Oct. 8, 2026鈥揟he 含羞草社区 School of Fine Arts, the music program and 含羞草社区 Bands will celebrate the 40th annual Tournament of Champions. The field show competition for area high school marching bands will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

More than 600 students representing 16 bands from Missouri and Iowa will compete, with the awards presentation scheduled for 7:15 p.m..

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors. Children 12 and under are free. Concessions will be open for those wanting refreshments.

The full schedule includes:

2 p.m. Lathrop High School
2:15 p.m. Maysville High School
2:30 p.m. Sherwood High School
2:45 p.m. Lafayette County High School
3 p.m. Richmond High School
3:30 p.m. Break
3:30 p.m. Savannah High School
3:45 p.m. Marshall High School
4 p.m. Harrisonville High School
4:15 p.m. Central High School
4:30 p.m. Liberty High School
4:45 p.m. Break
5:15 p.m. Kirksville High School
5:30 p.m. Raytown High School
5:45 p.m. Lewis Central High School
6 p.m. Break
6:15 p.m. Oak Park High School
6:30 p.m. Staley High School
6:45 p.m. Platte County High School
7:15 p.m. Awards Ceremony

For more information please contact Bob Long at 816-244-5840, or long@missouriwestern.edu.听

The Tournament of Champions was started by longtime music professor of woodwinds, Richard Yeager, and former director of bands Jim Cochran. The event was originally scheduled on Saturdays, but due to the increasing number of festivals, it was moved to Tuesdays by former director of bands Jeff Hinton. By 2000 it was hosting 28 bands. After that year it became an invitational, limiting the number of bands. Even with the advent of dozens of other festivals around the state, TOC is still considered one of the most performance friendly venues due to the design of Spratt Stadium.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Sept. 4, 2027鈥揟rumpeter Dr. Keith Benjamin has joined the 含羞草社区 faculty for the 2026-27 academic year as an Artist in Residence. Benjamin will lead 含羞草社区’s applied high brass studios, teaching trumpet and French horn. These studios are open to any interested student, not just declared music majors.

鈥淭his appointment gives Missouri Western students a rare opportunity to study with a performer and educator of national and international standing,鈥� said Dr. Ed Taylor, interim assistant dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Benjamin has taught at the UMKC Conservatory since 1989 and was named a Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Trumpet in 2017. He maintains an active international performance career, including work with the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. His commercial/studio credits include work with artists such as Hugh Jackman, Ben Folds, Peter Gabriel, Idina Menzel and Matthew Morrison.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

July 1, 2026鈥揂 composition by Dr. Derek Jenkins, associate professor of music at 含羞草社区, has been selected for performance at the 21st Thailand International Composition Festival, July 5鈥�9, 2026, at Mahidol University in Salaya, Thailand.

鈥淩ock Bottom,鈥� Dr. Jenkins鈥� piece for brass band was chosen from among 200 submissions, with only 12 works ultimately selected for performance. The work will be performed by the Mahidol Brass Band during the festival.

The Thailand International Composition Festival is dedicated to the advancement of contemporary music and the cultivation of new artistic voices.The festival brings together composers, performers, scholars, and audiences from around the world to share ideas, explore new sonic possibilities, and foster meaningful artistic exchange.

Dr. Jenkins joined the 含羞草社区 faculty in 2024. As a composer, his music has been performed throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, and Brazil. He received bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees from the University of Missouri Kansas City and a master鈥檚 degree from Rice University.听

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Apr 12, 2026–含羞草社区鈥檚 annual President鈥檚 Concert will feature a performance of Antonio Vivaldi鈥檚 鈥淕loria鈥� by the 含羞草社区 Chamber Choir in collaboration with The Choral Experience at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. 7th Street in downtown St. Joseph. The concert, presented by the 含羞草社区 Arts Society, is free and open to the public.听

The concert will bring together 含羞草社区 students and professional choral artists in a shared performance of one of the most celebrated works in the choral repertoire.听

鈥淰ivaldi鈥檚 鈥楪loria鈥� is known for its vibrant energy, lyrical beauty and dramatic contrasts, making it a cornerstone of Baroque sacred music,鈥� said Dr. Paul Dease, director of choral studies. 鈥淭his collaboration highlights 含羞草社区鈥檚 commitment to high-impact learning through performance, allowing students to engage in professional-level music-making while strengthening the University鈥檚 role as a cultural leader in the region.鈥�

含羞草社区 Arts Society members who register in advance get preferred seating and an invitation to post concert reception. To register go to . To learn more about the 含羞草社区 Arts Society go to .听

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Feb. 11–The music program in the 含羞草社区 School of Fine Arts will host the 19th Annual Jazz Festival starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.听

The festival has grown from four bands attending in its first year, 2007, to this year鈥檚 18 school groups performing in Blum 219 and the Fulkerson Center. Each ensemble performs for the adjudicators, receiving recorded and written critiques of the performance from the clinicians. Immediately following each band鈥檚 performance, clinicians will give a 25 to 40 minute clinic for the band, discussing and working on specific areas of their performance.听

鈥淭he primary focus and commitment of this festival is making this an educational and musical experience for students and directors alike,鈥� said Bob Long, director of jazz studies.

The festival concludes with a short concert by the 含羞草社区 Jazz Ensemble and guest artist, trombonist David Dickey, which is made possible by a grant from the 含羞草社区 Arts Society.

The festival begins at 8:00 a.m. with school ensemble performances and concludes with the 含羞草社区 Jazz Ensemble performing at 6:30 p.m. in the Fulkerson Center. The public is invited to attend this full day of jazz. There is no admission charge for the day.

