Elmhurst College's Jazz Festival takes its 42nd encore

College jazz musicians and nationally known professionals will entertain crowds side-by-side this weekend at the 42nd annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival.

Bethany Bredehoft is one of those college musicians.

"My voice is my instrument," Bredehoft said. "I sing with the (Elmhurst College) Jazz Band."

A senior music business major, Bredehoft said she started jazz singing at College of DuPage and continued when she transferred to Elmhurst.

"This year I'll be singing two selections from Patti Austin's Ella Fitzgerald album," she said.

Bredehoft said she'll perform "How High the Moon" and "Mr. Paganini." She's also planning a jazzy rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Court and Spark."

Headliners at the festival, which runs today through Sunday, March 1, will include trumpeter Wayne Bergeron; singer, flute player and baritone saxophone player Denis DiBlasio; trombonist Steve Wiest; the Maria Schneider Orchestra; and Bill Holman.

Bredehoft said a performance by the Bill Holman Band will close the festival Sunday afternoon.

"Bill Holman writes all of his own arrangements," Bredehoft said. "People always want to hear what Bill Holman's band is playing. He just arranged the new Tony Bennett Christmas album."

The festival also will feature the Elmhurst College Jazz Band, directed by Doug Beach, along with college bands from Boston, Missouri, Pennsylvania and North Dakota.

The festival takes place in the college's Hammerschmidt Chapel. Performances will be at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Bredehoft said weekend ticket packages that allow admission to all performances are available for $70 for adults and $50 for faculty and seniors.

If you go

What: 42nd annual Elmhurst College Jazz Festival

When: Feb. 27-March 1

Where: Elmhurst College's Hammerschmidt Chapel, 190 S. Prospect Ave., Elmhurst

Tickets: $10-$27 for adults, $7-$19 for faculty and seniors, $3 for children for tickets purchased online; add $2 per ticket at the door

Info: (630) 617-3500 or elmhurst.edu/jazzfestival