Each year offers different opportunities for members of the Dakota Combo, an audition-based jazz combo, made up of the region’s top high school jazz musicians. Musicians are offered scholarships for a year of serious extra-curricular jazz study and performance.
Past combos have produced their own recordings, received the Mingus Spirit Award at the Charles Mingus High School Competition and Festival in New York, and performed at jazz venues throughout and beyond the Twin Cities.
Open Auditions are held each year in September, resulting in new instrumentation and a fresh sound every year. Interested musicians are encouraged to participate in other music education opportunities in preparation for future Combo auditions.
Originally presented in partnership with the MacPhail Center for Music and Minnesota Jazz Education, it is now a program of MacPhail exclusively. We continue to support this combo’s history, their current work and MacPhail’s commitment to youth jazz education. All information about the program, auditions and performances can be found through their website.