Jazz Festival

Due to the Friday slots filling up with 4A groups, 1A competition and combo performances have been moved to Thursday, January 22nd and will take place towards the start of that day. Any 4A groups still interested in attending will be put on a waiting list in the event of a cancelation from another group.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Dr. Angeroth Franks at flint.angerothfranks@simpson.edu.

Registration is open!

Register

Registration is due by November 25th at 5pm. Late Registration is due by December 5th with a $50 late fee. Payment can be mailed to:

Simpson College Music Dept.
attn: Jazz Fest
701 N. C St.
Indianola, IA 50125

Registration will be limited to 17 groups per day; registrations received after we have met the limit will be placed on a waitlist.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about the Simpson College Jazz Festival, you may contact the following:

Festival Director
Dr. Flint Angeroth Franks: flint.angerothfranks@simpson.edu or or (515) 961-1637.

Music Office
musicatsimpson@simpson.edu

The 2026 Simpson College Jazz Festival will be held Thursday & Friday, January 22-23, 2026! ​ Daily Schedules will be released in December once registration closes.

Daily Schedules will be released in December once registration closes.

Send any emails to: Dr. Flint Angeroth Franks at
flint.angerothfranks@simpson.edu or call (515) 961-1637
Judges:
Our adjudicators will be announced in the coming weeks!
FAQ

Addison Jordan is a saxophonist, composer and educator from Dallas, TX. Through the lens of jazz, he strives to continue the extemporized tradition of black musical thought starting in the 20th c. seeping towards the contemporary conventions of the current age. “25”, his debut solo project released in 2022, serves as a reflection of contemplation through lived experience within a young jazzmans’ psyche. The project features the dynamic workings of pianists Kwinton Gray and Rowan Barcham, bassist Max Gerl, drummer Jackie Whitmill and the lyrical vocals of Madison Russell.

The continual pursuit of jazz has led Addison through the esteemed musical programs of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (2011-15), University of North Texas (2015-19), and Northern Illinois University (2019-21), where he received his MM in jazz studies.

Hannah Marks is a bassist, composer, and educator living in New York City. She has performed at festivals like the Detroit Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, 80-35 Music Festival, Iowa City Jazz Festival and Indy Jazz Festival, and currently leads a risk-taking acoustic jazz quartet that features NYC’s most in-demand sidemen.

Marks’ debut album, Outsider, Outlier, is an explosive rendering of her search for belonging and empowerment. A nod to her love for punk, noise and free improvisation, Outsider, Outlier released on Out Of Your Head Records on October 20, 2023.

As a side-woman, Marks has been described as having “a fresh, modern, and original approach to playing the bass” by Marcus Printup. Marks is a member of NEA Jazz Master Dee Dee Bridgewater’s quartet, and has played bass for Geoffrey Keezer, Nasheet Waits, Terri Lyne Carrington, Anna Webber, Miles Okazaki, Ingrid Jensen, Kalia Vandever, Matt Wilson, Ted Nash, Morgan Guerin, Marcus Printup, and Sasha Berliner. Marks’ discography includes playing on Geoffrey Keezer’s Grammy award winning composition “Refuge”, Kristen Lee Sergeant’s Falling with saxophonist Ted Nash, and Heartland Trio’s debut album Year One.

Marks is passionate about jazz education, serving on faculty at Fordham University during the academic year, and at Interlochen Arts Camp and the Stanford Jazz Workshop during the summer. She has also presented masterclasses at universities across the country (Brown University, Indiana University, and University of Denver) and adjudicated at the Reno Jazz Festival.

Dr. William Ford is Head of Jazz Studies and Assistant Professor of Trombone and Euphonium at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas. He directs the Tarleton Jazz Ensemble I and teaches a full studio of major and non-major trombone and euphonium players at Tarleton State.

As a performer, Ford is the lead trombone with the Omar Thomas Large Ensemble which recorded their third album entitled Griot Songs. He holds the position of second trombone with the Rapides Symphony Orchestra based in Alexandria, LA. He has performed with orchestras including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Monroe Symphony Orchestra, and Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Ford is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician; having recently adjudicated the 2024 International Trombone Association’s Kai Winding Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition and Composer’s Workshop Competition, as well as serving as the 2025 ATSSB Region 7 Jazz clinician. He was also a featured soloist in the Composer’s Workshop of the International Trombone Festival held in Fort Worth, TX in May 2024.

Dr. Ford completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 2021. He holds a Master of Music degree in trombone performance from Western Michigan University, and a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz studies from James Madison University. His primary teachers include Hana Beloglavec, Doug Stone, Steve Wolfinbarger, Andrew Lankford, and Chuck Dotas.

Dr. Ford is a Vincent Bach Performing Artist and Clinician.

Q: When are awards announced?
A: Awards will be announced via social media and email following the conclusion of the division performances. Only the top 3 places will be publicly announced.

Q: Can we use your rhythm section gear?
A: Bands are welcome and encouraged to use our equipment, including drum kit, piano (grand), bass and guitar amps, and congas. We ask that groups using our equipment bring their own sticks and mallets, auxiliary cables, and if so inclined, cymbals. 

Q: What ballot do you use?
A: We use the Iowa Jazz Championship ballot.

Q: Can we use your percussion gear/Vibes?
A: Bands are welcome to use our vibes, drums, piano (grand), bass and guitar amps. Please let us know in advance, and realize that we do not have duplicates of everything (vibes, for example) so you may not have all percussion gear for your warm up room. Everything will be available on the performance stage though.

Q: Where do we warm up?
A: Bands are allowed to warm up in the SC Band Room (Harris Hall) 30 minutes before they perform. There is a drum set, piano, bass, and guitar amps there that are available to be used.

Q: Where do the buses go?
A: Buses can drop off students and gear on Buxton Avenue, between Smith Chapel and the Music Building. (Look for a set of large glass doors that lead into the Music Building.) You will be met by a greeter who will show you where to go. Busses MAY NOT idle on the street while waiting to pick up students. They can wait at the Simpson Campus Services Parking Lot that is one block SE away from the Music Building, or elsewhere that the drivers deem appropriate. Drivers are to wait until the Band Director calls them via cell phone to pick up the students.

Q: Is there a time limit for our performance?
A: Bands will have 20 minutes on stage to perform, followed by a 20-minute clinic in a different location with the music building. Bands are asked to time their set list in advance to avoid causing delays in the performance schedule. Playing over the 20 minutes may result in a shorter clinic time.

Q: How do we get to Simpson?
A: Google maps is probably the easiest way to find directions – the address for Amy Robertson Music Center is 501 N Buxton, Indianola, IA.

Q: Where do the bands perform?
A: All bands perform in Lekberg Hall in the Amy Robertson Music Center of Simpson College.

Q: How do we receive judge’s comments?
A: We use Competition Suite to deliver judge’s audio comments to directors. The director’s email given to us will be registered to our event on Competition Suite allowing directors to hear the judges’ comments.

Q: Is there an admission fee for family and friends to hear the bands?
A: There is no admission fee for family and friends.

Q: Where can our students eat?
A: Many food establishments are just blocks away from the music building. There are also food options available in the SC Student Center.

Q: When are awards announced?
A: 1A and 2A awards are usually presented around mid-day after all bands in those classes have competed. 3A and 4A awards are handed out at the end of the day, usually around 6:30PM in conjunction with any planned performances from the Adjudicators.

Q: Due to weather and/or mechanical issues, we were unable to attend the festival. Can we have a refund?
A: Checks are held until after the festival for these scenarios. Bands unable to attend due to weather will have their checks returned or we will shred the check.