It is my pleasure to invite you and your large and small jazz ensembles to participate in the 29th Annual Elon Jazz Festival, held Friday, February 20, 2026. Our festival will afford your bands the opportunity to perform and be critiqued by working jazz performers and educators. Additionally, you and your band can benefit from the helpful workshops held during the event.

The online Registration Form (including festival guidelines) is available here. If you would prefer a PDF version, I would be happy to provide one upon request.

Also upon request, I will be happy to schedule audition times with you for any of your seniors who would like to audition for entrance for acceptance or scholarship into the Elon music program while they are on campus for the festival.

Our 2026 featured guest artist will be officially announced soon, but the theme of the festival will be the music of New Orleans! Our featured guest artist will perform with Elon University students and faculty on both Friday and Saturday and will be presenting a masterclass for all visiting schools on Friday during the day.

I hope you can join us for this event. It promises to be an exciting and educational experience for all involved. The Tentative Schedule is posted here, and it will be updated as the event nears. Please note that registration is available on a first come, first served basis. The registration deadline is February 1, 2026. Should you need any more information, feel free to contact me directly. Also, consider nominating one or more of your students for Elon Jazz Day, our annual on-campus jazz recruiting event!

All the best,

 

Dr. Alex Heitlinger, Festival Host

Director of Jazz Studies

Elon University

aheitlinger@elon.edu