Camps, Contests & Festivals

Each year, the music department hosts a Jazz Band Contest for area high schools. Hundreds of high school students will participate in the performances and will also receive feedback from experienced judges.

High School jazz bands compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Schools are from 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A.

January 21, 2027 - 1A & 2A
January 22, 2027 - 3A & 4A

Register Today!

If you have any questions, please email llarsen@iowalakes.edu.

Cost
Before December 1 - $175
After December 1 - $200

Please send payment to:
Iowa Lakes Community College
Music Department
300 S 18th St.
Estherville, IA 51334

The Reggie Schive Jazz Camp at Iowa Lakes Community College is the longest running jazz education camp in the country.

Campers spend five fun-filled and educationally packed days with world-renown professional jazz musicians and educators.
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The Headliners and Staff at camp are truly a family that believes in what they do and strives to teach and share with campers
their years of knowledge and experience.

Register for Reggie Schive Summer Jazz Camp

Each fall, the music department holds the Jazz Festival. This event provides an opportunity for music education as well as a chance to hear from remarkable guest artists.

We hold a variety of workshops and clinics that are loved and appreciated by middle school and high school students. 

Workshops include a jazz improvisation class and instrumental clinics for percussionists and bass guitarists. High school bands will be critiqued in a clinic setting by the guest clinicians Joey Gulizia, Andy Hall, and Dan Cassady.

The jazz festival is concluded with a  performance by the guest Jazz artists and the Iowa Lakes Community College Jazz Band and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble. 

Event Date: November 5, 2026

Register Today!

JANUARY 26, 27, and 28, 2027

In January each year, the music department hosts the Jazz Choir / Show Choir Festival for area high schools and middle schools. This is an educational festival in which area show and jazz choirs perform and receive feedback from experienced clinicians in preparation for the show/jazz choir season.

Register Today!

Learn more about Iowa Lakes Show & Jazz Choir Festival 

August 15-16, 2026

The 4th Annual Iowa Lakes All-State Choir Camp is a no-cost all-state camp for the students of Northwest/Northcentral Iowa and beyond!  It provides an opportunity for you to get a jumpstart on the process with area directors with a history of success in the All-State process. You will also get to stay close to home, which means you can save on housing costs and allow you some flexibility if you have an unmovable conflict.  We want to be here to help you get your All-State season off to a great start in a fun, but focused setting that sets you on the path for a fantastic All-State experience. We want you to join us!

Find out more about the All-State Choir Camp on this page.

October 15, 2027
Iowa Lakes Community College hosts the Heartland Honor Choir each fall. The Heartland Honor Choir was created to provide a unique musical experience to students in Northwest Iowa, especially for smaller schools.

Each school can bring up to 32 students (for some, that means they can bring a majority of their choir, which is great).

The Heartland Honor Choir is a one-day event, with practice taking place throughout the day and the performance in the evening at 6:00 pm.

Although there is no cost for the honor choir, the food for the day costs $12 ($5 for lunch / $7 for dinner) per student.

We plan for it to be a day full of music education, where the students can learn not only music that they can perform at each individual school, but that the students will grow in their musical ability, knowledge and love for vocal music throughout the day.

Register Today!