Performance
Featured Jazz Series
Two featured concert series showcase MSU Jazz Ensembles and renowned guest artists.
Click here for tickets to upcoming jazz concerts.
2023-2024 Season: MSU Federal Credit Union Jazz Artist in Residence
The Michigan State University College of Music has established a jazz studies artist in residence program thanks to an endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, the largest-ever investment in the college’s curriculum.
Every academic year, multiple nationally and internationally known jazz artists visit campus for a week-long residency to teach and perform with College of Music students and faculty. During their stay, jazz artists engage the campus community with public concerts and visits to local school systems, including regional tours across the state with MSU Jazz Orchestra I and Jazz Nonet I. Click here to browse a history of past guest artists.
Jazz Orchestras with Geoffrey Keezer, jazz piano
10/20 Friday, 8:00 p.m.
Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
Grammy-winning pianist, composer and arranger Geoffrey Keezer brings his virtuosity in this concert that will showcase the talents he has displayed since he began playing clubs as a teenager.
Jazz Orchestras with Sylvia Cuenca, jazz drums
12/8 Friday. 8:00 p.m.
Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
An active drummer on the New York jazz scene, Sylvia Cuenca has contributed outstanding jazz performances all over the world.
She is a dynamic musician who has been mentored by and performs with big names in jazz, and it shows.
Jazz Nonets with Jazzmeia Horn, jazz vocalist
2/9 Friday, 8:00 p.m.
Murray Hall, Music Building
Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn has earned top honors at two of the most high-profile jazz competitions, but it is her debut album that has the jazz world buzzing about her as the next breakout star of
the genre.
Jazz Orchestras with John Clayton, jazz bass
3/22 Friday, 8:00 p.m.
Murray Hall, Music Building
Bassist, composer, arranger, and producer John Clayton is a Grammy winner with nine additional nominations. He has written and/or recorded with a number of big-name artists and still performs with the unique and impactful Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra.
2023-2024 Season: Jazz Spectacular Series
Running for more than 40 years, the MSU Jazz Studies program presents the annual Jazz Spectacular Series. The series includes performances by MSU Jazz Nonets and MSU Jazz Orchestras under the direction of MSU Jazz faculty, presents the Jazz at Lincoln Center's Essentially Ellington Regional High School Jazz Band Competition where bands perform in front of Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians and other jazz professionals for a coveted set in the MSU Jazz Spectacular Finale Concert.
Swing Dance
4/10 Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
Murray Hall, Music Building
The audience will find it hard not to get up and dance as three jazz orchestras perform the repertoire of the great jazz masters as well as swing in this high-energy concert.
Jazz Nonets
4/11 Thursday, 7:30 p.m.
Murray Hall, Music Building
Four jazz nonets blend the sounds of big band with small-group performances in one of the College of Music’s newest halls.
Jazz at Lincoln Center: Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Regional Competition
4/13 Saturday, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Murray Hall and other locations within the Billman Music Pavilion, Music Building, free
High school jazz bands compete and perform the music of Duke Ellington and other big band composers before a panel of Jazz at Lincoln Center clinicians and other jazz professionals, all aiming to earn the right to perform that night in the finale concert and move on to the next phase of the competition in New York.
Jazz Spectacular Finale Concert
4/13 Saturday, 8:00 p.m.
Fairchild Theatre, MSU Auditorium
This finale is truly spectacular! After three days of great jazz, this is the performance that brings it all together, featuring guest jazz bassist and MSU College of Music alum Endea Owens and MSU’s own Professors of Jazz, Jazz Orchestra I, the Outstanding High School Band of the Day, and special guests.
Generously sponsored by Leonard and Sharon Tabaka, and Ken and Sandy Beall.
