55th annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival begins Feb. 24

The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Beasley's MONK'estra, and the Elmhurst University Jazz Band will be among the featured artists at the 55th annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival, which audiences can attend in person or remotely this year.

The exciting lineup of guest artists also includes trumpeter and recording artist Wayne Bergeron, saxophonist and composer Denis DiBlasio, and Grammy-nominated trombonist Steve Wiest. They all will serve as adjudicators at the Festival, which will be held from Thursday, Feb. 24, through Sunday, Feb. 27.

One of the oldest and best-known collegiate jazz festivals in the country, the Elmhurst University Jazz Festival welcomes top college and university jazz bands from across the country to take part in four days of performances and education.

The bands take turns performing for some of the greatest names in professional jazz today, who offer critiques and honors, and then give a performance of their own.

In 2021, after the 54th Jazz Festival became the first in its history to be presented entirely online, the overwhelmingly positive response inspired this year's festival to be offered both in person in Hammerschmidt Memorial Chapel, and via livestream.

The festival kicks off at noon on Thursday, Feb. 24, with the High School Invitational, made possible by the generous support of the Sylvia and William W. Gretsch Memorial Foundation. Bands from Lakes Community, Hinsdale Central, West Aurora and Northview high schools as well as the Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage will be featured.

The invitational will end with a feature performance by the guest artist/adjudicators and the Elmhurst University Jazz Band.

College and university band performances begin on Friday, Feb. 25, and that evening's feature performance by John Beasley's MONK'estra begins at 7:30 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 26, a clinic and master class with Bergeron, DiBlasio and Wiest begins another day of college performances, followed that evening with performances by the acclaimed Elmhurst University Jazz Band and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.

The Sunday, Feb. 27, program begins at noon with Chicago-area and Midwestern college and university ensembles, including bands from Harper College, Roosevelt University, and Michigan State and Purdue universities; and concludes with a performance by the guest artist/adjudicators with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band.

For more information and to purchase tickets for the 55th Annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival, visit elmhurst.edu/jazzfestival.

To protect the health of our community, campus visitors will be required to wear a mask during all indoor events, regardless of vaccination status. This requirement may change to reflect any new public health guidance.

55th annual Elmhurst University Jazz Festival

The festival returns to Hammerschmidt Chapel, in-person. All sessions also will be livestreamed. All times are Central Standard Time.

THURSDAY, FEB. 24

12:30 p.m.: High School Invitational featuring Lakes Community High School, Hinsdale Central High School, West Aurora High School, Northview High School, and Youth Jazz Ensemble of DuPage

4:30 p.m.: Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio and Steve Wiest with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band (Approximate time)

FRIDAY, FEB. 25

Noon: Elmhurst University — Vocal Jazz “Late Night Blues”; Columbia College — Combo “Jazz Ensemble”; University of Illinois, Chicago — Combo; Columbia College — Combo “Fusion Ensemble”; Elmhurst University — Big Band “Lab Band”; and Hope College — Combo “Jazz Messengers Combo”

7:30 p.m.: Hillsdale College Big Band and John Beasley’s MONK’estra

SATURDAY, FEB. 26

10 a.m.: Free clinic/master class with John Beasley, Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio and Steve Wiest

Noon: University of Wisconsin, Whitewater — Big Band “Jazz Ensemble II”; Elmhurst University — Combo; University of Wisconsin, Madison — Combo “Blue Note Ensemble”; Waubonsee Community College — Combo “WCC Combo I”; University of Wisconsin, Whitewater — Big Band “Jazz Ensemble I”; and Western Michigan University — Big Band “Jazz Orchestra”

7:30 p.m.: Elmhurst University — Big Band “Jazz Band” and feature performance, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

SUNDAY, FEB. 27

Noon: Harper College — Big Band “Jazz Ensemble”; College of DuPage — Big Band “DuPage Community Jazz Ensemble”; Roosevelt University — Big Band “Large Jazz Ensemble”; Harper College — Combo “Jazz Lab Band”; Purdue University — Big Band “Jazz Band”; and Michigan State University — Big Band “Jazz Orchestra II”

4:30 p.m.: Wayne Bergeron, Denis DiBlasio and Steve Wiest with the Elmhurst University Jazz Band (Approximate time)