24th Annual Honor Jazz Band Festival at Clarke April 11

Dubuque, Iowa – Clarke University is proud to host the 24th annual Honor Jazz Band Festival for area high school students Tuesday, April 11. An evening concert is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in Jansen Music Hall in the Wahlert Atrium on the Clarke University Campus. The concert is open to the public and admission is free.

Local music students will work with incredible jazz trumpeter and master jazz teacher and composer Kirk Garrison. A veteran of the Chicago jazz scene, Garrison attended Mankato State University in his home state of Minnesota before honing his skills in the United States Air Force Band. After leaving the Air Force in 1992, he completed his Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at DePaul University where he is now a member of the jazz faculty. Garrison has also appeared with such jazz stalwarts as Louie Bellson, Kenny Burrell, Ron Carter, Kurt Elling and Herbie Hancock. He is in high demand as a writer and arranger.

Selected students from the area participating in the festival include:

Dubuque Senior – Adam Kramer, Chuck Klapatauskas, Justin Nowak, Jamal Cheatham, Sydney Ringold, Eric Blum, Francis Inzenhofer

Dubuque Hempstead – Emma Fassbinder, Stephanie Gibbons, Angelina Arensdorf, Brian Grimes, Matt Engelken, Blake Hohmann, Matt Heil, Tim Robertson, Jenna Springer

Cascade – Kayla Kauder, Gabrielle Foust-Wollenberg

Western Dubuque – Zach Steger, Nick Botts, Callie Clark, Blake Marsh

Galena – James O’Shea, Renee McNett, Christian Gronewold, Keo Ashford, Hunter Holland, Isabelle Anderson, Mickey Lorento, Isaac Pulido, Emilly Folks, Elisabeth Bockelman

Students spend the day rehearsing with Garrison and Clarke’s jazz director, David Resnick. The event concludes with the free evening concert at 7:00 p.m. in Jansen.

For more information, contact the Clarke University Music Department at (563) 588-6575.