazz in both instrumental and vocal settings.
The evening portion of the festival begins at 6:30 p.m. with a guest artist concert featuring Lab Rats in the multipurpose room, with students receiving priority seating. Awards will follow at 7:30 p.m., recognizing outstanding performances from throughout the day. A new addition to this year’s festival comes at 8 p.m., when finals performances take the stage for middle school jazz bands, high school jazz choirs and high school jazz bands, closing out the event with a culminating showcase.
Over its nearly four-decade history, the Folsom High Jazz Festival has hosted schools from across California and neighboring states, building a reputation as a premier showcase for youth jazz musicians. Beyond competition, the festival offers students the chance to hear other programs, connect with college-level performers and experience the atmosphere of a large-scale music festival, all while supporting music education in the community.
All-day general admission tickets are available for $15. Discounted all-day passes are offered for seniors, students and military members at $10, while children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Tickets and festival information are available online HERE.
Additional schedules, event details and information about supporting music education can be found through the Folsom High School Music Boosters at www.folsommusic.org.
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