Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Jazz

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Savannah Music Festival

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Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Jazz is a national high school jazz band competition and workshop held annually in Savannah, Georgia, offering $13,000 in cash awards including the Jean Elizabeth Faircloth Award with $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second, and $1,000 for third.

Award Amount

$5,000 USD

Scholarship Type

merit-based

Eligibility Criteria

high-school-students
jazz-bands
us-based

Instruments

jazzmultipleband-instruments

Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Jazz is a national high school jazz band competition and workshop held annually in Savannah, Georgia. It offers $13,000 in total cash awards including the Jean Elizabeth Faircloth Award with $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second, and $1,000 for third.

How Swing Central Jazz Works

Swing Central Jazz (SCJ) is produced by the Savannah Music Festival. It is a three-day high school jazz band competition and workshop program. Renowned jazz pianist, composer, and educator Marcus Roberts serves as Associate Artistic Director. He leads a group of more than 20 musicians and educators. SCJ Associate Director and trumpet player Jim Ketch, Director of Jazz Studies at UNC Chapel Hill, also participates.

The 2026 Savannah Music Festival runs from March 25 through April 5, 2026, now in its 37th year. The 2026 jazz lineup includes 20-time Grammy-winning guitarist Pat Metheny, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Alicia Olatuja & Christian Sands, Tord Gustavensen Trio, John Scofield Trio, and Julian Lage Quartet. SMF also announced a new education initiative for 2026-2027: the SMF Jazz Academy Big Band, which gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in big band jazz traditions.

Twelve high school jazz bands are selected annually to participate. Participating students work with jazz masters across three days. They perform in the Jazz on the River concert series on Savannah's River Street. They play in competition rounds. They attend a variety of Savannah Music Festival performances during their stay.

The three top-scoring bands compete for the Jean Elizabeth Faircloth Award:

First place: $5,000
Second place: $2,500
Third place: $1,000

All other competing bands receive a $500 travel stipend. The three finalists also perform the opening set at an SMF production at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.

Applications have increased significantly in recent years. One year saw a 40% increase in applications. Past participating bands have come from institutions including Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York) and SFJazz (San Francisco).

The Savannah Music Festival also operates the SMF Jazz Academy. This is a free year-round after-school jazz program for Savannah-Chatham County Public School System students in grades 5 through 12. All students receive instruments, weekly private lessons, and group ensemble rehearsals with professional jazz artist instructors. The program runs from September through May.

Real-World Example

A high school jazz band from Byron Center, Michigan would submit an application to participate. If selected as one of twelve bands, they travel to Savannah for three days in April. They participate in workshops with Marcus Roberts and other jazz masters. They perform on River Street and in competition rounds. If they score in the top three, they compete for the Faircloth Award. Winning first place earns the band $5,000. They also perform the opening set at the SMF's "Stomping the Blues" production at the Lucas Theatre. The $5,000 award typically goes to the school's jazz program to fund instruments, sheet music, or travel to future competitions.

Why It Matters for Independent Artists

If you are a high school jazz musician, Swing Central Jazz offers the opportunity to study with world-class jazz artists and compete for significant cash awards. The workshop format means you learn directly from professionals like Marcus Roberts, Wynton Marsalis, and Christian McBride. The competitive element pushes bands to perform at their highest level.

Talk to your band director about applying. The application typically requires a recording of your band. Prepare repertoire that demonstrates ensemble precision and improvisational skill. If your band is selected, fundraise for travel to Savannah. The $500 travel stipend for non-finalists helps offset costs. If your school is in the Savannah-Chatham County district, the free SMF Jazz Academy is available year-round.

Drawbacks / Things to Consider

The competition is only for high school jazz bands, not individual musicians. You must be part of a school band program that applies. Only twelve bands are selected each year. Travel to Savannah, Georgia is required. The $500 travel stipend for non-finalists may not cover full travel costs for an entire band. The Faircloth Award money goes to the school program, not to individual students. The three-day program takes place during the school year, meaning students miss class time. The competition focuses on big band jazz. Small combos and individual performers are not the target format.

Past Recipients

Swing Central Jazz has run annually since 2008. Twelve high school jazz bands are selected each year from a competitive applicant pool. Applications increased by 40% in 2018, reflecting growing national interest. Here are notable participating bands and winners:

2018 Participants

The 12th annual Swing Central Jazz selected 12 bands from a 40% increase in applications. Participating bands included:

Agoura High School Jazz "A" (Agoura Hills, CA)
Agoura High School Studio Jazz (Agoura Hills, CA)
Albemarle High School Jazz Ensemble (Charlottesville, VA)
Battle Ground High Advanced Jazz Band (Battle Ground, WA)
Bloomington High School North Advanced Jazz Band (Bloomington, IN)
Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Big Band (New York, NY)
SFJazz High School All-Stars (San Francisco, CA)
Byron Center High School Jazz Orchestra (Byron Center, MI)

2020 Participants

The 14th annual Swing Central Jazz selected 12 bands including:

Ann Arbor Huron High School Rhythm Rat Jazz Orchestra (Ann Arbor, MI)
Byron Center High School Jazz Orchestra (Byron Center, MI)
Savannah Arts Academy SkyeLite Jazz Band (Savannah, GA) - the only Georgia band selected
Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Ensemble (New York, NY)
Northview High School Jazz Band (GA)

2019 Participants

Notable participants included:

Seattle JazzED Girls Ellington Project (Seattle, WA) - an all-female jazz band that earned selection through a national blind audition process

Recurring Participants

Several schools have participated multiple years. Battle Ground High School (WA) participated at least four times, earning third place in their first year (2009). Jazz at Lincoln Center (New York) and SFJazz (San Francisco) have sent bands in multiple years, reflecting the program's national reach.

The Faircloth Award money goes to the school's jazz program, not to individual students. Schools typically use the funds for instruments, sheet music, or travel to future competitions.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Confirm eligibility. Your school must have a high school jazz band program. Only school bands can apply, not individual musicians or independent ensembles. The competition focuses on big band jazz format.
Talk to your band director. The application is submitted by the band director on behalf of the school. Discuss the opportunity with your director early in the school year.
Prepare a recording. The application typically requires a recording of your band. Choose repertoire that demonstrates ensemble precision and improvisational skill. The recording should show your band at its best.
Submit the application. Applications are submitted through the Savannah Music Festival website. The selection process is competitive, with 12 bands chosen from a national applicant pool.
Fundraise for travel. If selected, your band must travel to Savannah, Georgia for three days. All competing bands receive a $500 travel stipend, but this may not cover full travel costs for an entire band. Start fundraising immediately upon selection.
Participate in workshops. Over three days, students work with jazz masters including Marcus Roberts, Jim Ketch, and a faculty of more than 20 musicians and educators. Students attend clinics on improvisation, instrumental technique, and big band repertoire.
Perform in competition rounds. Each band performs a 25-minute set for a panel of judges. Bands also perform in the Jazz on the River concert series on Savannah's River Street.
Compete for the Faircloth Award. The three top-scoring bands compete for cash awards: $5,000 for first place, $2,500 for second, and $1,000 for third. The three finalists also perform the opening set at an SMF production at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.