The Sitka Jazz Festival is a three-day jazz event held every August in Sitka, Alaska. It grew out of Sitka High School Jazz Nights, which began in 1995, and includes educational clinics, evening concerts, and the All-Alaska Jazz Band [1].
| Location | Sitka, Alaska |
|---|---|
| Timing | Every August, three days |
| Origin | Sitka High School Jazz Nights, begun in 1995 |
| Model | Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Moscow, Idaho |
History
According to Wikipedia, the festival grew out of Sitka High School Jazz Nights, which began in 1995 and later expanded to include multiple guest artists, clinics, and out-of-town school jazz ensembles. It is modeled on the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho [1].
Format
The three-day festival offers educational clinics for participating students and evening concerts featuring professional jazz artists. The All-Alaska Jazz Band is an honor ensemble for Alaska high school students, entered by audition; it is independent of the Alaska School Activities Association and is described as the only honor jazz band in the state [1].
Venues
Venues have changed over the years: the Hames Center of Sheldon Jackson College in 2005; the Sitka High School gymnasium, converted into a temporary 500-seat auditorium, in 2006 and 2007; the Sitka auditorium, designed for 619 seats, in 2009; and later the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Fieldhouse, which seats 1,500 [1].
Artists
Early Jazz Nights guests included trumpeter Claudio Roditi and saxophonist Andres Boiarsky. Guest directors of the All-Alaska Jazz Band have included John Clayton, Bill Watrous, and Terell Stafford. Other artists named on the page include Freddy Cole, Ingrid Jensen, Kristin Korb, Steve Turre, Tom Scott, Eric Marienthal, Jeff Hamilton, and Sullivan Fortner [1].
FAQs
When is the Sitka Jazz Festival held? Every August, over three days [1].
How did it begin? It grew out of Sitka High School Jazz Nights, which began in 1995 [1].
What is the All-Alaska Jazz Band? An audition-based honor ensemble for Alaska high school students [1].
Sources
Key facts
- Grew from Jazz Nights begun in 1995
- Features the All-Alaska Jazz Band
Quick checkWhen is the Sitka Jazz Festival?Show answer
It is held every August in Sitka, Alaska, over three days.
Sources
- Wikipedia. Sitka Jazz Festival (accessed 2026-11-14)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 14, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue