The Music Department of Missouri Western State University will host their eleventh annual MWSU Jazz Festival Saturday, February 11, with groups performing in the Fulkerson Center and in the Hoff Conference Room, Blum Student Union room 219. The festival will start at 10 a.m., with the Missouri Western Jazz Ensemble performing at 3:40 p.m. in the Fulkerson Center. The full day of jazz is free and open to the public.
Each ensemble performs for the adjudicators, receiving recorded and written critiques of the performance from the clinicians. Immediately following each band’s performance the clinicians will give a 25-40 minute clinic for the band, discussing and working on specific areas of the performance.
“The focus and commitment of this festival is to make this an educational and musical experience for students and directors alike,” said Bob Long, director of jazz studies.
Clinicians for this year are David Sharp, director of music, Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa, Iowa; Stanton Kessler, professional musician and educator, Kansas City; Steve Molloy, trumpet instructor, Missouri Western; and Kathleen Holeman, director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Missouri Western.
Local ensembles that will be performing are Benton and Central High Schools of the St. Joseph School District.
During the day students will have the opportunity to attend clinics for their specific instruments conducted by Missouri Western faculty: Lee Harrelson, trombone; Stephen Molloy, trumpet; Josh Knight, percussion; Bob Long, saxophone; and Kathleen Holeman, vocal jazz. The festival will conclude with a short performance by the Missouri Western Jazz Ensemble, directed by Bob Long. During the concert individual performance awards for the day will be announced to the audience.
For more information please contact the Music Department at 816-271-4420, or Long at long@missouriwestern.edu.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.