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Trumpet virtuoso Jones headlines DePauw JazzFest Nov. 16-17
This week, DePauw University welcomes high school jazz ensembles from across Indiana to the eighth-annual DePauw JazzFest.
Beginning with Noblesville High School on Thursday and concluding with Ben Davis High on Friday, 12 participating high school bands will each have opportunities to give 20-minute performances followed by individual coachings with festival clinicians.
Friday’s festival schedule will be topped off by two concerts — the student-led DePauw Jazz Ensemble will perform at 4:20 p.m. in the Green Center’s Moore Theatre, and festival headliner and trumpet virtuoso Sean Jones, backed by an all-star DePauw Jazz Festival Orchestra, will give a Green Guest Artist Concert at 7:30 p.m. in Kresge Auditorium.
Unlike many music festivals of this kind, the DePauw JazzFest was conceived and organized by music faculty member and festival director Steve Snyder as a uniquely educational rather than competitive event.
It includes opportunities for its high school-aged participants to perform for, be critiqued by and take master classes with a dream team of seasoned jazz professionals and educators.
This year’s JazzFest musicians, assembled from across the country, include trumpeters Roger Ingram, Joshua Jern, Derrick Gardner and Mark Buselli; trombonists Andy Baker, Freddie Mendoza, Kirby Fellis and John Blane; and saxophonists Will Campbell, Jacob Duncan, Chris McGuire, Sophie Faught and Tom Walsh. Completing the rhythm section are festival director and pianist Snyder, guitarist Sandy Williams, bassist Jesse Wittman and drummer Jim White.
“I couldn’t be more proud to bring this extraordinary experience to DePauw. For several years in a row, we have attracted roughly 250 high school students to the halls of the Green Center,” Snyder, director of jazz at DePauw, said. “Our amazing students, faculty and staff are eager to welcome them again this year.
“Our featured artist, Sean Jones, is one of the preeminent trumpet players today,” Snyder continued, “and the compositions selected for this performance include several thrilling originals by Sean himself.”
Artistic director for the NYO JAZZ program of Carnegie Hall and an extraordinary bandleader, composer and educator, Jones has produced eight recordings on Mack Avenue Records, including “Sean Jones: Live from Jazz at the Bistro.”
From Lincoln Center to the Green Center, the exceptional musicianship for which he is known allows Jones to move seamlessly from setting to setting — including from clinician during a full day of educational activities at DePauw’s Eighth Annual JazzFest to headliner and featured soloist on the concluding Green Guest Artist Concert.
The concert by the DePauw University Jazz Ensemble on Friday at 4:20 p.m. is free. General admission to the Green Guest Artist concert on Friday at 7:30 p.m. is $20, and free to seniors, youth and all students. Tickets may be obtained online at dpugreencenter.eventbrite.com or in person at the Green Center box office, beginning 60 minutes prior to the evening concert.
DePauw JazzFest is made possible in part by Arts Illiana and the Indiana Arts Commission, which receives support from the State of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts.
DePauw JazzFest Schedule
All events take place in the Green Center for Performing Arts, 600 S. Locust St.
Thursday, Nov. 16
• 2 p.m. — Rehearsal with guest artist Sean Jones
• 4:30 p.m. — Noblesville High School Jazz Band performs
• 6 p.m. — Clinic with Sean Jones, trumpet
• 8:30 p.m. — “Jazz at the Duck” with members of DePauw Jazz Festival Orchestra
Friday, Nov. 17
• 9 a.m. — Registration for bands begins
• 10 a.m. — Greencastle High School performs
• 10:40 a.m. — Visiting high school bands begin performing
• 2:40 p.m. — Sectional workshops with guest clinicians
• 3:40 p.m. — Clinic with Sean Jones and DePauw Jazz Ensemble
• 4:20 p.m. — Concert featuring the DePauw Jazz Ensemble
• 7:30 p.m. — Green Guest Artist Concert with Sean Jones and The DePauw Jazz Festival Orchestra