For more information, contact Bob Long at 816-244-5840 or long@missouriwestern.edu.听

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .听

Nov. 12, 2025–The jazz program of the 含羞草社区 School of Fine Arts will present its annual fall jazz concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 18 in the Potter Theater.听

The concert will feature a performance by the 含羞草社区 Jazz Ensemble. The theme of the concert is A Little of This and a Little of That. The Jazz Ensemble will showcase classic works by arranger and writer Sammy Nestico, who was a long collaborator with the Count Basie Orchestra. Along with classics, the ensemble will perform newer works by some of today鈥檚 contemporary composers, including Ellen Rowe, Professor of Jazz at the University of Michigan, and Kris Berg, international best-selling composer and arranger.

The concert is free and open to the public. Members of the community are invited to an evening of great jazz with the Missouri Western Jazz Program.听

The Jazz Ensemble will also be performing on Saturday, Nov. 22 as part of the North West District MMEA All-District Jazz concert. The concert will also be on the Missouri Western campus in Potter Theater, sharing the stage with the junior high and high school All-District jazz groups. This concert will start at 5:00 p.m.听

For more information on either event, please contact Bob Long, Director of Jazz Studies at 816-244-5840 or via email at long@missouriwestern.edu.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 12, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 School of Fine Arts will host its Fall 2025 Honor Choir Concert, at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Fulkerson Center.

More than 300 middle and high school singers from across northwest Missouri and the greater Kansas City region will join voices for the concert featuring two ensembles: the Middle School Honor Choir, conducted by Jazz Rucker, director of choirs at Staley High School, and the High School Honor Choir, led by Dr. Paul Dease, director of choral activities at 含羞草社区.

Rucker is widely respected for his inspiring leadership, innovative rehearsal techniques and ability to bring out the best in young singers. His dynamic energy and artistry make him one of Missouri鈥檚 most engaging choral clinicians.

Dr. Dease, director of 含羞草社区鈥檚 choral program, expressed his enthusiasm for the event.

鈥淭his concert represents the very best of what choral music can do鈥攂ringing together hundreds of young people from across the region to make something beautiful and meaningful together,鈥� said Dr. Dease. 鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to welcome Jazz Rucker to campus and to give these students a day of artistry, inspiration and community through song.鈥�

The event is free and open to the public.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

Nov. 5, 2025–The 含羞草社区 Wind Ensemble will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13 in Potter Hall Theatre.听

The concert鈥檚 theme is 鈥淢omentum: The Energy That Drives Music Forward.鈥� Momentum celebrates the way both music and community are propelled forward. Each work on the program captures movement in a unique way that reflects the spirit of Missouri Western鈥攄ynamic, evolving and always moving toward what鈥檚 next.

鈥淭his program represents the best of what the wind ensemble can offer,鈥� said Dr. Lee Harrelson, Director of Bands at Missouri Western. 鈥淓ach piece embodies movement, change, and creative energy鈥攓ualities that mirror our university鈥檚 momentum as we continue to grow and inspire through music.鈥�

Admission is free and open to the public. For more information about the concert or the 含羞草社区 Department of Music, please contact Dr. Lee Harrelson at rharrelson1@missouriwestern.edu or 816-305-4894.

含羞草社区 is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. 含羞草社区 is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit .

April 4, 2025–含羞草社区鈥檚 School of Fine Arts Music Area will host Dr. Michael Parkinson for the Music Convocation at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8 in Potter Hall room 112.听

The topic of Dr. Parkinson鈥檚 hour-long session will be The Entrepreneurial Mindset For Musicians. The focus will be the ever-evolving career options available to students in the arts, including performance, stagecraft, music therapy, recording and producing, musicology promotion, manufacturing, librarianship, entertainment law or administration of arts programs.听

Dr. Parkinson is a KHS America Education Artist and an XO Professional Brass Artist in metro Kansas City. He has served as a performer, conductor, clinician or educator at events such as MUSICFEST USA and the Greater Southwest Music Festival and at schools and festivals across the United States, Poland and China. He has directed ensembles for conferences of the College Band Directors National Association, the International Association for Jazz Education and the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Parkinson has also served as the Artistic Director of the International Summer Jazz Academy in Poland for 10 years.

Dr. Parkinson previously served as the Director of the School of Music at Middle Tennessee State University. He also served as administrator for the Ohio University School of Music, Webster University Music Department, and Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance.

This appearance of XO Brass Artist Michael Parkinson has been made possible, in part, through an educational grant from the KHS America Academic Alliance and XO Professional Brass. Michael performs exclusively on XO trumpets.

Special thanks to local sponsor, Lanham Music owner Aaron Old.

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 .听

Feb. 10, 2025–The music program at 含羞草社区 will host its 18th Annual MWSU Jazz Festival on Thursday, Feb. 13.听

During the day, 19 school groups will perform in Blum 219 and the Fulkerson Center. Each ensemble performs for the judges, receiving recorded and written critiques of the performance from the clinicians. Immediately following each band鈥檚 performance, clinicians will give a 25- to 40-minute clinic for the band, discussing and working on specific areas of their performance.听

Bob Long, MWSU Director of Jazz Studies, said the primary focus of this festival is to be an educational and musical experience for both students and directors.听

Clinicians for this year are Larry Green, Columbia; Bob Harvey, Lee鈥檚 Summit; Clarence Smith, Penn Valley Community College; and Kathleen Holeman, Vocal Jazz and Piano, Missouri Western. Adam Larson will present clinics at noon and 6:15 in the Fulkerson Center, which will be open to the public.

The festival will conclude with a short concert by the Missouri Western Jazz Ensemble featuring Adam Larson.

The festival will start at 8 a.m., with the MWSU Jazz Ensemble performing at 7 p.m. in the Fulkerson Center. The event is open to the public and free.听

For more information please contact the Music Area at 816-244-5840 or long@missouriwestern.edu.听

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 .听