One of Manitoba’s biggest jazz events will be in full swing this week at the Brandon University (BU) School of Music.
The BU Jazz Festival runs from Thursday to Saturday, with about 2,000 students from 100 school groups visiting from across the prairies to learn from acclaimed adjudicators and guest artists.
“The BU Jazz Festival is all about welcoming students and our community to Brandon University to share our love of music,” said Greg Gatien, Dean of Music at BU. “Our faculty and students put in countless hours of practice and preparations to put on a memorable weekend for all our guests.”
The jazz festival is a major educational opportunity for middle and senior-year students, who perform on the stages of the Lorne Watson Recital Hall, the Kinsmen Rehearsal Hall, the Evans Theatre and the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium before getting tips from expert adjudicators to help them bring out the best in their performances.
The entire community is invited to join the students for concerts throughout the weekend, including four headline shows, featuring acclaimed professional jazz musicians. Thursday’s concerts at 6:30 and 9 p.m., will feature guest performances by JUNO Award-winning guitarist Jocelyn Gould, saxophonist Gregory Groover Jr., trombonist Audry Ochoa and bassist Aretha Tillotson.
“It’s also a rare chance for any music buff to see several top jazz musicians in a fantastic venue right here in Brandon.”
Aren Teerhuis, School of Music Outreach Coordinator
Friday’s headline concerts, also at 6:30 and 9 p.m., will feature a trio of JUNO nominees in saxophonist Shirantha Beddage, drummer Sanah Kadoura and vocalist Erin Propp, as well as Dean McNeill on trumpet.
The Brandon University Big Band, under the direction of Diogo Peixoto, will perform both nights.
“The festival participants and our BU students learn so much from the professional musicians, and it’s inspiring to see some of the best in the business up close,” said Aren Teerhuis, the BU School of Music Outreach Coordinator. “But it’s also a rare chance for any music buff to see several top jazz musicians in a fantastic venue right here in Brandon.”
Tickets for the headline concerts are $30 each, with a discount for groups of 10 or more, and are available at WMCA.ca.
The festival also includes a series of free morning and afternoon concerts by BU jazz ensembles, with a full schedule available at BUJazzFest.ca.
Two other concerts, featuring vocalist Joanna Majoko and BU jazz faculty, are already sold out.
Contact
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- communications@brandonu.ca
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