Evanston Township High School’s annual Jazz Festival will take place on Feb. 11 in the high school auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave., with concerts at noon and at 7 p.m.
The ETHS Jazz Ensemble will open under the direction of the new Head of Jazz Studies, Dave Seifert. The noontime concert will feature Bob Lark and his Alumni Big Band, and the guest artist for the evening concert is the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars.
Jazz ensembles from schools large and small will be performing throughout the day to build their performance experience, sharpen their skills, and showcase the amazing jazz talent area music programs are nurturing. Each group will partake in a half-hour clinic following their performance.
Mr. Seifert said, “I am honored to join the storied jazz tradition at ETHS. What could be a better way to start my tenure than to lead this group of talented young musicians in opening for the Dizzy Gillespie All Stars as we celebrate the centennial year of Dizzy Gillespie’s birth?”
“It is a privilege for us to host this great event again. This year’s festival will be a real treat for jazz fans and another amazing opportunity for middle and high school jazz musicians to stretch their skills with the pros,” said Matthew Bufis, Director of Bands at ETHS.
Tickets, at $20 for adults and $15 for children, students and seniors, can be purchased at showclix.com/event/eths-2017-jazz-festival13815216. All proceeds assist in staging the festival.