(BYU Synthesis big band)
Message from Festival Director Dr. Brian Woodbury:
Dear Jazz Band Directors,
I hope your school year is off to a great start! I’m excited to invite you and your students to the BYU Essentially Ellington Regional Jazz Festival on February 21, 2026.
This year’s festival has been moved to a new weekend, so it no longer conflicts with Valentine’s Day or Presidents’ Day. We’re thrilled to continue our alliance with Jazz at Lincoln Center, giving your students the opportunity to learn from some of the finest jazz musicians in the world.
Your festival experience will include:
-
An adjudicated performance
-
A 30-minute post-performance clinic with an Essentially Ellington clinician
-
Written and recorded comments from all judges
-
A recording of your performance
-
A variety of clinics for students and directors
-
Tickets to the evening concert featuring the world-renowned big band Synthesis, with guest soloists including world-renowned bassist Linda May Han Oh
We hope you’ll plan to spend the entire day attending clinics, listening to other bands, and enjoying the evening concert. It’s sure to be an inspiring and educational experience for you and your students.
Visit our Clinicians page to learn about the 2026 special guests who will be joining us and explore the links and information on this website for all the details on how to participate.
I look forward to seeing you and hearing your groups perform!
With warmest wishes,
Dr. Brian Woodbury
Festival Director
Dr. Brian Woodbury
Festival Director
Guest Artist Linda May Han Oh
Born in Malaysia, raised in Western Australia, and now living in New York City, Linda May Han Oh began playing piano, bassoon and electric bass before starting upright bass in 2002 at the W.A Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) where she graduated with first-class honors. Oh was a James Morrison Scholarship Finalist in 2003 and in 2004, an IAJE Sister in Jazz, and received the ASCAP Young Jazz Composer’s award in 2008. She also received an honorary mention at the 2009 Thelonious Monk Bass Competition. After completing her Masters at the Manhattan School of Music in 2008 studying with Jay Anderson, John Riley, Phil Markowitz, Dave Liebman and Rodney Jones, she now teaches the pre-college division there and conducts jazz video conference master classes for high schools around the US. Oh has performed with the likes of Joe Lovano, Steve Wilson, Vijay Iyer, Dave Douglas, Kenny Barron, Geri Allen, Fabian Almazan, and Terri Lyne Carrington. She is currently the bassist with guitarist, Pat Metheny and is an active double bassist, electric bassist, and composer.
