School of Music hosts 44th Annual Jazz Band Festival

Written by Kate Lepard

The Texas Tech University School of Music will host the 44^th annual Jazz & Blues Festival April 1-2.

For the last 43 years, the School of Music, in conjunction with Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, has invited secondary-school band students to this two-day event.

The weekend will feature clinics, master classes, guest artist performances and a festival competition designed to hone the skills of young musicians from junior high and high schools around the state.

The weekend also will include two concerts in Texas Tech’s Allen Theatre:

• Texas Tech’s Jazz Combo, featuring Director of Jazz Studies Stephen Jones and other guests, free and open to the public at 8 p.m. April 1
• Trumpet artist Wayne Bergeron, backed by the Texas Tech Jazz Ensemble I, at 8 p.m. April 2

Bergeron, known as one of the most active players in the world for his studio dates, international tours, jazz concerts, guest solo appearances and clinics, has performed as a sideman with several contemporary jazz and pop performers such as: Ray Charles, Beyoncé, Michael Buble, Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Seal, Diana Krall, Tito Puente, Barry Manilow and many more.

Several motion pictures such as “Duplicity,” “Rocky Balboa,” “The Incredibles” and “Leather Heads” also feature trumpet solos by Bergeron.

Tickets for Bergeron’s April 2 performance are $15 for general admission and $13 for seniors. All tickets are available through Select-A-Seat by calling (806) 770-2000, 1-800-735-1288 or by visiting www.selectaseatlubbock.com. Prices include a $3 Select-A-Seat service charge.