All-State High School
Jazz Ensemble

LAJE sponsors the annual LMEA All-State Jazz Ensemble featuring the top high school jazz instrumentalists from across the state.

Brought to you by......

LMEA

Louisiana Music Educators Association

Join the LMEA Auditioned Jazz Ensemble

Are you a talented music student in Louisiana? The Louisiana Music Educators Association (LMEA) invites you to audition for our prestigious all-state jazz ensemble. Showcase your skills, collaborate with fellow musicians, and perform at state-level events. Don't miss this opportunity to shine!

Barb Catlin

2027 ALL-STATE JAZZ CLINICIAN

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Barb Catlin has become one of the leading jazz educators in the Southwest. After eighteen successful years in Arizona, she returned to her home state of California where she directs the jazz programs at Pomona College and the California Institute of Technology. Barb has many accolades as a jazz pianist, including being named as a Downbeat “Player to Catch”, but is equally well-known for her tenure as musical director of the highly acclaimed youth honor jazz program, The Young Sounds of Arizona, as well as her years as director of jazz studies at Mesa Community College.

Barb majored in music education on woodwinds at California State University at Fresno, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Grand Canyon University with a B.S. in Music Education, and completed and a Master’s in Music Education with an emphasis in Jazz Studies on piano from Arizona State University where she was the recipient of the William English Music Education Award.

Her enthusiasm for playing, “real-life” approach to education, and expertise in the rhythm section has made Barb a popular clinician and adjudicator at the high school and college levels. Barb has directed the Arizona All-State High School Jazz Band, the California All-State Junior High School Jazz Band, the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association’s (SCSBOA) Honor High School Jazz Ensemble, the Wisconsin All State Honor Jazz Band and many regional honor ensembles. She has been a featured clinician/guest artist at Fred Sturm’s acclaimed Lawrence Jazz Festival, Kris Berg’s Collin Jazz Festival, Paul Lucceksi’s San Joaquin Jazz Festival, Dana Landry’s Northern Colorado University Jazz Festival, ASU’s Highland Jazz Festival, the Western States Jazz festival, the Irvine Jazz Festival, the N.A.U Jazz Festival, and has presented clinics at state conferences both in Arizona, California and Wisconsin.

Past Clinicians

Artist and Teacher of Drum Set

Rich Thompson

Rich Thompson is an Associate Professor of jazz studies and contemporary media (pt) at the Eastman School of Music. In addition to his duties as artist/teacher of drum set, he also directs the Eastman Jazz Lab Band, teaches fundamentals of jazz drum set, assists in coaching the rhythm sections of small groups and big bands, and is a member of the Eastman Jazz Trio/Quartet with Harold Danko, Clay Jenkins and Jeff Campbell.

2026

Trombonist, Composer, Arranger, Educator

Clarance Hines

Clarence Hines is an accomplished trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator with a diverse musical career. Clarence currently serves as the Director of the School of Music at the University of North Florida, where he also is an Associate Professor of Jazz Studies. Clarence is an artist/clinician for Conn-Selmer and he plays C.G. Conn and King Trombones exclusively.

2025

Percussionist

Tina Raymond

Raymond is a mainstay on the Southern California jazz and contemporary improvised music scene where she performs regularly on drum set with an array of artists including David Binney, The Rova Saxophone Quartet, Jeff Parker, Bobby Bradford, Vinny Golia, Rachel Eckroth, and Daniel Rosenboom.

2023

1976 - Mike Vax
1977 – Domenic Spera
1978 – Rich Matteson
1979 –
1980 – Timothy Bell
1981 – Jerry Coker
1982 – Lillian Yaross
1983 – Neil Slater
1984 – Steve Sample
1985 – Ashley Alexander
1986 – Warrick L. Carter
1987 – Rayburn Wright
1988 – Willie Thomas
1989 – Richard Dunscomb

1990 – Dr. George West

1991 – Jim Colbertson

1992 – Doug Beach

1993 – Ronald C. McCurdy

1994 – Steve Wiest

1995 – Robert Morgan

1996 – Larry Panella

1997 – Bruce Paulson

1998 – Chris Vadala

1999 – Shelly Berg

2000 – Jim Snidero

2001 – Jeff Jarvis