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8a - Jazz Rulebook - 2025 Season
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Jazz Division Rulebook (updated 12/24)

  1. ENSEMBLE ELIGIBILITY                                                                                  

  1. Any school-based music program within the geographical footprint of Cavalcade can enter a jazz-based group into a Cavalcade Jazz Festival.
  1. The director of the group should be the school-appointed jazz band director.
  1. Groups should closely resemble the format of the traditional big band (rhythm section brass, and saxophones).  It is the director’s choice to supplement instruments in and out of this format as they see fit to serve their student body.
  2. Registration fees for the season should be paid by the first weekend that Cavalcade sponsors shows.  Payments submitted after this date might be subject to a late fee.

  1. CLASSIFICATION                                                                                

  1. For the 2025 season, all groups will be adjudicated on the same rubric - there is no A or Open class (approved 11/24)
  2. Cavalcade will also offer middle school and elementary jazz performance opportunities.  These are not dictated by repertoire, but by age of the performers.  
  1. Middle School groups can encompass students from grades 5-9.  
  2. Elementary groups can encompass students from grades 4-6.

  1. MULTIPLE GROUPS FROM ONE SCHOOL                                                          

  1. If a school brings two high school groups to a show, and student performers are used in both groups, those students are not eligible for solo awards in the second group.
  1. The second band will not be eligible for a “Best Section” award if the second band uses students in that section from the first band.  This does not apply if the students playing in the second band are performing on a different instrument.
  2. It is the director’s responsibility to inform the chief judge at a show of these arrangements prior to performance.
  3. If both groups are in the same classification at a show, the director should inform the chief judge to which group is the “first” and “second” group.
  1. 3.1 and 3.2 do not apply to middle school and/or elementary groups.

  1. PERFORMANCE SET                                                                                  

  1. The maximum performance time for each band is 20 minutes.  This includes setup and exit off the stage.  
  1. Depending on the individual show setup, an additional 5 minutes may be available to assist with setup and exit.
  2. Bands can perform a sound check (under two minutes) at the beginning of their set to make any adjustments needed to the house sound system. Music performed during this sound check will not be adjudicated, but the two minutes will count in the overall timing.
  3. Middle school and elementary groups should keep their set to 15 minutes.
  1. Each band is recommended to play three separate selections. If a band is performing a major, lengthy work, only two selections are recommended.
  2. If a band ‘s performance runs over the window, the chief judge will notify the director on site.
  1. Directors with more than (2) timing warnings will need to schedule a conference with the CEO of Cavalcade prior to their next scheduled performance in the circuit to determine what is causing the timing issue.  The group will not be allowed to perform in any Cavalcade shows until this conference occurs.
  1. All groups should utilize the “stacked” (three level) setup provided by the host school.
  2. Groups may have a school representative positioned near the sound board operator provided by the host school to help with sound levels.
  1. If a band wishes to use their own sound system, the director must make prior arrangements with the show host to have this set up and ready to go prior to the start of the show.

  1. AWARDS                                                                                          

  1. Cavalcade and show hosts will announce only rankings of bands at shows that are determined by the current judging rubric.  
  2. Four (4) Best Section awards (saxophone, trumpet, trombone and rhythm) will be recognized at all events.  These are to be provided by the show host.
  3. Three (3) to six (6) Best Soloist awards across the entire show will also be presented by the judging panel.
  1. Honorable mention solo awards may be awarded at the discretion of the judges.
  1. All solo Awards will be provided by Cavalcade of Bands.

  1. OVERSIGHT, JUDGING & COMMENTARY                                                                 

  1. The structure and format of the jazz festival will be governed by the current show hosting guidelines approved by Cavalcade of Bands
  2. Cavalcade will be responsible for scheduling judges for all events on the schedule.
  3. Host Directors may request judges for their show, but should submit this to the judging coordinator by December 15th.  Requests will be honored to the best of Cavalcade’s ability.
  4. Payment to judges will be in accordance with the current judging pay scale approved by Cavalcade.
  5. Commentary & scoring (if possible) will be provided to directors through Competition Suite.  Scoring will be in line with the current organizational methodology for jazz bands in the adjudication manual.
  6. There is no post-show meeting at jazz events.

  1. RULES PROPOSALS                                                                                 

  1. Rules governing performances at shows will be reviewed by the membership on an annual basis.
  2. Rules voting will take place in the fall after the release of the schedule but before registration for the next season begins.

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