Elmhurst jazz festival 'amazing' for student composer

It was something of a dream come true for John Norman.

As the Elmhurst College Combo band rehearsed the portion of its performance arranged by the senior trumpet player, in walked Patrick Williams. The Grammy Award- and Emmy Award-winning-composer was on campus as part of the school's 43rd Annual Jazz Festival.

At dinner that night, Norman sat down with Williams and talked about breaking into the composing business directly from a man who has done it.

"It was amazing," Norman said of the experience. "It was surreal. It's indescribable, to have one of the most prolific big band writers in the world giving you feedback."

Norman said these kinds of experiences seem to happen almost yearly at the festival. Thirty-seven college jazz bands from as far away as Plano, Texas, performed during a three-day event that has its roots in a now-defunct national competition.

As a music composition major, Norman is required to create a complete arrangement during the course of his senior year. Last year, the band performed it at the fall concert but Norman said seeing it performed at a music festival was a different experience.

"To do it in front of people who you know want to hear it, that's as good as it gets," he said.

Norman said the music bug "snuck up on him" during eighth grade when he received his first drum set. That led to the trumpet and when he composed his first arrangement in high school, he said he was hooked to that side of the field.

He said meeting Williams was one of the best experiences of his college career. Williams has worked with people such as Frank Sinatra, Bette Midler and Brian Setzer. He has also composed the music for more than 65 feature films.

Assistant director of the festival, Mike Pinto, said his work appeals to people of all ages, which helps the jazz genre gain exposure to a larger audience.

For Pinto, the festival serves as a way to see his students perform in front of a larger audience.

"I know what everybody's capable of," he said. "It's more of an issue of being interested in what they bring to the table."

The festival, which is the remnants of the American College Jazz Festival, is student-run and gives students in several different fields a chance to collaborate.

Student Manager of the House Dana Chicoine said the preparation began in November. The festival serves as an example, she said, of the importance of music programs at the high school level.

"It shows a lot of people how strong programs can be and what an influence they can be on everybody," she said.

Although he majors in composition, Norman still said his main enjoyment still comes from performing.

"You spend time working, practicing, and all of that needs to come to the front," he said. "It's what I've worked for as a musician."