Jazzfest will feature Ellen Rowe, a renowned jazz pianist and educator from the University of Michigan.

"We started something new this year and have invited a New Mexico music educator to perform and work with our music students. His name is John Sanks, a retired trombonist and music teacher from Albuquerque. He is also a founding member of the Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra," said Richard Schwartz, ENMU music professor.

Jazzfest grew out of a two-day event in which the ENMU Jazz Combos and ENMU Jazz Ensemble had the opportunity to perform in the evenings with guest jazz artists.

Dustin Seifert, chair of the Department of Music, thought that they should share this opportunity with regional high school jazz students and directors.

This created the high school jazz competition, which has become a successful event. In the past two years they have had around 120 participants at each festival.

This year there are six participating high school jazz ensembles: Clovis, Roswell, Goddard, Carlsbad, Moriarty and Plainview, Texas.

Seifert and Schwartz will provide a clinic to the high schoolers, working with the ensembles to increase their knowledge on intonation, interpretation, balance and other issues.

They bring in a new headlining artist each year.

Participating musicians, judges and clinicians include Terry Burns of Clovis, Seifert (ENMU), Benjamin Fairfield (ENMU), Neil Rutland (ENMU) and Schwartz (ENMU).

"All the events are very special in regards to music material, artists, student opportunity, etc. Probably the two most notable events for the average concert enthusiast will be one on Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. in Buchanan Hall and on Saturday April 9, at 7 p.m. in Buchanan Hall.

My advice would be to arrive early for these events, perhaps around 6:30 p.m. These two concerts fill-up quickly," said Schwartz.

Friday, April 8, 2016

Saturday, April 9, 2016