SUU High School Jazz Festival presents Grammy Award-winner Aaron Lington
By Ashley H Pollock
The 2018 Southern Utah University High School Jazz Festival presents the SUU Jazz Ensemble in concert featuring Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Aaron Lington Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m. at the Heritage Center Theatre. This concert is free and open to the public.
“The SUU High School Jazz Festival gives regional high school jazz bands an opportunity to prepare and receive feedback on their Spring jazz repertoire in preparation for their upcoming region festivals,” said Dr. Adam Lambert, associate professor of music and director of bands at SUU. “The festival will culminate with an amazing opportunity to watch the SUU Jazz Ensemble perform exciting music with a nationally recognized guest artist. This year, Aaron Lington, Grammy Award-winning artist and director of jazz studies at San Jose State University, will perform with the SUU Jazz Band. Additionally, Mr. Lington will give a clinic on jazz improvisation immediately following the concert.”
The SUU High School Jazz Festival is committed to the encouragement and fostering of jazz performance and education in the schools. As such, they invite the participation of jazz big bands and combos of any variety to register. The goal is to create a noncompetitive, positive, and supportive learning environment for jazz groups of all skill levels.
“This year I’ve focused on improving my solo abilities,” Johnny Ruhr, a senior majoring in engineering technology from Cedar City. “Dr. Lambert and I have been working hard on taking my playing to the next level. I have learned that hard work and determination pay off!”
Enjoy the musical expression of SUU’s Jazz Ensemble and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Aaron Lington Feb. 17. For more information on the department of music at SUU, please visit suu.edu/pva/music.
