Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival


The Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival is the oldest jazz festival in the U.S. It takes place every spring at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. The university invites college bands and professional jazz musicians from throughout the country to participate in the weekend event.
In 2016, a female panel of judges was chosen for the first time since the festival began in 1959. The judges were Marion Hayden, Allison Miller, Helen Sung, and sisters Christine Jensen and Ingrid Jensen. The panel was chosen by Larry Dwyer, director of jazz studies at Notre Dame. Dwyer is a graduate of Notre Dame, a composer, band leader, and former high school band teacher who was named best trombonist twice when he participated in the festival earlier in his career.

Past judges