ISU JAZZ FESTIVAL

On Saturday, February 25, 2025, Indiana State University and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia will host their 50th annual Jazz Festival. The day will begin with middle school and high school jazz ensembles and combos performing in the morning and afternoon, followed by a performance by the ISU Jazz Ensemble. The day will also include a clinic and performance by guest artist Wycliffe Gordon.

Visiting junior and senior high performing groups will receive written and audio feedback from the judges as well as a clinic following your performance. The judges will be guest artist and clinician Wycliffe Gordon, Janis Stockhouse, Randy Greenwell, and Jeremy Basso. Participating students will also have the chance to attend an improvisation masterclass by Jamey Aebersold.

Previous ISU jazz festivals have included outstanding performances by Jared Sims, J.J. Johnson, Wycliffe Gordon, Larry Mckenna, Geoffrey Keeser, and Adam Meckler.

Please submit your 2025 Jazz Festival Application for consideration.

2025 JAZZ FESTIVAL APPLICATION
https://indstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dmWRfwNQ3aPbI5E

GUEST ARTISTS

Wycliffe Gordon experiences an impressive career touring the world performing to great acclaim from audiences and critics alike.

Jazz Journalists Association has awarded him "Trombonist of the Year" for a record-breaking 15 times, and he's topped Downbeat Critics Poll for "Best Trombone" for an unprecedented six times (2020, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012). Recent awards include the "Louie Award", the International Trombone Award and the Satchmo Award, among others. Wycliffe is a prolific recording artist and is extremely popular for his unmatched signature sound, plunger technique and unique vocals. He can be heard on hundreds of recordings, soundtracks, live DVD's and documentaries, and has an extensive catalog of original compositions that span the various timbres of jazz and chamber music. His arrangement of the theme song to NPR's "All Things Considered" is heard daily across the globe.

In addition to a successful solo career, Gordon tours regularly leading the International All Stars performing at festivals and performing arts centers worldwide. Gordon is also one of America's most persuasive and committed music educators and is highly sought after as a clinician and guest speaker.

Wycliffe Gordon is a Yamaha Performing Artist and has his own line of Wycliffe Gordon Pro Signature Mouthpieces and the highly sought after "Wybrid" made by Pickett Brass. Visit www.wycliffegordon.com.

Jamey Aebersold was born July 21, 1939, in New Albany, Indiana. He attended college at Indiana University and graduated in 1962 with a Masters Degree in Saxophone. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Indiana University in 1992. He also plays piano, bass and banjo.

In 1989, the International Association of Jazz Educators inducted Jamey into their Hall of Fame at the San Diego convention. With this award, Jamey joins other jazz luminaries such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong and others.

Jamey is a internationally-known saxophonist and authority on jazz education and improvisation, and has developed a series of Jazz Play-A-Longs (book and cd sets (now numbering almost 130 volumes) as well as various other supplemental aids for the development of improvisational skills. The Aebersold book and recording sets allow a musician the opportunity to practice and improvise with well-known jazz personalities at home as well as in the classroom. The recordings employ some of the best jazz musicians in the world. This concept has been responsible for changing the practice habits of thousands of musicians around the world.

In 2007, Jamey was awarded the Indiana Governor's Arts Award by Mitch Daniels, the Governor of Indiana. Jamey has been a driving force in America's native art form, Jazz, and continues to kindle the fires of musical imagination in those with whom he comes in contact.