Every winter, jazz comes alive across North Dakota with two of the region’s most anticipated music events: the Magic City Jazz Festival in Minot and the NDSU Jazz Festival in Fargo. Both festivals unite young musicians, educators, and professional artists to celebrate performance, learning, and community through jazz.
The Magic City Jazz Festival, hosted at Minot State University’s Ann Arbor Hall, is a multi-day celebration of big-band and ensemble jazz. Students from middle school through high school perform for adjudicators and guest clinicians, participate in rhythm and improvisation workshops, and take the stage in front of live audiences.
Evening concerts feature world-class performers, including this year’s tribute performance by Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, blending education with high-energy professional artistry.
For Minot North High School, the festival represents more than a performance opportunity, it is a proving ground for growth. Several students were selected for the MSU Honor Jazz Ensemble, including sophomores Ray Allen Schnieber on trombone and Easton Rawlson on trumpet, junior Andrew Miller on alto saxophone, and freshman Cayden Hoffart on tenor saxophone. Performing alongside top musicians from across the region, they rehearsed and played under the direction of experienced jazz educators, refining both their technical skill and ensemble awareness.
Senior Codey Irwin earned one of the festival’s highest distinctions, receiving the R.J. Berg Memorial Award and a scholarship from Minot State’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts. Band director Jeremy Meinert explained that the award is presented annually to the Outstanding Senior Jazz Soloist. The recipient’s school holds a traveling trophy for one year, while the student receives a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 scholarship to participate in Jazz Ensemble at Minot State University. Named in honor of R.J. “Mike” Berg — a longtime member of the Minot Kiwanis Club and Kiwanis Band — the award recognizes exceptional musicianship and lasting contribution to the jazz community.
The celebration of student jazz extends beyond Minot. Across the state in Fargo, the Challey School of Music hosts the NDSU Jazz Festival. Now in its 43rd year, the non-competitive festival invites high school bands to perform, receive professional critiques, and attend instrument-specific clinics. Students and directors interact directly with guest artists, gaining insight that stretches far beyond a standard concert setting.
Together, these festivals strengthen North Dakota’s jazz tradition while providing invaluable experiences for young musicians. For Minot North students, the stage becomes more than a platform, it becomes preparation for future excellence, leadership, and a lifelong dedication to music.
