Name: Battle of the Jam
Start: 2026-03-01T19:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-03-01T23:00:00-05:00
Location: District Music Hall

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About this Event

In partnership with Factory Underground with support from JAM Studio, CT and Northwell/Nuvance Health and production partners DNR Labs and 11th Hour Productions

About the event

Battle of the Jam is a new live music competition for middle and high school students across Connecticut. All eligible students with ambitions in music are invited to submit samples of their music by the January 31, 2026 deadline.

The inaugural event will take place on Sunday, March 1, 2026, at District Music Hall in Norwalk and is open free-of-charge, to the public. Student musicians will perform live before a panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience for top honors, prizes, and the chance to record at Factory Underground with an industry producer—showcasing their talents in a state-of-the-art venue on a professional stage.

“Battle of the Jam is about inspiring creativity, confidence, and community through music, we’re proud to give students a stage to grow and to connect families through the shared joy of live entertainment.” - Keith Mahler of New Haven Center for Performing Arts Inc.

Submissions are now open via an online portal managed by Factory Underground!

Finalists will be invited to live auditions on February 8, 2026.

Proceeds benefit NHCPA Norwalk LLC’s youth scholarship and educational programs at District Music Hall, developed with Factory Underground Tech, a nationally accredited school for music, audio, and video technology. This first annual event is made possible with generous support from JAM Studio, CT and Northwell | Nuvance Health.

Submit songs

Key Dates

• Jan. 31, 2026: Entry deadline

• Feb. 8, 2026: Finalist auditions (Factory Underground, Norwalk)

• Mar. 1, 2026: Battle of the Jam live event (District Music Hall)

About New Haven Center for Performing Arts (NHCPA Norwalk LLC)

New Haven Center for Performing Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to presenting world-class live entertainment and fostering meaningful community engagement through the arts. NHCPA LLC operates District Music Hall in Norwalk, as well as Westville Music Bowl and College Street Music Hall in New Haven, CT, and supports music, educational and community-based initiatives across Connecticut.