More than 70 bands to perform in Pittsburg 

  Wednesday, February 20, 2019 11:00 AM
  Arts & Entertainment, News

Pittsburg, KS

More than 70 high school and middle school bands from across the Four State Area will perform in Pittsburg on March 1 at the 45th Annual Pittsburg State University Jazz Festival. It will culminate in a public concert featuring the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra — one of the premier jazz groups in the world, based in New York City. 

Started in 1974 by Professor of Music Russell Jones with just 14 bands, the PSU Jazz Festival has evolved into what is believed to be the biggest one-day jazz festival in the Midwest, according to Professor of Music Robert Kehle, who now directs it. 

Beginning at 8 a.m. and continuing throughout the day, student bands will take turns playing for a group of experienced educators and musicians in two locations: The Bicknell Family Center for the Arts, 1711 S. Homer, and Memorial Auditorium, 503 N. Pine. Those performances are open to the public at no charge. 

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium, with the PSU Jazz ensemble directed by Kehle as the warm-up group before the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra takes the stage. More than half of the albums in the band’s robust discography have been nominated for Grammy’s, with two of them winning the coveted award. The band has performed on five continents and has won 11 “Best Big Band” awards. 

Tickets for the evening concert are $15 for adults and $10 for children, seniors, and military. PSU students are admitted free, and discounted tickets for PSU faculty and staff are available with valid PSU ID.  

They may be purchased or picked up at the PSU Ticket Office in Room 137 of the Weede Physical Education Building. They also may be purchased at 620-235-4796, www.pittstate.edu/tickets.

Learn more about the PSU Music Department at www.pittstate.edu/music