Included In Your Registration
- Positive performance experience,
- Adjudication feedback that will help your band improve,
- Masterclasses by professionals from the industry,
- Admission for your students, director, and two chaperones to all professional performances!
Director Check-list
Prior to the festival, please complete the following (see Director’s Packet for specific deadlines):
- Register your band(s)
- Pay online via credit card or send Purchase Order invoice. You must complete the checkout entirely in order for your registration to be processed, even if you are requesting an invoice.
- Purchase tickets for any additional guests who may require admission beyond the allotted amount. These concerts are ticketed to the public and sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so please reserve tickets now! You can find more information on ticket sales here. The full line up is available on our website. Included in your registration fee is admission for your students, director,
and two chaperones to all professional performances!
- Submit your Setup and Announcement Forms online.
- Bring your own cymbals and cymbal stands.
- Work with students to pre-plan which performances and masterclasses they will attend!
COVID-19 Information
In order to attend our campus, each student, chaperone, and director needs to complete the MHCC COVID-19 Screening Questionnaire.
It is the band director's responsibility to check that each of your students have completed this and have received a Green Check mark indicating they are safe to come to campus. Please do not allow any students with symptoms to come to campus. When
you check at the college theatre in you will need to confirm that this is done.
Adjudication
Each ensemble will have 30 minutes on stage, including setup/breakdown, performance, and a brief on-stage clinic immediately following the ensemble's performance from the adjudicators in the venue. The adjudicators will be using the Oregon Jazz Rubrics.
Awards
The awards ceremony will take place at the conclusion of the festival in the College Theatre. At this time, outstanding musicianship awards along with first, second and third place in each division will be announced.
Check In
Upon arrival, pick up your registration packet at the Check-In Table in the College Theatre lobby. In your packet, you will find programs, exact warmup times and places, and any last minute schedule changes/information. You will also find post-performance
packet pick up, t-shirt sales and size swap, and displays from our sponsors.
Clinics and Masterclasses
Each band will receive an on-stage clinic with the remaining time after your performance. An adjudicator will come work with your band and give you feedback.
Masterclasses will be held throughout the day in AC2138, hosted by industry professionals. These are hands-on opportunities for your students to learn concrete tips and techniques relating to their instrument, jazz, or music business. When appropriate,
they should plan to bring their instruments. Check the final schedule for more information.
Workshops will be held throughout the day, featuring industry professionals. These workshops are hands-on opportunities for your students to learn concrete tips and techniques relating to their instrument, jazz, or music business. Check the final schedule
for more information.
Directions & Maps
Divisions
The high school Big Band competition will be divided into divisions based on total school enrollment. Division sizes will be determined after all entries have been received. Groups in each division may be spread out throughout the day but will be judged
by the same set of judges.
- HS Big Band Division I (Oregon 6A; Out-of-state enrollment of 1500+)
- HS Big Band Division II (Oregon 5A; Out-of-state enrollment of 1000-1499)
- HS Big Band Division III (Oregon 4A; Out-of-state enrollment of 400-999)
- HS Big Band Division IV (Oregon 3A; Out-of-state enrollment of 200-399)
- HS Combo
- MS/JH Big Band
- MS/JH Combo
- Open Division (for non-traditional bands)
*Ensembles wishing to perform for “comments only” should notate on their Registration Form.
**Oregon HS Big Bands hoping to qualify for the Oregon State Jazz Championships must compete in their OSAA division above. Bands not wishing to qualify may compete in a division that corresponds to their enrollment.
Eligibility
All Jazz Bands are welcome to participate in the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival. Non-traditional bands, defined as bands made up of students from multiple schools, after school clubs, ensembles with non-traditional instrumentation, and non-accredited high school
and middle school bands will be placed in the most appropriate division possible. They will be scored based of the OBDA rubric, but will receive awards in the Open Division.
Entries
Schools may enter more than one jazz ensemble in the festival. A “second band” may enter the division below the first band. Each big band shall be comprised of at least 13 members with a maximum of 30 members. Smaller groups may perform for comments only
or enter the combo division. Combos are defined as ensembles with fewer than 13 members. Any ensemble can elect to perform for comments only rather than comments and a rating.
Food
There is a café on campus with options for coffee and pastries, located inside of the library, directly across from the Performing Arts facilities. In addition, a list of restaurants in the immediate area is available here.
There are also food options on campus at the Yoshida Event Center, where all professional concerts are held.
Performance Recordings
The performance recordings, adjudicated recordings, scores and recaps are all provided immediately after the festival. Each director will receive an email prior to the festival that includes their online folder access. Once the festival is over, you can
access your recordings, adjudicator comments, and score sheets. No video recordings are provided.
Photography & Recording
No professional group photos are taken at the event but the staff will be happy to point your ensemble to great locations for group photos. Please remind all participants and guests that flash photography is strictly prohibited during performances. The
staff will ask individuals using a flash to leave the performance venues without exception. While we do not prohibit audio/video/photographic recording during the event, we ask that you be mindful of the intellectual property rights of others. Capturing
a performance is not against the law but broadcasting, sharing, or reproducing the performance is most likely in violation of federal copyright law.
