Fiesta Jazz Festival

About Fiesta Jazz Festival

The Fiesta Jazz Festival offers a unique educational and music performance experience for over 500 middle school, high school and college jazz student performers from across the state. At the same time, for more than 50 years it has given the Fiesta audience and San Antonio community a unique and admission free family event. The Fiesta Jazz Festival is one of Texas’ oldest and is dedicated to presenting the finest jazz, America’s national treasure.

2018 Fiesta Jazz Festival featured artist, Billy Childs.

Every year the festival also hosts the Fiesta World Jazz Concert which presents an opportunity for the general public in San Antonio and jazz festival participants to hear performances by outstanding jazz musicians from across the United States. Featured artists present a clinic the following day to connect face-to-face real world insights to all in attendance. Billy Childs, John Pattitucci, Bob Moses, Will Kennedy, Ignacio Berroa, Hannibal Lokumbe, Gordon Goodwin, Danilo Perez, Rufus Reid and Bill Watrous are a few of the artists from past festivals.

• Past Artists
  
  

  Billy Childs
  Yellowjackets
  Al Porcino
  Maynard Ferguson
  Dizzy Gillespie
  Michael Brecker
  Al Porcino
  Peter Erskine
  Mike Mainieri
  Eddie Gomez
  Eliane Elias
  Paquito D’Rivera
  Dizzy Gillespie
  U.S. Air Force Dimensions in Blue
  Willie Thomas
  Bunky Green
  Bobby Shew
  Rufus Reid
  Bill Watrous
  Bobby Meyer
  Jon Faddis
  Jazz Orchestra of San Antonio
  Don Menza
  Tuck Andress
  Patti Cathcart
  US Army Jazz Ambassadors
  Jim Cullum
  Valerie Washington
  Vital Signs Septet
  Bob Moses Trio
  Marvin Stamm
  George Garzone
  John Lockwood
  James Polk
  Akira Tana
  Nobuko Trio

  Marcus Belgrave
  Hal Galper
  Ignacio Berroa
  Kenny Garrett
  Kenny Kirkland
  Jeff Watts
  Nat Reeves
  Terence Blanchard
  Phillip Manuel
  Mark Schim
  Edward Simon
  Jeff Clapp
  David Pulphus
  Kenny Werner
  Bob Gullotti
  Wayne Bergeron
  Danilo Perez
  Adam Cruz
  Ben Street
  Patrick Cornelis
  Miro Sprayue
  Peter Slavor
  Paul Wiltgen
  Bob Mintzer
  Steve Allee
  Duduka Da Fonseca
  Gorden Goodwin
  Hannibal Lokumbe
  Rakalam Bob Moses
  Michael Gregory Jackson
  Phil Grenadier
  Will Kennedy
  The Powerhouse Big Band

  
  

Sponsored by St. Mary’s University Department of Music and the Fiesta San Antonio Commission.

Support Fiesta Jazz Festival

You can help create unique educational and music performance opportunities for St. Mary’s students and middle school and high school students from across the state by supporting Fiesta Jazz Festival. Your proceeds will directly support keeping this San Antonio Fiesta and educational tradition alive. Click the button below and customize your gift in the “Other” category to support Fiesta Jazz Festival.

Give to Fiesta Jazz Festival

Interested in becoming an official event sponsor? Contact John Rankin at St. Mary’s University at 210-436-3421 or jrankin@stmarytx.edu.

Participate in Fiesta Jazz Festival

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Fiesta Jazz Band Festival is San Antonio’s oldest educational jazz festival, attracting junior and senior high school jazz ensembles from Texas and neighboring states. Participants perform for criticism before a panel of renowned jazz clinicians. Trophies and awards are given for outstanding performances in various categories. A special mid-day clinic is presented by the featured Fiesta Jazz artist. Past clinicians have included Dizzy Gillespie, Bob Mintzer, Gordon Goodwin, Kenny Garrett and Terrance Blanchard.

Festival registration is on a first come basis and automatically ends when all slots are filled. The Festival is open to middle schools and high schools. You may enter for competition, play for critique only, or performance only. If your group is competing you must play in your school’s classification (5A, 6A, 2C, 3C, etc.). Three charts of contrasting styles are required. In the Fiesta tradition, one should be in a Latin jazz style. Each band will be allowed 25 minutes, including set up and strike.

Interested Student Jazz Ensembles wanting to participate in the 57th Annual Fiesta Jazz Band Festival in April 2019 are encouraged to complete the online entry form that will be made available in Spring 2019.

For more information about Fiesta Jazz Festival and how to participate, contact Edith Ortega at 210-436-3421 or eortega@stmarytx.edu.

Register Your Middle School or High School Ensembles

Register your middle school or high school student ensembles to participate in the 2019 Fiesta Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 27 with students from across the state.

Entry Fee: $235 per group

A CD recording of your performance is included. Please make checks payable to St. Mary’s University Music Department. Upon closure of festival entries we will mail you an acceptance letter with detailed performance information.

Deadline: Entry fee and application must be received no later than March 23, 2019 to guarantee entry.

Remit to:
St. Mary’s University
Fiesta Jazz Festival
Department of Music
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, Texas 78228-8562