Sparta Jazz Fest

Sparta High School Hosts Fifth Annual Jazz Festival

Regional Bands Once Again Come Together in Competition

Is it possible that the next iconic musician comes from our own backyard? Like Legends as Count Basie and Wayne Shorter were born in Red Bank and Newark, respectively the next Jazz Icon could be among us already! 

Yes, the public will soon get a chance to watch dozens of area youngsters, the future of Jazz! as they begin to write their own stories in the annals of this uniquely American art form.

The award-winning music department of Sparta High School is hosting its fifth  annual Jazz Festival on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The event gathers a dozen top jazz bands from northern New Jersey, who compete for group and individual ratings. The Festival will take place in the one thousand-seat auditorium of Sparta High School, where the township’s jazz bands will host ensembles from a number of regional school districts. A variety of food will be for sale at an extensive concession stand in the school’s main lobby, as will Sparta Jazz Fest T-Shirts and many other surprises will take place! 

Bands will perform in either the Middle School, Competitive, or Highly

Competitive division. This year’s pro adjudicators are outstanding musicians, directors and professors , Jim Saltzman from the Faculty of Jazz Arts & Music History at Manhattan School of Music. Dave Martin, Todd Nichols, Anthony Branker from the Faculty of Music Education and Jazz Studies at Rutgers University,  all of whom have put their own stamp on jazz in New Jersey and well beyond.

The 2023 Sparta High School Jazz Festival

When: Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Start time: 4:00P.M-9:00P.M

Where: The Auditorium at Sparta High School, 70 West Mountain Road, Sparta NJ 07871

Participating Groups

Sparta MS Jazz Band

JTMS Jazz Band (Jefferson MS)

GMMS Jazz Band (Glen Meadow MS – Vernon)

Blues Sanction

Vernon Jazz Express

The K-Train (Kittatinny)

High Point Jazz Ensemble

North Warren Reg. Jazz Ensemble

Lenape Valley Reg. Jazz Ensemble

Newton Jazz Ensemble

NA Big Band (Newark Academy)

Mt. Olive HS Jazz Ensemble

Blues, Inc!

Admission: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and veterans, $5 for students, free for children under 6.

You are invited!