Musicians from across the nation are on campus to give clinics to middle and high school artists and to give performances for the public in the Buchanan Center for Performing Arts Thursday and Friday.
Middle school and high school jazz bands from around the state will gather this week to perform and receive feedback from professional musicians, as well as attend educational clinics and professional performances. These performances are also open to the public.
This year’s Jazz Festival features five guest artists and six clinicians from across the nation, each offering different insights to the musical form. Ben Markley, professor of music and jazz festival director, says a diverse group is important to “offer students wide ranging musical perspectives,” and that they are very selective in this process.
“We choose artists and clinicians based on their merit as performers and educators,” said Markley.
Markley, Director of Jazz Studies J. Scott Turpen and Jazz Advocates of Wyoming (JAW) RSO cofounded the festival last year. The festival was established as an annual educational event. It is a big step forward for the Jazz Studies department and for jazz music in Wyoming, said Markley.
“The UW Jazz Studies Area identified a need in the region for an education jazz festival that involved guest performances,” said Turpen. “These artists are not only superb musicians, but also fine pedagogues.”
“The Jazz Studies area wanted to give students across Wyoming the opportunity to perform and receive feedback from some of the greatest musicians and educators in the region as well as hear world class performers,” said Markley.
Official statements from the Jazz Festival website also stress that this is a non-competitive festival, and that all comments and ratings of student performances are confidential to ensure that the students will be given a strictly educational experience. The focus will be solely on performance, not placement.
Markley agreed that education is a top priority at the Jazz Festival.
“I hope everyone who comes through our doors hears something in a clinic or performance that inspires them to learn more about America’s art form, jazz.”
The two evening performances are open to the public and feature a diverse group of musical guests. The UW Vocal Jazz Ensemble and jazz vocalist Tierney Sutton will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, while the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble with organist Lonnie Smith and The Scott Turpen Quintet will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Tickets can be purchased at the BCPA box office.
