Jazz Unlimited Rules

General Festival Rules

1. Participants must be currently enrolled in the school their ensemble represents. Performance of the director results in disqualification.
2. The director must be a contracted instructor, an enrolled student, or a student teacher from the represented school.
3. Participants will compete in categories determined by total school enrollment, grade level, and/or group type.
4. Upon arrival all groups must check in at the registration desk.
5. A warm-up room will be provided before your performance. You will have approximately 20 minutes in the warm-up room.
6. Each group will be given a critique by one of our adjudicators following the performance. The critique will be approximately 20 minutes long.
7. Students and directors are expected to conduct themselves positively and appropriately during all festival events.
8. Entry fees are $300 for each time slot you register for. If enrolling multiple groups or multiple days, be sure to fill out and submit a separate application form for each ensemble. Use the appropriate form for the appropriate day (jazz or concert).
9. CBC Jazz Unlimited does not provide storage for any equipment or personal belongings at any time during the festival.

CBC will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items.

Jazz Choir Rules
See General Rules above as well.

1. Performance time is 20 minutes including set-up and take down. Groups exceeding the time limit will be disqualified.
2. Equipment furnished includes risers, P.A., piano, and music stands as needed. No substitutions may be made for furnished equipment. You must provide your own drums, amps, bass, guitar, synthesizers, etc.
3. Music does not need to be provided on jazz choir day, but you may if you wish. Please mark any scores with your school name to facilitate their return.
4. Group size restrictions apply in all of the high school divisions. Groups entered in the A, AA, AAA, and non-mixed divisions must have no less than 12 singers. Groups entering the freeform divisions (individual micing) must have no less than eight singers, and no more than 18. Ensembles not meeting the restrictions will be disqualified from competition.
5. Rhythm sections: all high school choirs must use student rhythm sections to remain competitive. Disqualification will result if the director or other adults accompany a high school group. Junior highs and middle schools are encouraged to use rhythm sections comprised of their own students. Junior highs and middle schools who choose to use adult or high school players will be penalized one point per judge in lieu of disqualification. Recorded accompaniment is not allowed.
6. Instrumental accompaniment must not exceed six additional members, except for incidental percussion played by singers.
7. Freedom of repertoire is allowed. However, to be competitive, groups must perform a variety of jazz styles including a ballad. Slow swing tunes and pop songs do not count as ballads. This ballad does not have to be a cappella.
8. The top scoring choir from middle school, junior high, and non-mixed divisions will perform at the finals concert on Saturday night. The top two choirs from all other divisions will compete for first and second place trophies. All choirs selected to perform at finals must have earned a “1” rating during the day. All finalists must perform a new song at finals to be eligible to win sweepstakes.
9. The top three choirs in each division will receive trophies. Schools who enroll at least one concert choir and one jazz choir will be eligible for the outstanding department award for the division appropriate to their school size. Scores of the school’s top concert entry and top jazz entry will be combined to determine this award. These awards will be presented at Saturday’s finals concert.

Jazz Band Rules
See General Rules above as well.

1. Performance time is 20 minutes including set-up and take down. Groups exceeding the time limit will be disqualified and may not be invited to participate the next year.
2. Equipment provided includes chairs, stands, acoustic piano, and P.A. with four microphones. Provided risers will not be removed at any time so plan to use a “stock” jazz band set-up. Drum sets and amps are not provided, as a simple courtesy to your rhythm section players who are most comfortable playing on their own gear.
3. Warm-up and critique times for jazz bands will each be approximately 20 minutes long.
4. Music scores and adjudication sheets: you do not have to provide copies of the music you will perform. Adjudication sheets will not be available to directors until the conclusion of the day’s events. Any sheets not picked up will be mailed following the festival.
5. Awards: first, second, and third place will be selected in each division. All trophies will be awarded at the conclusion of the day. There will be no evening finals. An outstanding instrumental program award will be given in each division for the school that has the best cumulative score from both concert and jazz events.
6. Friday evening guest jazz artist concert ticket upgrade package: tickets to this concert are only complimentary to registered jazz bands. For an additional $100 per registered concert band, we will “upgrade” your ticket package to include additional tickets up to the number of students indicated for that group on your application. Please indicate on your form if you wish to take advantage of this offer. Please be sure the group size you indicate on all forms is correct.

Concert Band Rules
See General Rules above as well.

1. Eligibility
   a. Positions and performance times will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. This is determined by the date on which your application and payment is received.
   b. Schools that also enroll in Saturday’s jazz band event will be given first priority for acceptance into the concert band festival.
   c. One band will be chosen from each school. Additional groups will be added if there are still vacancies after the deadline date. Criteria will be based on a & b above.
2. Performance time is 30 minutes including set-up and take down. Groups exceeding the time limit will not be eligible for the outstanding instrumental program award and may not be invited to participate the following year.
3. Equipment furnished includes: chairs, stands, timpani, bass drum, chimes, xylophone, bells, and vibraphone. If you would rather use your own equipment you may do so but please keep rule #2 in mind. Groups must provide all other instruments and equipment for their performance. Please also keep in mind that we cannot provide storage for equipment.
4. Warm-up and critique times for concert bands will each be approximately 30 minutes long.
5. Music: please provide three sets of scores for each piece you will perform. Mark each score with your school name to facilitate their return. Also, please number each measure in the scores to facilitate more specific comments from your adjudicator. Please keep copyright laws in mind and plan accordingly.
6. Awards: each band will receive a plaque with additional medals (bronze, silver, gold) based on your group’s score. No score will be posted. An outstanding instrumental program award will be given in each division for the school that has the best cumulative score from the concert band and jazz band events. These awards will be presented during Saturday’s awards ceremony.
7. Friday evening's guest jazz artist concert ticket upgrade package: tickets to this concert are only complimentary to registered jazz bands. For an additional $100 per registered concert band, we will “upgrade” your ticket package to include additional tickets up to the number of students indicated for that group on your application. Please indicate on your form if you wish to take advantage of this offer. Please be sure the group size you indicate on all forms is correct.