Jazz Performance Assessment

Begun in 1998, the SCBDA All-State Jazz Performance Assessment (formerly Jazz Festival) is held annually on the campus of Newberry College in conjunction with the Newberry Jazz Festival and SCBDA All-State Jazz Band Clinic. This area of Bandlink contains information on current and historical content concerning the SCBDA Jazz Performance Assessment (JPA).

Each JPA information page contains information about schedules, ensembles, photos, repertoire, and other information when available.

2021 Jazz Performance Assessment Information

On February 6, 2021, the SCBDA approved moving our traditional Jazz Performance Assessment event to a virtual submitted event and further relaxed the participating ensembles’ requirements for this year.

Virtual Event Justification

  • Our host site is unavailable for on-campus use.
  • Many ensembles are not able to travel at this time.
  • A virtual event provides an opportunity, similar to the Fall Performance Experience and Virtual Concert Performance Assessment, where ensembles can perform and receive meaningful, constructive feedback based on a submitted recording.

Registration

  • The registration window will be from February 16 – April 2, 2021.
  • Registration fees are $25 per ensemble.
    • This fee allows the director to receive recorded feedback on a submitted performance.
    • If interested, adjudicators may be available for a virtual clinic or consultation with the participating ensemble. These opportunities, while fostered by the SCBDA, will be arranged directly between the participating ensemble and adjudicator.
    • Credit Cards or Checks (made payable to SCBDA) are acceptable.

Format & Submissions

  • Each participating ensemble will submit a minimum of one (1) selection and a maximum of three (3).
  • Directors are encouraged to select repertoire from the SCBDA Suggested Repertoire list (linked below).
  • Recordings can be audio-only or video format. Videos may be uploaded to a streaming video service like YouTube or Vimeo or hosted in a director’s Google Drive, Dropbox, or other file sharing service. Directors will provide a URL where the performance may be viewed or downloaded at the time of their submission.
  • Directors will upload their recorded submission on Bandlink and other information like performance roster, instrumentation, program information, and the date of their recording.
  • Submissions will be made electronically to the SCBDA by an online form available April 12 – May 7, 2021.
  • Participating ensembles will receive adjudicator feedback and their clinic by late May 2021.

Recording Considerations

  • Directors may reach out to recording specialists in their community for additional assistance to make a quality recording.
  • Consider microphone(s) placement(s), size of your room or hall, instrumentation, etc., when setting up your recording environment. Directors will be asked to describe their recording setup to help adjudicators provide their comments.

The Jazz Committee judiciously believes that flexibility is a priority for this event. The committee’s goal is that this opportunity will offer any ensemble with the capacity to meet and rehearse the opportunity for a performance goal similar to our normal JPA event. The Jazz Committee offers this event as an additional attempt to maintain our sense of community within our state and individual communities while providing directors with an opportunity to motivate students in this very challenging time. Please direct all pertaining questions to Mark Yost, Jazz Chair.

Jazz Performance Assessment Resources

Please contact Mark Yost for more information regarding the SCBDA Jazz Performance Assessment.