ENMU's Jazz Fest coming up

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The annual Jazz Fest at Eastern New Mexico University is happening next weekend. The event entails workshops for New Mexico high school jazz students and includes two concerts open to the public.

Eastern New Mexico University’s Music Department will be paying tribute to what music professor Richard Schwartz calls “one of the only musical art forms that was created solely here in America.”

The annual Jazz Fest is approaching and will be held April 8 and 9 at the ENMU Music Building.

Jazz is a genre that is popular not only with the university but also with regional high schools, according to Schwartz.

It began with the ENMU Jazz Combos and ENMU Jazz Ensemble performing with a guest jazz musician. However, Dustin Seifert, head of ENMU’s music department, decided to invite high school jazz ensembles and band directors in the area.

“The festival has been quite successful over the years, and in just the last two years, we have been consistent in attracting over 120 high school and middle school students and directors per festival,” Schwartz said.

One of the events that attracts students is the high school jazz ensemble competition that takes place on April 9. Six jazz ensembles are slated to participate, according to Schwartz, and they will be ranked by three judges. After their performances have ended, the ensembles will be able to attend master classes held by ENMU faculty.

“Students can expect to learn tips and techniques to better master their instrument or how their instrument works within a jazz ensemble.”

After the master classes, the festival’s headlining artist, Ellen Rowe of the University of Michigan, will offer an interactive workshop for students that will focus on jazz improvisation, according to Schwartz.

In addition to Rowe, Schwartz said, there will be other guest musicians, including New Mexico music educators. This year’s featured New Mexico music educator is John Sanks of Albuquerque.

While Sanks said that each performance is going to be special, the two most notable events for the average concert-goer will be Friday’s 7 p.m. Jazz Combos Concert with John Sanks and Ellen Rowe and Saturday’s 7 p.m. Jazz Ensemble Concert.

Jazz Fest will begin at 1 p.m. Friday and noon on Saturday with both concerts taking place at 7 p.m. in Buchanan Hall at ENMU’s Music Building.