Charles Mingus Festival & High School Competition
FRIday, FEB 13 - SUNday, FEB 15, 2026
Not applying to the Competition but want some FREE Mingus music for you or your students?
We are happy to email you the Mingus Festival Jam Packet in your preferred key:
*We’ll also add you to our bimonthly mailing list to keep you updated on events and educational opportunities.
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All Events:
sOME HIGHLIGHTS OF lAST YEAR’S FESTIVAL:
Saturday Mingus Big Band at Joe’s Pub 2 sets, 2 streams
Sunday Mingus Big Band at Joe’s Pub 2 sets, 2 streams. Outstanding soloists from the competition sat in with the band.
“A great experience for our students and insight into the impact Charles Mingus music has made in the jazz world and music in general.”
“It was an honor to play this music and it was deeply gratifying. We had a great time!”
“It has been amazing to see the growth and sophistication that student groups have achieved over the last five years. It’s a tribute to the music of Mingus and to your hard work in making this music accessible to students.”
from PBs Next at the Kennedy Center featuring the Mingus Big Band and artists and educators talking about Mingus music!
Charles Mingus is recognized as a major 20th century composer, whose entire works have been acquired by the Library of Congress - a first for jazz, and a first for an African-American composer. Mingus left behind the largest legacy of composition in American music after Duke Ellington. The Mingus Bands remain devoted to this vast repertoire, and following the artistic vision of Sue Mingus, play to great critical acclaim around the world.
The Mingus Bands are available for concerts, residencies, master classes and commissions.
Donate to Let My Children Hear Music/The Charles Mingus Institute:
Founded by Sue Mingus in 1986, Let My Children Hear Music / The Charles Mingus Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserve and promote the compositional legacy of composer Charles Mingus through publishing, education, archival preservation, and performance.
We provide resources to students, scholars, educators and musicians through publications, performances, master classes, internships, private lessons, community events, and much more. We partner with world-class educational institutions to present New York’s finest musicians as performers, arrangers, and mentors in myriad teaching opportunities. Current projects include tape preservation, living histories, performances, scholarly publications, and widening access to scores for works such as Adagio Ma Non Troppo, Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, and Epitaph.
Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable by law.
To make a donation, please send a check or money order to the address below or use the DONATE button for Paypal: paypal.me/mingusinstitute or Zelle: education@charlesmingus.org