POULSBO — The 37th annual Viking Jazz Festival begins Jan. 31 and continues Feb. 1.
The music festival is held in the North Kitsap Auditorium, 1881 NE Hostmark St., Poulsbo. The event is free and open to the public.
Performances begin at 9:44 a.m. Jan. 31 and continue throughout the day. Middle schools and junior highs from the Puget Sound area will be the highlight of the day, starting with Poulsbo Middle School. The day will end with two performances by Mariner High School and North Kitsap High School. On Feb. 1 high schools will perform, starting at 7:34 a.m. with Kingston High School.
The two-day festival concludes with a concert that features the top six high school jazz bands, North Kitsap’s varsity Jazz Band, and Central Washington University Jazz Band. North Kitsap and CWU will perform with guest trombone soloist Richard Lopez. The concert begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Tickets are $10.
Performances will be judged by a panel. Following each performance, bands will receive a 20 minute clinic with the judges.
Judges this year include: David Turnbill, trumpet instructor for Washington State University; Robert Miller, retired jazz director of Pacific Lutheran University and University of Idaho; John Falskow, Tacoma Community College Band instructor; Matso Limtiaco, composer for Emerald City Jazz Orchestra; Chris Bruya, director of Jazz Studies at Central Washington University.
Schedule (Times are for performances only)
Jan. 31
Warm-ups, 7:34-9:10 a.m.
Morning performances
9:44 a.m. — Poulsbo Middle School
10:08 a.m. — Finn Hill
10:32 a.m. — Harbour Pointe
10:56 a.m. — Alderwood
11:20 a.m. — Haller
11:44 a.m. — Redmond
Afternoon performances
12:50 p.m. — Heatherwood
1:14 p.m. — Eisenhower
1:38 p.m. – Centennial
2:02 p.m. — Post
2:26 p.m. — Valley View
2:50 p.m. — Heatherwood
3:14 p.m. — Snoqualmie
Break
4 p.m. — Mariner
4:24 p.m. — North Kitsap Jazz
4:48 p.m. — Mariner
5:12 p.m. — North Kitsap varsity rehearse
Feb. 1 (High Schools)
Morning performances
7:34 a.m. — Kingston
7:58 a.m. — North Mason
8:22 a.m. — Olympic
8:46 a.m. — South Kitsap
9:10 a.m. — Sequim
Break
9:44 a.m. — Enumclaw
10:08 a.m. — Bellevue
10:32 a.m. — Kennedy
10:56 a.m. — Garfield
11:20 a.m. — Shorecrest
11:44 a.m. — Mt. Si
Afternoon performances
12:50 p.m. — Roosevelt
1:14 p.m. — Newport
1:38 p.m. — Cascade
2:02 p.m. — South Kitsap
2:26 p.m. — Bellevue
2:50 p.m. — Newport
3:14 p.m. — Snohomish
Break (Finalists announced)
4 p.m. — Shorecrest
4:24 p.m. — Garfield
4:48 p.m. — Meadowdale
5:36 p.m. — Mt Si
7 p.m. — Concert with top high school bands and North Kitsap and CWU, with guest trombone soloist Richard Lopez.
