NAU Kitt School of Music special events
Find out what the Kitt School of Music offers throughout the year
The Kitt School of Music at NAU hosts several special events throughout the year, including festivals, competitions, and camps. Some are only available to NAU students, while others are available to students and Flagstaff community residents:
- Jr. High orchestra festival–Information coming soon
- Low Brass Day–Information coming soon
- Double Reed Day–Information coming soon
Annual festivals and events
Concerto Competition
The deadline to submit applications for the Concerto Competition is November 3, 2023. Applications should be delivered to Santi Hindes in the Band and Orchestra office, room 180 of the Performing Arts Center.
Be sure to review the Guidelines for the Concerto Competition before submitting your application.
Flagstaff Piano Festival
 is an immersive experience bringing together young pianists, educators, celebrated artists, and music lovers in the inspiring setting of Flagstaff on the campus of Northern Arizona University. The Festival promotes equitable access to concerts and music instruction in a healthy and supportive environment that fosters meaningful community engagement. The Festival creates relevant opportunities to engage, learn, grow, teach, perform, and compete at the highest artistic and pedagogical levels.
Horizons Summer Concert Series
Every summer Kitt School of Music brings you the Horizons Concert Series with music to expand your horizons with a varied catalog of performances bringing the world to your doorstep every Sunday at 3 PM in Kitt Recital Hall.
Jazz Madrigal Festival
The annual Northern Arizona University Vocal Jazz Madrigal Festival, one of the largest festivals of its kind in the Southwestern United States, features special guest clinicians and over 140 high school ensembles from Arizona and nearby states. The two-day festival includes a host concert in which choirs from NAU and professional groups of national and international stature appear.
Jazz Festival
The annual  will feature world-class guest artists and clinicians. NAU faculty masterclasses, and many talented participating bands from throughout the region. The festival is a non-competitive format where participating ensembles perform for a panel of esteemed adjudicators and receive a 30-minute clinic following their performance.
There will be masterclasses, performances, and clinics offered throughout the festival in addition to our featured Guest Artist Concert on Friday evening of the Festival weekend.
Orchestra Festival
Our annual Orchestra Festival brings together talented musicians from sixth to ninth grade in April. Ensembles participate in adjudicated performances, clinics, and special masterclasses.
Virtual Piano Fest
The annual virtual piano fest will take place on your laptop or tablet October 14, 2023! It is free to all participants via Zoom.
This intensive single-day event is open to pianists of all levels and ages, whether students, teachers, or amateur pianists.
This year’s program features a wide array of sessions and masterclasses presented by the distinguished NAU piano faculty artists.Â