Fiesta Jazz Festival

For more than 50 years, St. Mary’s has hosted the annual Fiesta Jazz Festival Band Concert and Band Festival on campus. Renowned local, regional and national jazz musicians come to the University where they perform for the St. Mary’s and San Antonio communities. The Band Festival where area high schools and middle school students are critiqued and compete for trophies. Honor band recipients are selected from these groups. Clinics and the chance to see award-winning instrumentalists are enjoyed by all.

Fiesta Jazz Festival | April 28-29, 2023

Schedule of Events

Friday, April 28
Gold & Blue Note Jazz Club, University Center at St. Mary’s University

University Invitational

  • 1 p.m. – Trinity University Jazz Ensemble
  • 2:15 p.m. – St. Mary’s Fall Jazz Combo
  • 3:45 p.m. – St. Mary’s University Jazz Combo
  • 4:45 p.m. – St. Mary’s University Jazz Orchestra
  • 6 p.m. – The Heritage Jazz Band

  • Fiesta World Class Jazz Concert

    7:30 p.m. | Gold & Blue Note Jazz Club, University Center at St. Mary’s University

    Audra Menconi Trio
    George Garzone, saxophone
    Eric Revis, bass
    With special guests

Saturday, April 29
Treadaway Recital Hall

  • 8:40 a.m. – Bradley M.S (2C), Conner Smith, Director
  • 9:05 a.m. – Losoya M.S.(2C), Solomon Ruppa, Director
  • 9:35 a.m. – Harlandale M.S.(2C), Michael Ybarra & Evan Lavender, Directors
  • 10 a.m. – Whittier M.S. (2C), Steve Mohacey, Director
  • 10:25 a.m – Resnik M.S.(2C), Gilbert Sanchez, Nancy Lott, & Louis Romero, Directors
  • 10:50 a.m. – Scobee M.S.(2C), Hector Tellez, Director
  • 11:15 a.m. – Bradley M.S. I (3C), Karlos Elizondo, Director
  • 1:15 p.m. – Wagner H.S. III (3A), Raul Cisneros, Director
  • 1:40 p.m. – Jourdanton H.S. (3A), David Torch, Director
  • 2:05 p.m. – Hallettsville H.S. (3A), Joshua Ferguson, Director
  • 2:55 p.m. – San Antonio Christian H.S. (4A), Dave Eskridge, Director
  • 3:20 p.m. – Wagner H.S. II (4A), Raul Cisneros, Director
  • 3:45 p.m. – Pleasanton H.S. (4A), Eduardo Solis, Director

University Center, Conference Room A

  • 9:15 a.m. – San Antonio Christian H.S. (5A), – Dave Eskridge, Director
  • 9:40 a.m. – Wagner H.S. I (5A) – Raul Cisneros, Director
  • 10:05 a.m. – Alamo Heights H.S. (5A) – Matt Moreno, Director
  • 10:30 a.m. – Jefferson H.S. (5A) – Jonathan Mireles, Director
  • 10:55 a.m. – Coronado H.S. (5A) – Danny Timmerman, Director
  • 11:20 a.m. – O’Conner H.S. (5A) – Michael Bradford, Director
  • Noon – Jazz Clinic with Audra Menconi
  • 1:15 p.m. – Judson H.S.(6A) – Jose Garcia, Director
  • 1:40 p.m. – O’Connor H.S. (6A) – Alfonso Alvarado, Director
  • 2:05 p.m. – Reagan H.S. (6A) – Tyler Estrada Simon, Director
  • 2:30 p.m. – Brandeis H.S. (6A) – Jesse Cuellar, Director
  • 2:55 p.m. – New Braunfels H.S. (6A) – David Eckert, Director
  • 3:45 p.m. – Skyline H.S. (6A)– Jesse Provo, Director
  • 4:10 p.m. – Brandeis H.S. Combo (6A) – Jesse Cuellar, Director
  • 4:45 p.m. – Jazz Orchestra of San Antonio
  • 5:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

Learn more about Fiesta Jazz Festival

  • Fiesta® World Class Jazz Concert

    Enjoy the great sounds of national, regional and local jazz artists at this year’s Annual Fiesta World Class Jazz Concert. This event is sponsored by the Music Department at St. Mary’s University and the San Antonio Fiesta Commission.

    The evening concert follows outstanding University and Junior College jazz bands along with area jazz groups.

  • Annual Fiesta® Jazz Band Festival

    The Fiesta Jazz Band attracts 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.

Participate in the Fiesta Jazz Festival

  • 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.

Fiesta Jazz Band Festival Group Entry Form

  • (UIL, etc.)
  • This is your total entry fee amount due for this group. Upon closure of festival entries we will mail you an acceptance letter with detailed performance information.
Sign up to participate

  • 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. Use the link below and select the “Other” category to support Fiesta Jazz Festival.

    Interested in becoming an official event sponsor? Contact John Rankin at St. Mary’s University.

    Give to the Jazz Festival
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