EDU PSA
Florida student musicians have an opportunity to earn scholarships, attend a jazz masterclass and connect directly with professional musicians through the 2026 Suncoast Jazz Festival Student Musician Competition.
The third annual competition, presented by Suncoast Classic Jazz Inc. and the Suncoast Jazz Festival, is accepting entries through October 15, 2026. The competition is conducted remotely and is open to student musicians ages 12 through 20. Students may enter individually or in ensembles or combos of up to six musicians.
The competition offers three scholarship awards:
• First Place: $1,000 scholarship plus an opportunity to jam with a festival band
• Second Place: $500 scholarship
• Third Place: $250 scholarship
When an entry includes more than one musician, the scholarship award is divided equally among the musicians in that submission.
Every student musician who submits an entry also receives additional opportunities connected with the Suncoast Jazz Festival, November 20–22, 2026, at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach. Entrants receive two adult single-day festival tickets, while participating students may attend the festival at no charge. They are also invited to attend the festival's student masterclass on Friday afternoon, November 20.
How Students Enter
Each submission to the email address below should include a performance video of one arrangement along with the student's name, age and contact information; school name; music teacher or band director contact information; and a link to the performance video uploaded to YouTube, Vimeo or another video platform.
Entries are evaluated on introduction, preparedness, stage presence, articulation and musicality.
The official competition period is September 1 through October 15, 2026. The festival's primary Student Music Competition page and its main 2026 festival information both confirm those dates. One line within the detailed submission instructions still references 2025, apparently remaining from the previous year's information. Applicants should follow the clearly posted October 15, 2026 deadline.
Supporting Young Musicians
The competition is part of a broader youth and education mission of Suncoast Classic Jazz Inc., the Florida nonprofit organization that owns and presents the Suncoast Jazz Festival. The organization provides performance opportunities and financial assistance to young musicians, bands and schools and reports nearly $100,000 in community contributions over the years.
That emphasis makes the Student Musician Competition more than a contest. It gives developing musicians an opportunity to perform, receive recognition, participate in an educational masterclass, experience a major Florida jazz festival and interact with working professional musicians.
Competition deadline: October 15, 2026
Eligibility: Student musicians ages 12–20
Entry size: Solo musicians or groups of up to six
Festival: November 20–22, 2026
Location: Sheraton Sand Key Resort, Clearwater Beach, Florida
Competition information: Suncoast Jazz Festival Student Music Competition
Submission email: SuncoastJazzFestival@gmail.com
Suncoast Classic Jazz Inc. is led by Joan Dragon, Chair of the Board and Festival Director, who has served in those roles since 2008.
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