The College of Music at Michigan State University welcomed its second international jazz artist to Michigan Dec. 5-9, 2013, as part of the MSUFCU Jazz Artist in Residence program. 

Jazz trumpeter, composer, educator, and conductor Jon Faddis taught MSU jazz students, held master classes, and performed in multiple venues on and off campus. His residency included concerts and educational visits to Hackett Catholic Central High School in Kalamazoo, Red Cedar Elementary School in East Lansing, and Northview High School in Grand Rapids. Performances included the holiday jazz concert "Nutcracker Swings and More" at Fairchild Theatre with MSU’s Jazz Orchestra I, as well as a concert at St. Matthew's/St. Joseph's Episcopal Church in Detroit.

“Jon Faddis is a consummate professional,” said Rodney Whitaker, director of jazz studies at MSU, “but he’s got a wonderful, warm sense of humor that always come through when he’s on stage or in the classroom. He really connected with all of the students he met. He made lasting impressions on them and we all had a great time.”

Faddis began playing trumpet at age 8 and joined Lionel Hampton's band at 18 before becoming lead trumpet for Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. By his early 20s, the California-native had become a notable musician in New York City, performing with Charles Mingus. Often likened to Dizzy Gillespie in style and sound, Faddis performs and teaches around the U.S. and the world.

Jazz drummer Jeff Hamilton is the third artist in the inaugural year of the residence program, and will visit the campus and community for outreach, education and performance, April 7 to 12. Saxophonist Antonio Hart was the program's first jazz artist-in-residence, Oct. 14 to 19.

The Jazz Artist in Residence program is made possible by a $1 million endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union. In addition to bringing renowned artists to the campus and community, the program fortifies outreach efforts of the Jazz Studies Program to teach and mentor youth and to inspire cultural prosperity in urban areas.

Click here for more information about the MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artists in Residence Endowment.