Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Festival

2010  Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Festival

What are the specifics we should know about the 2009 IWU Jazz Festival?

The 35th Annual IWU Jazz Festival will be held all day on Saturday, January 23, 2010.  There will be two performance venues in the Main Lounge of the Memorial Union and on the Westbrook Auditorium stage.  Saxophonist Chris Vadala,  will be the guest clinician and soloist with the IWU Jazz Ensemble at 12:45 p.m. on the day of the festival.  There will be clinics for each participating ensemble following their 20-minute performance with one of our outstanding clinicians.  There will also be a clinic for trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and rhythm section following the performance of Mr. Houghton.  The cost of enrolling in the festival will again be $175.00, and admittance to the festival will be on a first come,  first-served basis.  A waiting list will be established once the 30 slots are filled.

Why was the IWU Jazz Festival begun?

The IWU Jazz Festival was begun in 1976 to encourage junior high and high school ensembles to upgrade the level of jazz they offer at their schools by participating in a non-competitive festival.  The Director was told such a format would never succeed in Illinois because of the importance of competition here, but within a few years we were at capacity and have continued that way ever since, many years having to turn down several schools in the process. 

What do you hope the junior high and high school students will gain from their experiences at the jazz festival?

Only proven, exceptional jazz educators are hired to adjudicate at the IWU Jazz Festival.  The comments received from the adjudicators about the performance are important, but the most important aspect is the separate clinic with one of the best clinicians in the Midwest, like Rob Parton or Ron Carter or Steve Wiest.  They also get to sit at the feet of these jazz masters in separate clinics about their instruments which, it is hoped, will assist each student's overall playing abilities.

What is the purpose of having a panel of adjudicators for each band?

The panel of adjudicators give different perspectives into the jazz performance of each participating ensemble.  One of the three judges on the panel then follows the ensemble into a separate room to work with them in a very personal way.  In this clinic the clinicians can isolate concerns peculiar to that ensemble and help them improve.  Many directors admittedly have little experience in teaching jazz, and these clinics give these directors pointers on what they can best work on and techniques they can copy to help their ensemble improve.

Who will be running the scheduled clinics?

A clinician on each instrument is hired, plus another clinician talks specifically with the junior high school participants.  Past adjudicators who have or will participate include:

Rhythm section--Reggie Thomas, Dr. of Jazz Studies at SIU Edwardsville, Shelly Berg, Dir. of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California, Tony Suggs, pianist with the Count Basie Orchestra, Steve Houghton, Head of the Percussion Department, Indiana University.

Trumpet--Rob Parton, Dir. of Jazz Studies at Roosevelt and leader of the Rob Parton Big Band, Larry McWilliams, former Dir. of Jazz Studies at Ball State University, Joey Tartell, Professor of trumpet at Indiana University, Mark Buselli, Dir. of Jazz Studies, Ball State University.

Trombone--Steve Wiest, newly hired professor at North Texas State and former trombonist with Maynard Ferguson, Tom Garling, professional trombonist in Chicago, and also former trombonist with Maynard Ferguson, Al Horney, professor of trombone at Eastern Illinois University, Brent Wallarab, Professor of Trombone, Indiana University, and Andy Baker, Chicago professional trombonist.

Saxophone--Ron Carter, Dir. of Jazz Studies at Northern Illinois University, Sam Fagaly, Dir. of Jazz Studies at Eastern Illinois University, Randy Salmon, Dir. of Jazz Studies, DePauw University.

Jr. High--Tom Birkner, Dir. of Bands at Bellevlle West H.S. and former Dir. of Jazz Studies at the University of Illinois, Mo Trout, Dir. of Jazz Studies, Purdue University.

General Jazz Instruction--Jim Warrick, Dir. of Bands at New Trier H.S.

Illinois Wesleyan Jazz Festival History