MSU Jazz Spectacular Series Closes Season with Weeklong Celebration Featuring Anat Cohen
The Michigan State University College of Music Jazz Studies program presents the MSU Jazz Spectacular Series, an annual end-of-season celebration that brings together a dynamic range of jazz performances and artists. Taking place April 16–18, 2026, the series features three ticketed concerts, a regional high school jazz band competition, and a special appearance by multiple Grammy‑nominated clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen, who previously appeared at MSU in 2017 as part of the MSU Federal Credit Union Guest Artist in Residence program.
A long-standing tradition at MSU, the Jazz Spectacular offers audiences a week packed with distinctive jazz experiences—from intimate small-ensemble performances and a high-energy swing dance to a full-scale finale concert. The series culminates with Cohen joining MSU Jazz Orchestra I, the Professors of Jazz, and the Outstanding High School Jazz Band of the Day, delivering a powerful conclusion to the jazz season.
Clarinetist and saxophonist Anat Cohen is the featured guest artist for the MSU Jazz Spectacular Series, appearing with MSU Jazz Nonets and at the Finale Concert.
“This week really represents the full spectrum of the jazz tradition and what our program is all about,” said Rodney Whitaker, University Distinguished Professor of Jazz Bass and Director of Jazz Studies at MSU. “From intimate ensemble performances and a swing dance to the excitement of the Essentially Ellington competition, audiences experience jazz in many forms. Having Anat Cohen with us brings an extraordinary level of artistry to the entire week and makes this year’s Jazz Spectacular a truly special finale to our season.”
Internationally acclaimed for her lyrical expression, rhythmic vitality, and genre-spanning artistry, Anat Cohen has built a distinguished career as a bandleader, composer, and featured soloist. Known for her warm clarinet sound and expressive saxophone work, Cohen has performed on major stages around the world and is widely celebrated for her imaginative collaborations and deeply rooted connection to the jazz tradition.
Jazz Spectacular Series Events
• Thursday, April 16 – Jazz Nonets with Anat Cohen, 7:30 p.m., Murray Hall. An evening of inventive arrangements and improvisation as Anat Cohen joins MSU Jazz Nonets, blending small-ensemble precision with big-band energy. General admission: $14 adults, $12 seniors, students free.
• Friday, April 17 – Jazz Swing Dance, 7:30 p.m., Large Rehearsal Hall. A high-energy swing dance featuring MSU Jazz Orchestras performing timeless charts and toe-tapping big band classics. General admission: $14 adults, $12 seniors, students free.
• Saturday, April 18 – Jazz at Lincoln Center: Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Regional Competition, 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., Murray Hall. High school jazz bands perform works by Duke Ellington and other jazz legends before jazz clinicians and professional musicians. Free and open to the public.
• Saturday, April 18 – Jazz Spectacular Finale Concert with Anat Cohen, 7:30 p.m., Fairchild Theatre. The series culminates with Anat Cohen joined by MSU Jazz Orchestra I, the Professors of Jazz, and the Outstanding High School Jazz Band of the Day. Reserved seating: $27 adults, $22 seniors, $17 students. Generously sponsored by Jill Canny and Robert Last, and Leonard and Sharon Tabaka.
For tickets and more information about this series and other events presented by the MSU College of Musci, visit: https://www.music.msu.edu/events.
