Essentially Ellington Southeast Regional at UCF

Hosted by UCF Jazz Studies as part of the UCF-Orlando Jazz Festival, in partnership with Jazz at Lincoln Center and WUCF Jazz 89.9FM.

Students explore Duke Ellington’s legacy and the big-band tradition through performance, professional feedback, instrumental instruction, and collaboration.

This education-focused, non-competitive festival welcomes developing and experienced high school jazz ensembles. Up to nine ensembles will participate. Apply once per ensemble. UCF sets local application and attendance requirements; this application is separate from the national Essentially Ellington competition.

Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026, 11:59PM

Apply Now!

Participation Fee and Membership Requirements

A $300 fee is required from participating ensembles. Information on payment methods will be provided upon acceptance.

All bands must also be members of Essentially Ellington (EE) through Jazz at Lincoln Center. Membership is required to participate in the regional festival.

Company

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

School and Director Info

School Name(Required)

School Location(Required)

City State

School Type(Required)

Director Name(Required)

Director Email(Required)

Director Mobile Phone(Required)

Country Phone Number

Ensemble Name(Required)

Program Format(Required)

Grades Represented(Required)

Select every grade represented in this high school ensemble.

9

10

11

12

Ensemble Composition

Count each student once in the total. Identify instrument doubling separately. Estimated counts are sufficient for the application.

Estimated total number of student performers(Required)

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 1.

Saxophones

Alto Sax

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Tenor Sax

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Baritone Sax

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Brass

Trumpet

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Tenor Trombone

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Bass Trombone

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Rhythm Section

Piano

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Guitar

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Bass

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Drum Set

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Additional Players

Percussion

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Vocalists

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Other

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

Doubling or Nonstandard Instrumentalists

Ensemble Preparation and Learning Goals

Preparation and Learning Goals

Previous Essentially Ellington Regional Participation(Required)

EE Membership Status(Required)

EE Library Repertoire Preparation(Required)

EE Library Titles Performed or in Preparation(Required)

Provide list title, composer, and arranger if known. EE repertoire includes Ellington, Strayhorn, and other big-band composers. Click the + icon to add additional rows. If still choosing, enter “Choosing repertoire.”

Title

Composer

Arranger

Primary Clinic Priority(Required)

Secondary Clinic Priority

Optional Recordings

Application Recording Requirements

Please submit one or two representative recordings of your ensemble for application review. Recordings are for evaluation purposes only and will not be presented at the Essentially Ellington Regional Festival.

Recording Format: Rehearsal recordings are welcome. A public concert performance or concert-program submission is not required.
Repertoire: Include a selection from the Essentially Ellington library. A second, contrasting selection may come from your ensemble’s existing repertoire.
Evaluation: Choose recordings that demonstrate ensemble sound, stylistic understanding, time feel, and rhythm-section accompaniment.
Improvisation: Improvisation is encouraged but not required. Limited improvisation will not affect application eligibility.
Accessibility: Recording links must be public or unlisted and accessible without signing in. Please test all links before submitting.

Recording Selection 1 (optional)

Recording 1 Link

Title

Composer

Arranger

Director

Recording Selection 2 (optional)

Recording 2 Link

Title

Composer

Arranger

Director

Festival Timeline

Detailed schedule to be announced.

The Essentially Ellington events begin on the morning of Saturday, February 20, 2006 and featured an awards ceremony followed by an evening concert with special guests.

Acknowledgement and Notifications

Attendance and Director Acknowledgement

Each band receives a 20-minute warm-up, five-minute walk to COM 101, and a 30-minute stage slot: five minutes setup, five minutes soundcheck, and 20 minutes performance. A five-minute stage changeover separates bands. After the stage slot, allow a five-minute walk to the Rehearsal Hall and a 20-minute band clinic. Individual band assignments will be provided after acceptance.

WUCF station IDs are approximately ten minutes per band and director, scheduled within the opposite performance block. FHBB and guest-artist setup and soundcheck run 5:35–7:15 p.m. in COM 101; performers coordinate meals around that window.

Acknowledgement: Submission and Acceptance(Required)

I understand the nine-ensemble limit and that applying does not guarantee acceptance.

Acknowledgement: Ensemble Info(Required)

I confirm that the application accurately describes my ensemble. If I provide recordings, they represent the current ensemble, and I have tested the files and links.

Acknowledgement: Attendance(Required)

If selected, my ensemble will arrive during its assigned AM or PM check-in window, attend its assigned performance, band clinic, jam/WUCF appointments, masterclass, instrumental clinics, and awards, and remain through the 9:15 p.m. concert conclusion. I will coordinate school approval, transportation, and supervision and departure by 10:00 p.m.

Unavoidable attendance or transportation restriction

Optional. Describe any restriction now so staff can assess it before assigning bands.

Digital Signature (Type Full Name)

After acceptance, staff will collect final personnel and clinic counts, stage plot and backline needs, lunch and dinner counts, dietary arrangements, transportation details, billing information, and required permissions separately.

CAPTCHA