four days in january!
Our annual conference brings together jazz beginners and experts for a once-in-a lifetime experience.
Part music festival, part networking, part education and all inspiration. The annual conference hosts thousands of people from around the globe.
what can i expect at the conference?
The annual JEN conference offers a variety of events, including sessions and clinics to fit every attendee’s jazz interest. If you want to learn more about jazz education, research, technology, jazz industry and music business, improvisation, composition, panel discussions, and more, we have a session for you!
You can attend the JENerations Jazz Festival, where you’ll see and hear schools and community ensembles and groups perform and receive instruction and feedback from some of the most well-known educators and artists in the business.
For more about JJF, CLICK HERE.
Here are the other program performances you can attend:
- Young Composer Showcase
- Sisters in Jazz Collegiate Combo
- JENerations Jazz Festival
Finally, if you’re looking for some killer jazz performances, the annual JEN conference is the place to be! We have performances going on all day every day. Our evening concerts are second to none and worth the registration price alone!
photo by Frances Scanlon
photo by Frances Scanlon
future conferences
PLAN AHEAD
Check out our future conference dates and sites below:
- 2026 – Jan. 7 – 10 New Orleans, LA – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
- 2027 – Jan. 6 – 9 Louisville, KY – Galt House Hotel Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- 2028 – Jan. 5 – 8 New Orleans, LA – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
- 2029 – Jan. 3 – 6 Dallas, TX – Hyatt Regency Dallas
- 2030 – Jan. 9 – 12 New Orleans, LA – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
- 2031 – Jan. 8 – 11 New Orleans, LA – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
- 2032 – Jan. 7 – 10 New Orleans, LA – Hyatt Regency New Orleans
The Jazz Education Network Board has established a philosophical, practical and fiscally sound approach as we pursue conference locations.
Prior to 2013, we utilized a site review committee to make recommendations to the Board. Since 2013, JEN has utilized the Hospitality Performance Network (HPN), Casey Kruer, VP of Accounts, [email protected] or (502) 819-8671 as our agent in locating comparable sites based on certain criteria. HPN has proven beneficial for us as they bring significantly more clout due to the number of clients in their collective portfolio and established relationships with all major hotels around the world.
JEN employs the following criteria when determining conference sites:
- All activity under one roof. This limits JEN to 8-10 U.S. hotels with ample space to host our conference
- Affordability of room rates to our membership (note pricing since inception):
2010: $75 • Hilton Airport Hotel, St. Louis/Site: University of MO St. Louis • May 23-2
2011: $150 • Roosevelt Hotel, New Orleans, LA • Jan 5-8
2012: $115/$135 • The Galt House, Louisville, KY • Jan 4-7
2013: $119 • Hyatt Regency Peachtree, Atlanta, GA • Jan 2-5
2014: $139 • Hyatt Regency at Reunion, Dallas, TX • Jan 8-11
2015: $169 • Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, CA • Jan 7-10
2016: $115/$139 • The Galt House, Louisville, KY • Jan 6-9
2017: $169 • Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA • Jan 4-7
2018: $149 • Hyatt Regency, Dallas, TX • Jan 3-6
2019: $89/$109 • Grand Sierra Resort, Reno, NV • Jan 9-12
2020: $179 • Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA • Jan 8-11
2021: $127/$147 • The Galt House, Louisville, KY • Jan 6-9
2022: $179 • Hyatt Regency, Dallas, TX • Jan 5-8
2023: price TBD • Omni Orlando Resort, Orlando FL • Jan 4-7
2024: $212 • Hyatt Regency, New Orleans, LA • Jan 3-6
2025: Price TBA • Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, GA • Jan 8-11
- Accessibility to our regional membership by air/drivability by car/bus
- Mass Transit options from airports to hotel
- Family friendly atmosphere & a location that is known to cater to student groups
- Low attrition obligation (Hotels mandate that JEN sell a percentage of the room block in order to receive complimentary event space. Otherwise the event space is very expensive)
- Low food & beverage obligation (Hotels mandate that JEN purchase a minimum of food and beverage that can be very expensive)
- Generous Concessions to the organization which assist the organization with keeping the costs associated with producing the conference LOW!
