The Music Department of 含羞草社区 will host their 14th Annual MWSU/Phi Mu Alpha Jazz听Festival听Thursday, February 13, featuring the KC Reeds and Rhythm.
During the day school groups will be performing in Blum 219 and the Fulkerson Center. This year鈥檚听festival听will feature 16 school groups from around the Midwest. Each ensemble performs for the adjudicators, receiving recorded and written critiques of the performance from the clinicians. Immediately following each band鈥檚 performance, the clinicians will give a 25-40 minute clinic for the band, discussing and working on specific areas of the performance.
Bob Long, MWSU Director of听Jazz听Studies, states the primary focus and commitment of this听festival听is making this an educational and musical experience for students and directors alike. Clinicians for this year are Jim Mair, director of听jazz听studies, Kansas City, Kansas Community College; Dick Redmond, Pella, Iowa; Steve Molloy, trumpet instructor, Missouri Western; and Kathleen Holeman, director of the Vocal听Jazz, Missouri Western.
The KC Reeds and Rhythm is an outgrowth of the Kansas City听Jazz Orchestra. Its make-up is the sax section of the KCJO as well as the rhythm section. They play in the style of another iconic group of this arrangement, Super Sax. The KC Reeds and Rhythm performs at schools and in concert across the region. Members of the KC Reeds and Rhythm will being presenting clinics during the day.
Local ensembles that will be performing are Benton and Central High Schools of the St. Joseph School District, and Mid-Buchanan High School.
The听festival听will conclude with a short concert by the Missouri Western听Jazz听Ensemble and the KC Reeds and Rhythm.
The听festival will begin at 8:30 a.m., and the final performance will kick off at 5:50 p.m. The public is invited to attend this full day of听jazz. There is no admission charge for the day.
For more information please contact the Music Department at 816-271-4420, or听long@missouriwestern.edu.
含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 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. 听