Please read the information below carefully as there are a few changes from previous years.
Registration fee is $180 per band. Bands will have a 20-minute performance slot, followed by a 20-minute clinic with a clinician. 1A, 2A, 3A bands, and combos from any division will compete on Thursday, January 21st. 4A Bands will compete on Friday, January 22nd. Combo groups can be from any sized school but must perform on January 21st. Combos will be performing for comments and clinic only. Big bands that are interested in performing for comments only and a clinic will perform on their designated day for their school classification. 2nd and 3rd bands registered will compete on the same day as their school designation (i.e.: 4A 2nd bands compete on Friday).
The first performance will begin at 8:00am on both days with a maximum of 21 groups performing each day. The last performing group will begin their performance no later than 5:35pm. There will be an hour break in performances in the middle of the day which will include a performance by the Simpson College Jazz Ensemble. At 7:30pm on Thursday, Jan 21st, the SCJE will perform a full program featuring this year's guest artists in Lekberg Hall. This will be a ticketed event ($5), but will be free to any attendees of the festival (students, directors, and day performance audience members).
Awards will be announced via email and through our social media accounts after the conclusion of the last performance in each class. The top three placements will be publicly announced, while directors will receive the complete placement list for their division. Each group will have one student receive an outstanding soloist award.
Due to rising expenses, we will be implementing a $5 cover fee for public attendance of festival performances. This allows the festival to keep the band registration fees the same, while continuing to bring quality artists to this event.
Directors will need to register for a Competition Suite account (this is free) in order to receive the performance judge's audio comments. Competition Suite is accessible on both a web browser and on a smartphone app.
Deadline to register is 5:00pm on November 16, 2026. An invoice will be sent within 1-2 business days following registration. Late registrations will be accepted until 5:00pm on November 30, 2026 with an added $50 late registration fee. Tentative performance schedules will be sent out December 14, 2026. We ask that registration fees be paid/received by Monday, December 21st. If payment is not received by this date, and there are bands on the waiting list, your ensemble may be removed from the performing line-up.
In the event of postponement of the festival due to unforeseen circumstances, the make-up date for the festirval will be on Tuesday, January 26th and Wednesday, January 27th if two days are needed.
This year's artists will be announced in the coming weeks. All questions regarding the festival should be directed to Dr. Flint Angeroth Franks,
flint.angerothfranks@simpson.edu.