Schedule, Concert Attendance & Cancellations
A master time schedule and other information will be sent to all participants. Jazz Bands and Combos will be scheduled according to date of application, performance time preference and distance from the festival site. There is a limit on the number of
applicants that can be accepted. The quicker the application is sent, the better. Schedule priority is given to those who register early. Seating reservations at the evening concerts must be reserved by the dates listed. No refunds will be given for
cancellations after April 1st.
Sound Reinforcement & Provided Instruments
We will provide the following instruments and sound equipment (and a technician to run it). You may adjust microphones if coordinated with the sound technician.
- College Theatre:
- Microphone: 3 Sax Section, 1 Trumpet Section, 1 Trombone Section, 2 for Solos (in front), Piano, Announcer
- Guitar and Bass amplifiers
- Stage monitors
- Guitar amplifier
- Bass amplifier (with direct input)
- Grand Piano (Yamaha C7x)
- Vibes (no motor)
- Drumset (no cymbals provided) with bass pedal; snare; one high tom; floor tom; throne; Please provide your own cymbals and cymbal hardware for high hat, crash, and ride cymbals.
- Visual Arts Theatre - No risers for combos
- Chairs and stands available
- Microphone: 1 for Solos, Piano, Announcer
- Guitar and Bass amplifiers
- Upright Piano
- No Vibes available
- Drumset (no cymbals provided) with bass pedal; snare; one high tom; floor tom; throne; Please provide your own cymbals and cymbal hardware for high hat, crash, and ride cymbals.
- Jazz Café - Three 8" risers placed perpendicular to audience
- Microphone: 2 for Solos, Piano, Announcer
- Guitar and Bass amplifiers.
- Upright Piano
- Vibes (no motor)
- Drumset (no cymbals provided) with bass pedal; snare; one high tom; floor tom; throne; Please provide your own cymbals and cymbal hardware for high hat, crash, and ride cymbals. Generously provided by Beacock Music in Vancouver, WA
- Student Union
- Microphone: 2 for Solos, Piano, Announcer
- Guitar and Bass amplifiers
- Grand Piano
- Vibes (no motor)
- Drumset (no cymbals provided) with bass pedal; snare; one high tom; floor tom; throne; Please provide your own hardware and cymbals for high hat, crash, and ride cymbals.. Generously provided by Beacock Music in Vancouver, WA
- All instrument microphones will be a Sure SM57 (or similar) on a standard boom stand.
Stage Set Up
Directors should submit their Setup and Announcement Forms online using this link. This is due one week prior to the festival. Rhythm sections will be permitted to enter the stage to
begin set up as soon as the proceeding group finishes their performance and exits the stage. The "house set up" is listed below. Extra stands and chairs are available if you need to add to this. If you need to add to this. If you don’t need all the
chairs from the set ups below, we will leave them in place unless they are in the way of your planned performance or pose a barrier to your students. A festival volunteer will be present backstage to help if you need to move chairs/stands or adjust
the set up. We ask that you do not move the rhythm section equipment at all.
- College Theatre
- Front row on the floor with five stands and chairs
- Second row on an 8" riser with four stands and chairs
- Third row on a 16" riser with four stands
- Visual Arts Theatre - No risers for combos.
- Chairs and stands available
- Jazz Café - Three 8" risers placed perpendicular to audience
- Front row - five stands and chairs
- Second row - four stands and chairs on an 8' riser
- Third row on an 8' riser with four stands and chairs
- Student Union
- Front row - five stands and chairs
- Second row - four stands and chairs on an 8' riser
- Third row on an 8' riser with four stands and chairs
- Three 8" risers placed perpendicular to audience
Storage
Instrument storage will be located in the Vista Dining Hall. Space is limited, so please keep your belongings stored closely and concisely. Mt Hood Community College will not be liable for instruments while your band is on campus. It is recommended that
a chaperone remain with any personal belongings. No valuable items should be left unattended.
Cases may be stored in the Vista Dining Hall throughout the day and it is recommended that a chaperone remain with any personal belongings. No valuable items should be left unattended.
MHCC is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
Warm-up
Each band will be limited to 30 minutes for warm-up in an assigned rehearsal room. This room will contain chairs but no other equipment (no music stands). The College Theatre performers warm up in 2102, Visual Arts Theatre performers warm up in VA26, Jazz Café performers warm up in 1001. Student Union performers warm up in 1005.
Please note that the warm up room for the Visual Arts Theatre is a computer lab. While not an ideal space, this is meant to allow the use of the Visual Arts Theatre for performances.
Questions
Please direct any questions to Dan Davey, the Festival Director.
Email: mthoodjazzfestival@mhcc.edu
Phone: 503-491-7010
Participants with disabilities: to request accommodations please contact the Disability Services Office at (503) 669-6923 or (503) 667-7670 (TDD) at least two weeks prior to the event.