2026 Nebraska All-State Jazz BandPAGE QUICK LINKS
2026 ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND CONDUCTOR BIOThe title of his most recent album, Between Two Worlds, Stafford juggles roles as a thriving musician and an acclaimed educator, or as a visionary bandleader and an in-demand sideman for some of the music’s most legendary performers. Perhaps most importantly, he strives to strike that always precarious balance between a professional touring musician and a loving husband and father to his family. As the Director of Jazz Studies and Chair of Instrumental Studies at Philadelphia’s Temple University, Stafford has become a nurturing mentor to new generations of up-and-coming jazz musicians. He’s helped to guide the university and its students to victories at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jack Rudin Jazz Championship and to grow the school’s Grammy-nominated record label, BCM&D, with recordings by the Temple University Jazz Band (including guest artists Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco, Branford Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Jon Faddis, and Dick Oatts) and all-star ensembles featuring Stafford and his fellow faculty members. Stafford has played a vital role in music by luminaries including Shirley Scott, Charles McPherson, Cedar Walton, Samara Joy, Bobby Watson, McCoy Tyner, Benny Golson, Kenny Barron, Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath, and Jon Faddis, He has enjoyed fruitful tenures with the Clayton Brothers band, Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts, and Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. 2026 ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND REPERTOIRETo be selected from the following:
2026 ALL-STATE JAZZ BAND AUDITION RESULTSThe 2026 All-State Jazz Band has been selected, and the list is available for the public to view. All-State Jazz Band Selected ParticipantsThe final concert will be held Friday, November 20 at 4:30 pm at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. We’re looking forward to the 2026 All-State performances and to working with dedicated young musicians from across Nebraska. DIRECTOR INFORMATIONPARTICIPATION FEE REMINDER Participation fees ($25 per student) are due by November 2nd. All invoices are handled through Festival Scores. Access links and payment instructions can be found in the Auditions Manual. ALL-STATE STUDENT CONTRACT In order for your students to participate in All-State, they will need to sign and return the Participant Contract. Please note that these participant forms must be MAILED in by directors. Students will not be allowed to participate if this form is not postmarked by November 2nd. Directors will need to send in all signed contracts to: Papillion LaVista South High School Note: ALL STUDENT CONTRACTS MUST BE NOTARIZED! Download the 2026 Student ContractALL-STATE PRESS RELEASES NMEA will be handling a mass press release to all newspapers in Nebraska. A press release template will not be included in this year's materials. PARENT & LEGAL GUARDIAN INFORMATIONTICKETS CONCERTS AT THE LIED Ticket pre-sale must be completed online. Please read the following instruction documents carefully. Ticket pre-sale does not begin until October 26. You will not be able to order tickets until the pre-sale starts. Jazz Band & Chorus Concert Ticket Instructions (English)Jazz Band & Chorus Concert Ticket Instructions (Spanish)ALL-STATE MEMORABILIA Thank you to the following businesses for providing All-State memorabilia for participating students and their families! Official All-State merchandise provided by
Official All-State recordings provided by
[email protected] | 419-433-4918 Official All-State photography provided by
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perfectly encapsulates the boundary-crossing life and career of renowned trumpet player, composer, and educator Terell Stafford. Hailed as “one of the great players of our time” by the late piano icon McCoy Tyner, Stafford unites any number of dichotomies in his music: jazz and classical traditions, stunning virtuosity and profound emotion, stylistic eclecticism and an immediately identifiable voice.