- Ability to bring the conference in at or under the established budget
- Established 3-4 year rotation of conference sites to create familiarity with the venues for maintaining production and membership costs
past conferences
2025 Conference Sponsors & Partners
PRODUCING SPONSOR
DownBeat Magazine (Maher Publications) produces the annual conference program and show guide as well as ongoing JEN member benefits year-round.
ADVANCED ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
The Preservation Hall Foundation, a fundamental pillar of the New Orleans music community, supports the Inspirations Main Stage and one clinic room. More info >
Loyola University New Orleans College of Music and Media supports the Inspirations Main Stage, one clinic venue, and conference badges/lanyards. More info >
The Herb Alpert Foundation supports the general operations of the Jazz Education Network through a generous grant.
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
Yamaha Corporation of America provides invaluable concert piano, digital keyboard, and drumset resources for the performing and clinic venues of the Conference, the Sisters in Jazz program, and provides support for the Inspirations Main Stage.
Conn-Selmer, Ludwig, & Musser facilitate drumset and keyboard percussion resources for the performing and clinic venues of the conference and provides support for the Visions Stage.
Zenzalai Music is a woman-owned indie jazz label providing support for the New Voices Stage and the Sisters in Jazz Program.
A JEN Founding Institution partner, the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation is a fiscal sponsor of the ongoing JEN Research Fellowship and provides support for the New Voices Stage.
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame / Jazz Hall Radio is a proud media partner of the Jazz Education Network, providing valuable advertising support.
Travel • Merchandise • Festivals (TMF) is the exclusive merchandise partner and an official travel partner of the Jazz Education Network.
SHOWCASE SPONSORS
The KHS America family of instrument brands led by Jupiter facilitate drumset and keyboard percussion resources for the performing and clinic venues of the Conference and support for the LeJENds Stage.
A JEN Charter Member organization, Berklee College of Music is a sponsor of the annual John LaPorta Educator of the Year Award and provides support for the Visions Stage.
The John Stites Jazz Awards funds personal development projects to enhance the career opportunities of professional jazz musicians and provides support for one clinic venue.
Music Works International is an internationally recognized talent and booking agency representing some of the most exciting and refined jazz, world music, and Americana artists. MWI provides support for one clinic venue.
The University of New Orleans School of the Arts Music Department provides support for one clinic venue.
The Midwest Clinic is a sponsor workshop partner of the annual JEN Conference.
CONTRIBUTING SPONSORS
Join JazzWire in celebration of our exhibitors and look out for sessions marked “JazzWire Recommended Adult Learners” in the program show guide.
Encore Tours celebrates the work of the Jazz Education by sponsoring the 2026 Donor Reception.
Lawrence University is a proud sponsor of the 2026 JEN College Fair.
The Eastman School of Music / University of Rochester is a proud sponsor of the 2026 JEN College Fair.
The Cultural Curriculum Project, 501(c)(3) curates local field trips and tours in New Orleans and is a proud sponsor of the 2026 College Fair.
JazzComposersPresent.com, online space where composers, musicians, and listeners come together to celebrate jazz music, is proud to support the 2026 Young Composer Showcase.
ArrangeMe, a Hal Leonard Company, is proud to support the 2026 Young Composer Showcase.
program partners
Music for All is a proud co-presenter of the JENerations Jazz Festival.
The AAJC is the official presenting partner of the Donald Meade Legacy Jazz Griot Award and a co-presenter of the HBCU Spotlight Performance and the New Orleans All-Star Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Special thanks to our additional production partners including Casey Kruer Perez of the Hospitality Performance Network, Aria Lights for stand lighting, Fender Instruments for amplifiers, Axxis for audio/visual production, and Freeman for exhibitor services.
SPECIAL THANKS!
The Jazz Education Network is grateful to all who help make our annual conference possible including the JEN Staff, Board of Directors and dozens of volunteers.
THANK YOU!