53rd Annual Lakeland Jazz Festival

Lakeland Community College welcomes jazz lovers near and far to join us live and in-person for our 2025 (53rd annual) Lakeland Community College Jazz Festival – the longest running jazz festival in Ohio.

The Lakeland Jazz Festival was founded by retired professor and music department Coordinator Charles M. Frank in 1973 and remains the oldest jazz festival in the State of Ohio. The Lakeland Jazz Festival has remained true to its original mission of instilling the excitement and magic of jazz education to the younger generation of musicians. Over 25,000 middle and high school musicians from throughout the state have participated in the festival in celebration of this uniquely American art form, jazz. The festival features two parts: serving the schools and festival artists.

This year's event will take place Friday, March 14, where local middle and high school jazz ensembles perform for adjudication between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Ticket Prices: Free!

Schedule:

9 a.m. - Bedford High School Jazz Ensemble

Director: Jennifer Schauf

School: Bedford High School    

9:30 a.m.     

Director: Joel Tyrrell/ Josh Woodie

School: Willoughby-South Middle School          

10 a.m. - Brooklyn High School Jazz Ensemble

Director: Sean Sullivan    

School: Brooklyn High School    

10:30 a.m. - Chardon High School Jazz Orchestra    

Director: Melissa Lichtler

School: Chardon High School        

11 a.m.  - Shaker Heights High School Jazz Band

Director: William Hughes

School: Shaker High School

11:30 a.m. - Shaker 8th Grade Jazz Band

Director: Adrian Pocaro    

School: Shaker Middle School
    
Noon - Willoughby South High School Jazz Ensemble

Director: Joel Tyrrell    

School: Willoughby-South High School    

12:30 p.m.    

Director: John Schamp

School: Brush High School    

1:30 p.m.    

Director: Meghan Paul

School: Memorial Jr. High School    

2 p.m. - North Jazz Ensemble

Director: Scott Sell

School: Eastlake-North High School        

2:30 p.m.    

Director: John Schamp

School: Brush High School

Click Here for this year's adjudication application!

Click Here to Buy Tickets

Location: Dr. Wayne L. Rodehorst Performing Arts Center, D-building