The Mason Jazz Festival is a yearly invitational, non-competitive event open to middle school, high school, collegiate, and community jazz ensembles. The next Mason Jazz Festival takes place on Saturday, February 15th, 2025, at George Mason University’s Fairfax, VA campus. All concerts and events are free and open to the public-- no tickets are required. Guests will also enjoy performances by select professional ensembles, the Mason Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Jim Carroll, and a major headlining performer to be announced. Join us for a full day of jazz music and community.
Location: Harris Theater, George Mason University, 4471 Aquia Creek Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030
Parking: Covered parking is available in the Mason Pond Parking Deck on Mason Pond Drive adjacent to the Center for the Arts.
Getting Here: Across from the Mason Pond Parking Deck. Enter off Wilkins Plaza.
Information for Performers
Sponsored by Mason Jazz Studies and the Dewberry Family School of Music, participating groups will perform a 20 to 25-minute set in the Harris Theater and receive written feedback from adjudicators. Afterwards, each group will receive a clinic with Mason Jazz faculty in the de Laski Performing Arts Building. In addition to providing comments to bands, the adjudicators will offer select students Mason Jazz Camp scholarships and Outstanding Soloist/Performer awards. After the awards ceremony at approximately 5:30pm, a headlining performance will begin at 7pm to conclude the day.
Mason Jazz will provide all ensembles with a storage room, warm-up location with a piano and drum set, and full backline on the Harris Theatre stage. Equipment provided on-stage includes piano, keyboard and amp, guitar amp, bass amp, drum set and hardware (no cymbals), congas, and vibraphone.
The Johnson Center directly adjacent to the Performing Arts Building offers numerous choices for food and beverage.
Complete the registration form below to reserve a time slot. After completing this form, you will be sent additional links to submit the $250 festival fee and repertoire/soloist information.
The festival includes:
- Scholarships to the Mason Jazz Camp, summer 2025
- 3 “Outstanding Soloist” (cash prizes) and
- 4 “Best Section” certificates
- Live performance recordings for band directors
- Written feedback from adjudicators
2025 Adjudicators:
- Paul Bratcher - pianist, director of Jazz Studies at Georgetown University
- Jim Carroll – saxophonist with Woody Herman Orchestra, director of the Mason Jazz Ensemble
- Mark Williams – trombonist with the Count Basie Orchestra, director of Jazz Studies at University of Maryland
2025 Mason Jazz Faculty Clinicians:
- Xavier Perez, saxophone, U.S. Army Blues
- Graham Breedlove, trumpet, U.S. Army Blues
- Aaron Eckert, trombone, U.S. Army Blues
- Shawn Purcell – guitar, retired U.S. Navy Commodores
- Ben Thomas – bass, U.S.A.F. Airmen of Note
- Kevin McDonald – drums, U.S. Navy Commodores
In March 2024, guests enjoyed performances by the Mason Jazz Ensemble, directed by Jim Carroll, Hot Lanes Big Band, directed by Bobby Jasinksi, JazzWorx Big Band, directed by Bill Schnepper, and a special Mason Jazz Faculty All-Star Concert."
The March 2024 Schedule was as follows:
10:00am Yorktown High School
10:30am Walkersville High School
11:00am Georgetown Day School
12:00pm Intermission
1:00pm Hot Lanes Big Band
2:00pm Wakefield High School
2:30pm Mountain View High School
3:00pm Chancellor High School
3:30pm Alexandria City High School
4:30pm JazzWorx Big Band
5:30pm Awards Ceremony
6:00pm Intermission
7:00pm Mason Jazz Ensemble
7:30pm Mason Jazz Faculty All-Stars
Previous Headlining performers included:
- U.S. Army Blues
- U.S. Navy Commodores
- U.S.A.F. Airmen of Note
- Mason Jazz Faculty All-Stars