# Next Generation Jazz Orchestra

The Monterey Jazz Festival's national all-star big band: 21 of the country's top high school jazz musicians, chosen by blind recorded audition, perform on the festival's Jimmy Lyons Stage each September.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Monterey Jazz Festival |
| Category | arts |
| Cost | Not listed |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Monterey, CA |
| Apply | https://montereyjazz.org/education/ensembles/next-generation-jazz-orchestra/ |

## About this program

# Next Generation Jazz Orchestra

Each year since 1971, the Monterey Jazz Festival has assembled the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, an all-star big band of the most accomplished high school jazz musicians from across the country. Directed by GRAMMY-nominated pianist and composer Gerald Clayton, the orchestra convenes in the summer and performs at the Monterey Jazz Festival itself - on the Jimmy Lyons Stage in the Arena, the same stage as the festival's headliners.

## What You'll Do

- Audition by recording during the winter window; selections are made through a rigorous blind audition process reviewed by nationally renowned jazz educators
- Rehearse intensively with Gerald Clayton and guest artists in the lead-up to the festival
- Perform at the Monterey Jazz Festival in September alongside the festival's professional lineup
- Join a 50-plus-year alumni line that includes many of today's leading jazz professionals

## Who Should Apply

High school jazz instrumentalists and vocalists anywhere in the US playing big-band instruments at an advanced level. Auditions for each summer's orchestra open in the winter; the festival also fields a Next Generation Women in Jazz Combo for top high school women jazz players nationwide. Financial assistance is available, including partial reimbursement of travel costs to Monterey for students who qualify.

## Outcomes

Membership is one of the most visible national honors available to a high school jazz musician: a mainstage festival credit, direction from a major recording artist, and a place in the lineage of one of the world's longest-running jazz festivals.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is eligible for Next Generation Jazz Orchestra?

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Next Generation Jazz Orchestra online or in person?

Next Generation Jazz Orchestra is an in-person program based in Monterey, CA.

### How do I apply to Next Generation Jazz Orchestra?

Apply directly through Monterey Jazz Festival's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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