“JazzFest is designed to offer an immersive and enriching experience for young musicians, providing them with unique opportunities to learn from seasoned jazz professionals,” stated Assistant Professor of Music Aren Van Houzen. “Under the guidance of several regional jazz experts, each participating band will receive personalized clinics and coaching sessions throughout the day. This year’s JazzFest promises to be a day filled with learning, inspiration, and unforgettable performances, and we look forward to welcoming all participants and guests to our campus.”

Sessions will cover a wide range of topics including full ensemble coaching, sectionals for trumpets, trombones, saxes, and rhythm, improvisation and theory workshops, as well as engaging discussions on jazz history and listening. Additionally, students will have the chance to explore college audition strategies, recruiting opportunities, and take part in a campus tour, providing valuable insights into the next steps of their musical journey.

JazzFest is non-competitive with a goal of fostering a supportive and collaborative environment where participants can focus on growth and learning without the pressure of competition. All sessions will be open to participants and guests.

The final concert, where each band will showcase their skills by performing selections they have refined throughout the day, will take place at 3:15pm in the Alexander Campbell Auditorium, located in the Robert W. Brown Performing Arts Center on the campus of 91ֱ��.

For more information and to register for the event, please contact Van Houzen at 573-288-6812.

The tour will have three performances for the public, beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29 at Union Avenue Christian Church in Litchfield, Ill. The next stop is at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 1 at Central Christian Church in Jacksonville, Ill., and the final stop is at 6 p.m. Monday, March 2 at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill.

The band also will perform at six Illinois high schools — Meredosia-Chambersburg, Concord Triopia, Rushville-Industry, Payson Seymour, Liberty and Quincy Notre Dame.

The wind ensemble, under the direction of Dr. Trent Hollinger, associate professor of music, will perform band standards and innovative new works.

It will perform the world premiere of “Dreamscape,” an original composition by Allen Gingerich, a senior music technology major from Kirksville, Mo. Leonard Bernstein’s “Slava!” is a vaudevillian razz-ma-tazz concert overture featuring trumpet, trombone, soprano sax and electric guitar. The 2009 composition “Luminescence” by David Biedenbender is based on fragments of the Christian hymn, “Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light,” harmonized by J.S. Bach.  This contemporary work features splashes of percussion color paired with powerful brass and lyrical woodwinds. Then in true circus fashion, Karl King’s “Circus Days” march will be performed at a break-neck gallop tempo.

The jazz ensemble will feature songs peripherally following the footsteps of two colossal pianists of jazz — Dave Brubeck and Stan Kenton. The set will begin with a Mike Lewis arrangement of the Paul Desmond Classic, “Take Five,” the third track on the Dave Brubeck Quartet album, “Time Out.” The band will then transition into a trombone section feature entitled “Bear Bones” by Lennie Niehaus, the solo alto and arranger for the Stan Kenton Big Band. Next is a classic Jimmy Webb song, “MacArthur Park,” arranged by Dee Barton as recorded by Kenton.

Finally, Dr. Aren Van Houzen, visiting assistant professor of music at Culver-Stockton, will pick up his trumpet in traditional band leader fashion to “preach a little truth” in the style of Maynard Ferguson, Kenton’s lead trumpeter from 1950-57, in the Jeff Steinberg classic, “Gospel John.”

Other students who will be part of the tour are:

• Kenna Armstrong, a junior history education major from Oquawka, Ill. She plays the flute.
• Bailey McNamar, a sophomore arts management major from Quincy, Ill., She plays the flute.
• Krystalnoel Schmits-Nokes, a freshman psychology major from Palmyra, Mo. She plays the flute.
• Danielle Thurman, a senior media communication major from Bonne Terre, Mo. She plays the flute.
• Makenzie Prenger, a freshman biological chemistry major from Hannibal, Mo. She plays the clarinet.
• Audra Wood, a junior music education major from Cabool, Mo. She plays the clarinet.
• Joseph Kroeck, a sophomore music education major from Bowling Green, Mo. He plays the saxophone.
• Dylan Sapp, a senior psychology major from Keokuk, Iowa. He plays the saxophone.
• Naomi Mosley, a senior business administration major from Urbana, Ill. She plays the saxophone.
• Emilie Rieffer, a sophomore music education instruction major from Canton, Mo. She plays the trumpet.
• Jessica Beaver, a junior media communication and English major from Quincy, Ill. She plays the French horn and the trumpet.
• Corbin Doucette, a sophomore music education major from Cabool, Mo. He plays the trombone.
• Nicole Smart, a senior music education major from Willow Springs, Mo. She plays the trombone.
• Donnie Queen III, a junior accountancy major from Canton, Mo. He plays the trombone and tuba.
• Victoria Alumbaugh, a senior music education instruction major from Neoga, Ill. She plays the euphonium and trombone.
• Hedy Elligsen, a senior music major from Quincy, Ill. She plays the tuba.
• J. Kaeshoefer III, a senior music technology major from Beaufort, Mo. He plays the tuba and trumpet.
• Raven Bugh, a senior biology major from Quincy, Ill. She plays a percussion instrument.
• Zayne Gaus, a freshman music technology major from Ewing, Mo. He plays a percussion instrument.
• Brianna Holder, a junior music education major from Moberly, Mo. She plays a percussion instrument.
• Marquis Smith, a sophomore music major from Mexico, Mo. He plays the piano.
• H’Aeneise Coopwood, a junior history major from Joliet, Ill. She plays the bass.

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