Feb. 11–The music program in the Missouri Western State University School of Fine Arts will host the 19th Annual Jazz Festival starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.
The festival has grown from four bands attending in its first year, 2007, to this year’s 18 school groups performing in Blum 219 and the Fulkerson Center. Each ensemble performs for the adjudicators, receiving recorded and written critiques of the performance from the clinicians. Immediately following each band’s performance, clinicians will give a 25 to 40 minute clinic for the band, discussing and working on specific areas of their performance.
“The primary focus and commitment of this festival is making this an educational and musical experience for students and directors alike,” said Bob Long, director of jazz studies.
The festival concludes with a short concert by the MoWest Jazz Ensemble and guest artist, trombonist David Dickey, which is made possible by a grant from the Missouri Western State University Arts Society.
The festival begins at 8:00 a.m. with school ensemble performances and concludes with the MoWest Jazz Ensemble performing at 6:30 p.m. in the Fulkerson Center. The public is invited to attend this full day of jazz. There is no admission charge for the day.
For more information, contact Bob Long at 816-244-5840 or long@missouriwestern.edu.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. MoWest is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.