Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition
The Blues Alley Jazz Society is pleased to announce the five finalists for the 8th annual Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition. The competition included some of the most musically versatile student vocalists from around the globe and has attracted submissions from continents and countries as expansive as the “First Lady of Song’s” enormous repertoire from her past century of music. Founded in partnership with the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, to honor the centennial of Ms. Fitzgerald’s birth, the competition has grown exponentially as we continue to pursue her inimitable legacy. The finalists are Clara Campbell (Bountiful, Utah), Jameson Falconer (St. Louis, Missouri), Angelina Kolobukhova (Minsk, Belarus), Ale Nunez (Toronto, Canada), and Aanya Sengupta (New Delhi, India). The winner will be announced April 26, 2025 after the final round is evaluated by our judges Vanessa Rubin and Nicole Zuraitis.
EllaFitzgeraldCompetition.org
School of Rock Celebrates Milestone with Opening of 400th Franchise Location
School of Rock, the global leader in performance-based music education, announces the opening of its 400th franchise location with a new school in Reno, Nevada, marking a monumental milestone in its mission to transform lives through music education. This achievement highlights the brand’s unprecedented growth, industry leadership, and unwavering dedication to its students, franchisees, and global community.
SchoolOfRock.com
Student Groups Apply Now to Perform at JEN Conference
The JENerations Jazz Festival runs concurrently with the Annual JEN Conference. Our pilot program began in 2012 and with each passing year we have added space for MORE ensembles to participate, with a total of 3 venues. More than 800 elementary, middle, junior high, high school, community and college musicians of all ages participate in this exciting weekend of jazz each year!
We invite YOU to add your ensemble name to this ever-growing list! Join us in this enriching event where world-class education is delivered in a totally non-competitive, nurturing environment to your students! 2026 Application Portal is Open!
JazzEdNet.org
Midwest Clinic Announces New Percussion Intensive
Join the Midwest Clinic the day before its annual conference for a 4-hour immersive session designed for those new to teaching percussion and those looking for a basic level refresher! Percussion Basics Simplified offers essential information, tools, and resources to effectively teach snare drum and mallets. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your pedagogical skills, this session will cover the foundational principles of percussion playing and teaching, including instrument position, grip, stroke variations, and music reading. Participants will rotate between snare drum and mallets, culminating in a combined percussion session within a typical band setting. The Percussion pre-conference intensive will be led by Clinicians Peggy Jo Bonner, Brandon Estes, Adam D. Hill, Justin Koszarek, and Dr. James Yakas.
2025 Attendees will be able to add registration for this event at the end of their Midwest Clinic Conference Registration. Due to limited seating, only Professional and College Student registrants are eligible to attend. Conference registration opens August 1st. MidwestClinic.org
March 2025 Marks the 40th Anniversary of Music In Our Schools Month
This Year’s MIOSM® Theme Is “United Through Music”
“This is a special year for Music In Our Schools Month as we celebrate its ruby anniversary! That’s 40 years using this month to boldly remind the world that music in American schools is awesome and important,” stated NAfME President Deborah A. Confredo. “The 2025 MIOSM theme, United Through Music, is simple and eloquent. It reminds us that, although each person—baby, child, youth, and adult—is a beautiful musical human, when we come together our song soars higher, louder, and stronger.
NAfME encourages teachers and music education advocates to share on social media how their schools are celebrating music education, using the hashtags #UnitedThroughMusic and #MIOSM and tagging “@NAfME”.
NAfME.org
Joey Stempien Wins 2025 Barbara Buehlman Prize for Composition
The Midwest Clinic congratulates our 2025 Barbara Buehlman Prize for Composition winner, Joey Stempien, for his work Montreal at Night. Joey hails from Rochester, NY and is an emerging voice in jazz and contemporary composition, helming the Joey Stempien Big Band, a professional collective of young up-and-coming musicians performing his original music. Montreal at Night will have its debut at the 79th Midwest Clinic this December.
Special thanks to our adjudicators for this year’s contest who reviewed over 50 pieces for High School Wind Band: David Biedenbinder, Patricia Brumbaugh, and Andy Sealey; as well as to the Big Ten Band Directors Association, our contest sponsor.
The 2026 Buehlman Composition Contest is open now, and young composers should submit their new work for middle school band by January 15, 2026.
MidwestClinic.org
